How have you been able to write with such prominent artists so early on in your career? She has a studio, and when she has her collaborators over, like Labrinth and Diplo, I've been over there working on music. Sia took you under her wing a bit, right? But it was definitely a bit of a shock moving countries and then having the whole world shut down. I was in the studio meeting a lot of people, and then it kind of shut down. That was definitely an interesting time, because I got thrown into a lot of rooms. You relocated to LA right when the pandemic started? What was that experience like for you? I saw him slapping a bass on stage so confidently - that was one of the first moments that put a battery in my back to go, "Wow, I really want to do that." I hadn't played an instrument before I'd seen him live. How did seeing him in concert growing up transform your music career? Being in those rooms, learning how to be a musician, messing up in front of teachers, messing up in front of people, really having to work hard to be a good player before singing in front of a bunch of people - I think it really, really helped me. I think that really structured the way I think about music, and what I have to offer as a songwriter, because I really know how to express myself in many styles of music. I came from a jazz and classical background. How did that affect the way you approach being an artist? You also grew up in jazz trios playing with musicians older than you. But it was definitely a creative environment where I grew up. I was never pushed into it, but I had listened to so much music by the time I was 11, and that's when I asked for my first bass guitar. They would have Stevie Wonder, Prince, Bach, Mozart records on - an array of different styles of music. So I was around creativity since I was really young. My dad was a session drummer and touring musician, and my mom was a choreographer and dancer. Growing up in Australia, how did you get into the arts scene? The main thing was talking about just staying healthy over the course of the tour, because it's months. You're stumbling around up there doing a lot. Keeping your body healthy is one of the main things. I definitely have called him in a time of need. Has he passed along any advice that's stuck with you? And I remember I released my first EP and he actually asked me at dinner. When I first moved to LA, he reached out and was making sure I was okay, showing his support. So, how did you end up opening for Justin Bieber? "This album is moreso my foresight where sonic structure should go," he says.Īhead of his debut LP's release, Benjamin spoke with about how Bieber has helped him, his struggles with anxiety, and his plans to shake up the music industry. As Benjamin teases, he's ready to overhaul the sound and production of today's popular music. The LP will blend his affinity for jazz (he's a classically trained bassist!), retro sounds and hyper-modern sonic techniques. (Since he joined the platform in February, Benjamin’s TikTok videos have garnered more than 30 million total views.) His first single since his 2021 debut EP, Emotional, "Weatherman" expands on the vulnerability Benjamin has unabashedly showcased so far - and serves as a teaser of what's to come on his debut album, due later this year. And now, he has a viral hit of his own.īenjamin's piano-backed track "Weatherman" was recently one of the most-used songs on TikTok, with nearly 20k videos featuring the tune. The two met through mutual friends in 2020, and Bieber has dubbed Benjamin "the next generation." The pop star may just be right: Benjamin has already written and produced for the likes of Shawn Mendes, Cordae, Meghan Trainor and Earth Wind & Fire. His talent was quickly recognized there, too, as he found a mentor in fellow Australian Sia - and, not long after, Bieber. The 20-year-old Australian singer/songwriter is currently opening for Justin Bieber on the first North American leg of the Justice World Tour - a slot he earned all on his own.įirst gaining attention in a rock group called Haze Trio - which won several talent competitions in Benjamin's native Bondi Beach when he was a teen - the singer relocated to Los Angeles in 2020. Not every artist can say they've been on a sold-out arena tour before their debut album has even been released.
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