Benzer

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Benzer – Filipino/American

Interview conduct on October 04, 2020

By Dan Locke

Born and raised in Rowland Heights, CA by Filipino immigrants, Benzer’s passion for music dates back to Sunday mornings as a child listening to classic Filipino artists with his parents and singing at family karaoke nights. As he grew older, he realized music’s power to express creativity which led him to learn piano, drums, and guitar while singing in his local choirs. Benzer uses his sweet, soulful voice to exemplify his belief in the power of music to express through his storytelling lyrics and sound influenced by smooth R&B, funk, soul and 90’s hip-hop.

You are Filipino/American. Tell me about your upbringing?

Where do I even start? Well music has always been a part of my life whether it be in singing or playing in church, listening to Filipino balladeers on car rides, or singing at parties on a Magic Sing karaoke machine. I grew up in Rowland Heights and graduated college from Cal State University, Fullerton. I always have the mindset of trying your best because that is what my parents did when they emigrated here. My brother and sister definitely grew up poorer before me because that’s when they all moved and had to really grind to get to where we are today. I am thankful to God for such a close family and how we all love each other dearly.

On your trips to the Philippines what part of the country did you visit?

I would visit Cebu and Manila a lot because that is where my parents are from. It’s nice to see where they came from and how hard they worked to get here to the United States.

What is your favorite Filipino food?

Favorite would have to be either Bistek or Sweet n Sour fish!

How did you discover music?

Car rides with my dad. I also had the first iPod shuffle handed down to me from my sister and that had all the 2000s bangers on it! But what really got me into listening and dissecting music as Spotify when it first came out and also just digging through 60s soul music on YouTube.

How did you start to write music?

I got together with some friends when I was a sophomore in college and I made beats and they wrote. When I decided that I also wanted to write but make stuff for myself, that’s when I really started writing about my own experiences in music.

Why don’t you use your family name?

Personally, Benzer just sounds cooler on its own but I don’t forget that name of course.

How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?

It’s actually my dad’s from when he was still in the Philippines. It’s just an old classic nylon string guitar but to be honest, I don’t play much. I only know very simple chords.

What was your first performance like?

Terrible. It was at an underground student pub at CSUF and my voice was shaky and I was super nervous. All in all, I also think the mix of the track was bad so I had a terrible first performance of my own music. But you always gotta have those experiences to get better and I think that I definitely learned from it.

Describe your music?

My music is very wavy, groovy, and chill. I like music that is easy to listen to but also makes you want to dance, so that is what I try to incorporate in my tracks.

What makes a good songwriter?

Vulnerability is the most important thing that makes good songwriting. How much you show yourself in your writing but not necessarily in your personal/social media life really gives a picture to people how our mind works.

Tell me about your home studio?

Nothing crazy, got some studio monitors, got a midi keyboard, Roland GO Keys Piano, an interface, and a mic. Definitely blessed to have friends around me who do music as well so I was able to get a lot of these for fairly cheap and easily accessible.

What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?

The title was called “Sold On You”, it was made with a few buddies of mine in college but to be honest, the quality was not good at all. I started making music on my iPad and that’s the first full-length song recorded and sent out to the world.

Tell me about your EP Deuce?

In “DEUCE” you’ll find moments in time recreated through a variety of sounds ranging from acoustic guitar and vocals to hip-hop and melodic rapping. Expect contemporary R&B, a West Coast G Funk vibe, psychedelic jazz, exquisite falsettos, and more. The sounds and vocal arrangements in this EP represent a picture frame of some of my real-life stories. I found writing “DEUCE” as a personal journal on topics such as heartbreak, love, fun weekends, and gratitude from moments where emotions are discovered, and perspectives are changed. –

How do you stay healthy while performing?

Drink lots of water and always have cough drops on you!

Do you think your music will become something that Filipinos in the Philippines would listen to?

I doubt it, that’s why I make the music I make. The main type of songs that get popular there aren’t really my cup of tea, though the actual vocals of the singers there are amazing.

What are your feelings about streaming music?

I think it is most definitely the present and future to come. There’s no way around it but I feel artists should be able to get more of a cut from it as opposed to the people at the top.

Digital vs. vinyl?

I like digital for sound quality and just ease of access but I like to keep vinyl for personal collection. There’s just something about owning something physically that sparks some sense of joy.

What are your feelings about the social uprising going on in the United States?

