Eddie Benjamin on His Creative Process, Biggest Inspirations, and What His Future Holds [Q&A]

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19-year-old Eddie Benjamin can quite literally do it all. The singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist was destined to make music. Early on in his career, Benjamin collaborated with artists ranging from Meghan Trainor to Ryan Tedder. Now releasing his own music, Benjamin is already making a name for himself.

His debut single, "Fuck My Friends," quickly garnered widespread attention with its moody production and infectious bassline. The song has over 2.5 million streams to date on Spotify alone, marking an incredibly impressive debut. Benjamin's talents were further solidified with the release of "Speechless" and most recently "Running Away from Home." His creativity and sonic diversity create an exciting mystique leading up to every release, keeping fans on their toes.

Most recently, Benjamin dropped the video for his single "Running Away from Home," showcasing his artistic vision beyond just his music. Images of clouds rolling across the sky and shots of Benjamin dancing in front of distorted images of the Earth mimic the ethereal sound of the track with its airy synths and jumpy bassline. Starring in the video alone, Benjamin's ability to command attention is clear, further solidifying his inevitable stardom.

We had the pleasure of chatting with Benjamin, digging into his biggest inspirations, how he defines his sound, and what his musical future holds.

Ones to Watch: What initially drew you to making music and who were some of your musical influences growing up?

Eddie Benjamin: I'm not really sure. When I was around 7 years old I would kind of create these melodies in my head. I was always around music growing up, so it came very naturally to me. In a way, making music has been a part of me ever since I can remember.

My biggest influences have been Stevie Wonder, Prince, Beethoven, and Miles Davis.

Despite being so early on in your career, you've secured an extremely impressive co-sign from names like Justin Bieber and Sia. How do you think this has impacted your outlook as an artist and the way you approach making music?

It hasn't changed my approach to making music, but it has allowed me to be able to talk to these incredible musicians that I've looked up to since I was a kid. Having access to these amazing people has definitely helped me mentally during my music making process.

As a producer, writer, and multi-instrumentalist, it's safe to say you're heavily involved in the creation of your music. Can you give us some insight into your process and how your songs come together?

It honestly changes every day. I don't like routine, and so usually I really go off how I'm feeling. Sometimes it's going into the studio to finish a song and sometimes I sit on a song idea for months. That's how my mind works. I think about so many different factors when making music and there's no process that's set in stone. I like allowing myself the freedom to do whatever I want and feel in the moment.

How would you describe your music to someone who's never listened to you before?

I would describe it by however it makes you feel. I don't think you can use a set sentence to describe my music, that's for whoever is listening to answer.

How do you see your sound evolving? Are you open to exploring other genres in the future?

I'm classically trained in jazz music and can definitely see having strong elements of that genre in future projects.

What was your inspiration behind "Speechless?"

The inspiration behind the song "Speechless" came from the idea of experiencing an important moment in a relationship where you feel like you're nearing the end and sometimes have to go to crazy extremes to prove your love.

Your music feels very cinematic, and this storytelling carries over into your videos. How do you approach the visual extension of your songs and how involved are you in that creative process?

I've always been obsessed with storytelling. There are different elements to music and the visuals are super important to bring these ideas to life. I'm very specific about the process and making sure the stories are portrayed the way I want them to be. The visuals, outfits and colors are all things I focus on, so yah I would consider myself very involved in the creative process.

Outside of music, are there any other creative avenues you want to explore?

I'd love to explore and push the boundaries in architecture and fashion. I've always felt that my creative contribution would be broader than just music and so I’m excited to eventually dive into that.

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