Benny Sings
Tim van Berkestijn, better known by his stage name Benny Sings, is a Dutch pop musician, songwriter, and producer from the Netherlands.. Since 2003, he has released nine studio albums, including his most recent album, 2021's Beat Tape II on Stones Throw Records. He has since collaborated with many artists worldwide, like Mac DeMarco, Mocky, and Rex Orange County[1]
Benny Sings | |
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![]() Benny Sings live in Antwerp, Belgium on July 27th, 2021. | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Tim van Berkestijn |
Born | 1977 (age 44–45) Dordrecht, Netherlands |
Origin | Amsterdam |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels |
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Website | www.bennysings.com |
Biography
Tim van Berkestijn was born in 1977 and raised in Dordrecht, a city in the western Netherlands. He formed his first band The Loveboat in high school. He attended the Royal Conservatory of The Hague where he studied sonology. [2] He made beats before choosing his established name under the name Benny V Kreamtits.[3]
In 1999, Berkestijn adopted the stage name Benny Sings when he joined the Dutch hip hop group Abstract Dialect as bassist. During this period, he also worked with hip-hop collective De Toffen and the soul group Heavenly Social.
In 2003, Sings released his first solo album, Champagne People, which did well in the Netherlands and Europe. During the 2010s, Sings gained more attention in the United States.[4] In 2017, he helped pen the Rex Orange County single "Loving Is Easy." In 2018, he joined the roster of American record label Stones Throw.
Beyond his solo career, Sings has collaborated with, written for, and produced many notable artists, including Mayer Hawthorne, Rex Orange County, The Free Nationals, Goldlink, Mac DeMarco and Tom Misch. He also composed songs for the anime Carole & Tuesday.[5]
In 2022, Benny Sings co-produced Rex Orange County album Who Cares?, which debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200.
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details |
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Champagne People |
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EUH (with Rednose Distrikt) |
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Benny... At Home |
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Art |
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Studio |
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Beat Tape |
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City Pop |
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Music |
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Beat Tape II |
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Live albums
- I Love You (Live at The Bimhuis) (Sonar Kollektiv, 2005)[15]
Compilations
- The Best of Benny Sings (2012)
As featured artist
- C-Mon – "Beggars for Sun" (Cereal, 2008)
- Che Grand – "Soraya's Jam" (Everything's Good Ugly, 2009)
- Knobsticker – "Hypothetical_Theoretical" (Forest Fruit, 2009)
- Scallymatic Orchestra – "All I Can Give" (Annie Get Your Gun, 2009)
- Kan Sano – "Go Nowhere" (2.0.1.1, 2014)
- Data – "Don't Sing" (Don't Sing, 2015)
- Koffie – "Hard Times" (Huntu, 2017)
- Instupendo – "Homme" (Friend of a Friend, 2017)
- Rex Orange County – "Loving is Easy" (2017)
- Onelight – "Aldehyde" (Vanderlay, 2018)
- Tuxedo – "Toast 2 Us" (Tuxedo III, 2019)
- Shuko & The Breed – "Life in Los Angeles" (Dippin', 2019)
- Blackwave. – "The Antidote" (Are We Still Dreaming?, 2019)
- Free Nationals – "Apartment" (Free Nationals, 2019)
- Les Cooles de Ville – "Starr People" (L.C.D.V., 2019)
- Intellextual – "Popstar" (Intellextual, 2019)
- Gosto – "The Other Way" (2019)
- Aaron Taylor – "Shooting Star" (Icarus, 2020)
- M.I.L.K. – "Prisoner" (Always Summer Somewhere, 2020)
- Yaffle – "The Child Inside" (Lost, Never Gone, 2020)
- Darius - "RISE" (Utopia, 2021)
References
- "Benny Sings | Stones Throw Records". www.stonesthrow.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "Benny Sings on Apple Music". Apple Music. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- Sessions, OCB. "Benny Sings interview". YouTube. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
- "With The Vibrant 'City Pop', Benny Sings Stakes His Claim For The Masses". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "Carole & Tuesday Composer Introductions No. 1". Carole & Tuesday Official Website. Archived from the original on 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- "Champagne People, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "Euh, by Benny Sings & Rednose Distrikt". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "At Home, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "Art, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "STUDIO, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "Beat Tape, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "City Pop, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
- "Music, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
- "Beat Tape II, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-11-01.
- "I Love You, by Benny Sings". Benny Sings. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
External links
- "Discogs Biography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- "Sonar Kollektiv". Sonarkolletiv.com. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- "Official website". Bennysings.com. Retrieved 1 January 2008.