Music

Released in 2021 on Stones Throw Records, 'Music' represents the creative peak of Benny Sings' (Tim van Berkestijn) career-long obsession with the intersection of 70s AOR and hip-hop production. Recorded largely in his home studio in Amsterdam, the album features high-profile collaborations with Mac DeMarco, Tom Misch, and PJ Morton, yet it remains singularly Benny's vision. The record is characterized by its 'sophisti-pop' sensibilities, utilizing jazz-adjacent chord progressions and polished arrangements while maintaining a 'bedroom' intimacy. Critical reception was overwhelmingly positive, with outlets like Pitchfork and NME praising its ability to modernize the yacht rock aesthetic without falling into parody. It stands as a more refined, cohesive successor to his 2019 breakout 'City Pop', leaning further into live instrumentation while keeping the drum-machine-led grooves that define his sound. The album's title is a literalist manifesto, reflecting a pure, almost childlike devotion to the craft of songwriting.