BENEE RELEASES DEBUT ALBUMHey u x TODAY+ FEATURING COLLABORATIONS WITH LILY ALLEN, GRIMES, FLO MILLI, GUS DAPPERTON, MALLRAT, KENNY BEATS, BAKAR AND MUROKI
Image Credit: Harry Were
+ DROPS OFFICIAL VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE 'KOOL' IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SIMS 4 VIDEO GAME
“‘Hey u x’ is the sound of a pop star who’s resolutely herself and, ultimately, there’s nothing cooler than that.” – NME
“BENEE’s on to a winner.” – DIY
“One thing is certain - BENEE’s wave shows no sign of breaking anytime soon.” – The Line Of Best Fit
New Zealand’s platinum sensation BENEE unveils her eagerly awaited full-length debut album, Hey u x, today.
Fueled by one off-kilter bop after another, Hey u x sounds like the perfect lost Gen X classic made for Gen Z. Blending, bending and breaking genres like only BENEE can, the album boasts an all-star cast of collaborators, including Lily Allen, Grimes, Flo Milli, Gus Dapperton, Mallrat, Kenny Beats, Bakar and Muroki, and has already been praised by the likes of Billboard, E! Online, Los Angeles Times, NME, NYLON, PAPER Magazine, Pigeons & Planes, Stereogum, Teen Vogue, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, The FADER, UPROXX, V Magazine, Variety and many more. The album was produced by BENEE’s longtime collaborator Josh Fountain, and its artwork was designed by Californian artist Terry Hoff.
BENEE says the album is a deliberately eclectic mix of sounds. “I’m writing music for one human listening to the music. I want them to feel as connected as they can to my mind. I called it ‘Hey u x’ like a message that you send to a friend,” she says.
Today, BENEE also shares the official video for her new single ‘Kool’. Made in collaboration with the iconic Electronic Arts video game The Sims 4, BENEE becomes a “Sim” in the visual complete with the bright green crystal “Plumbob” above her. In footage akin to the instantly recognizable gameplay, countless outfit changes ensue as she wanders around the house actually controlling her Sim-self remotely. The nineties-style guitar, slick bass line and head-nodding beat provide the perfect soundtrack for her Sims adventure.
Of ‘Kool,’ BENEE says, “I wrote [the song] about some people I know who seem to be effortlessly cool. They always seem to say the right thing.”
To celebrate the album’s arrival, BENEE will host the Hey u x pop-up store and immersive album listening experience in Auckland, NZ. She welcomes fans into her world with larger-than-life activations befitting of her vision throughout the weekend. Today, fans can use the global Twitter emoji for the album’s release when they use the hashtags #BENEE and #Heyux. On November 18th, BENEE will be answering fan questions during a Reddit AMA with the /popheads community.
BENEE continued to make headlines leading up to Hey u x’s release. Billboard recently touted her among its “21 Under 21 Artists,” and she took home “Best New Zealand Act” at the 2020 MTV EMAs.
Hey u x – OUT NOW
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