New Zealand alternative pop star BENEE has released the music video for her dreamy new single “Beach Boy”. The new song heralds the arrival of her much-anticipated LYCHEE EP on March 4th.
Once again, BENEE delivers a larger-than-life cinematic visual (directed by Rory Pippan, creator of her hit “Supalonely” video), her widescreen vision filled with “BitchCraft” and escapades with a vampire boyfriend.
“Beach Boy,” which was produced by Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia, Beck), has already earned widespread critical acclaim from around the globe. In addition to plugs from Clash Magazine, Consequence, DORK, MTV News, NME, PAPER Magazine, Stereogum, and more, UPROXX dubbed it “a breezy indie-pop tune,” and Ones To Watch called it “one of those songs that you just can’t help but press ‘replay’ when it’s done.”
BENEE say, “I’d just shot a dreamy beachy vid for ‘Doesn’t Matter’ so I wanted a complete juxtaposition. Rory directed my ‘Supalonely’ video and I was super keen to work with him again … albeit remotely (we shot in New Zealand, he directed from Australia). I’m really happy with how it turned out. Hope you luv.”
For LYCHEE, BENEE headed out of lockdown in her New Zealand home to work on sessions in LA, which formed the basis of a new set of music she says is coming from a “great creative space” despite the pressures of what has been “the craziest time in all our lives.” The EP features tracks penned with Greg Kurstin, Kenny Beats, and Rostam in LA. Back in New Zealand, she finished up three tracks with her regular collaborator Josh Fountain, including the already-released “Doesn’t Matter,” which has gathered over 5.5 million Spotify streams and 400K YouTube views on the music video (co-directed by BENEE).
BENEE is also looking forward to a 2022 headline world tour. The North American leg kicks off on May 31st in Montreal and makes stops in Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more. BENEE will also be performing at The Governors Ball and Bonnaroo this summer. See the full list of dates below and at beneemusic.com.
BENEE’s dreamy alt-pop mixes her deeply heartfelt reflections on life in suburban Auckland, New Zealand with offbeat and often whimsical lyrical twists, all produced with a technicolor ear for cooked beats and unpredictable hooks. The 22-year-old broke through in 2020 with “Supalonely,” her global hit with 4 billion streams, and her follow-up Hey u x debut album was a vibrant musical world with guests ranging from Grimes and Lily Allen to Gus Dapperton and Muroki (another New Zealand teen BENEE has since signed to her own label, Olive). It was listed as one of Billboard’s “25 Best Pop Albums of 2020,” noting that BENEE “contemplates the woes of Gen Z with a keen ear for choruses and arrangements that oscillate between indie rock and hyperpop.” Stereogum praised its “quirky but impeccably produced pop music” and Vogue called it “13 tracks of heavenly indie-alt-pop.”
Stay tuned for more to come from BENEE this spring!
BENEE 2022 WORLD TOUR
NORTH AMERICA – with special guest Dreamer Boy
May 31 Montreal, QC Corona Theatre
June 1 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
June 3 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
June 4 Chicago, IL Vic Theatre
June 6 Detroit, MI St. Andrew’s Hall
June 7 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
June 8 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
June 11 New York, NY The Governors Ball
June 14 Boston, MA House of Blues
June 15 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of Living Arts
June 17 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
June 18 Manchester, TN Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival
June 21 Englewood, CO Gothic Theatre
June 22 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
June 24 Seattle, WA The Showbox
June 25 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom
June 26 Vancouver, BC Vogue Theatre
June 28 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre
June 30 Los Angeles, CA The Novo