I think that a lot of things are being exposed because of the power of social media and how fast things can spread on the internet. Pertaining to the recent marches and deaths of Black citizens, we see countless times police officers not being held accountable for heinous acts and abuse of power we see caught on tape. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that there are good cops and people within those structures, but when the people in charge don’t hold these bad cops accountable, let things slide, and good cops wipe things under the rug, I think that’s where the public demands for change and tangible justice

What is the mental health situation of the United States? How can the public help the doctors and nurses on the front line?

COVID is no help to what’s going on nowadays and I feel there is definitely a rise in possibly undiagnosed depression during this time. I think now is the time to read and stay informed on health-related things and make sure you do the best you can whether it be wearing a mask or staying inside to help our frontline workers.

As you look back at the last live performance you did at Chain Reaction. Did you think that the world would ever be affected so much by a virus?

My live performance at chain reaction was around November and no I would have never thought that the world would change so drastically. I also think the reason it spread so much was because of how little Americans took it seriously. We all should be doing our best for our neighbors and fellow Americans.

Do you think kids should go back to school?

I personally don’t think kids should go back because there is no vaccine yet. Not only are we putting teachers at risk but also the kids and their families. But the dilemma is that not everyone has access to a laptop or internet which makes it hard for kids to learn. I think that all schools should provide some sort of device for both internet and school use.

In Canada, they just released a new Covid-19 vaccine school child which get rid of the invasive nasal swab and instead ask kids to gargle and spit. Now this is for children only. Should, this also be given to adults?

Yes, why not.

Studies are showing that because of COVID-19 many students who were ready for college have decided to hold off because many schools are doing virtual school and changing the same amount for school as they would for on campus classes. Do you think the colleges should give some type of discount to these students?

Of course, and they should also get rid of those hidden fees for random things that students wouldn’t even be able to use since all learning is online.

What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?

My Cherie Amour is one of my favorite songs of all time and I recently have been listening to it again. Stevie Wonder is so good with his words and really creates a picture with his storytelling. It talks about a love that really doesn’t know who Stevie is. I have felt that before.

How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?

Definitely more virtual things for a while and streaming and merch will probably be the main drivers of income since performing live is basically nonexistent right now.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I’ve been trying to learn new skills such as Procreate on the iPad and just overall designing album art and other graphics to put on a resume and just for myself.

I see you have been doing some music during this time. What made you decide to do a Boyz 2 Men song and work with Lauren Ahleeza on a song?

Boyz 2 Men have always been a favorite of mine as well, their music always makes you feel what they probably felt at the time. Also, A Song for Mama is a beautiful song that needed the talents of my friends to be on. Lauren is a talented singer and her voice is like butter. I love working with talented people!

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

I got into collage art, more so digitally, but my friend makes collage art and it inspired me to cut up some pieces and put them together.

95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. This includes people who don’t have television and using their computers to do streaming of programs and movies. Which is your favorite streaming channel?

I don’t really watch TV but, I usually would watch shows on either Netflix or Disney Plus. I really like watching The Last Dance and The Mandalorian.

Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses. The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?

I already feel the younger generation has been moving away from Facebook. But I could only confidently say that with the youth in America as Facebook is still the number one app in places like the Philippines. One side of me agrees because they just want to make sure everybody gets paid but it also limits creativity to those who can’t acquire proper licenses (most people) and just want to make a cover of a song.

With no real live music (mostly virtual shows) expect for things like Drive-In Theater shows with crowds for the past 6 months, what do you think will be the future of music?

For the start it will be low capacity events, though slowly but surely, we will work our way back up to big scale events.

How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merch to them at the show?

Stay engaged on social media and be sure to include times for fan engagement through those apps! Also be sure to spice things up on the page and go live from time to time.

Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home. Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music, and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?

No way, it’s really just not the same experience. I wouldn’t even pay to see my favorite artist live virtually.

For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?

I can’t speak on this as I don’t really have much info or experience on the topic.

With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?

I’d say only until scientists find a cure which would result in yes, a pause in festivals for the coming years.

Are you going to vote by mail or in person? Did you know that Live Nation Activates Concert Venues as Polling Places and Promotes Voting Engagement among Fans and Employees?

I’m not sure yet, I’m leaning towards voting in person as I want to make sure everything is right and my ballot is cast securely. And yes, I have seen that a lot of places are opening up for polling places!

What about Holographic concerts in our living room?

In the words of Randy Jackson, “It’s a no from me dawg.”

How do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself finally making money off of music to where I could do it full time and making quality tunes for people to really identify with. I also see myself maybe performing at a festival or a small concert. I definitely would want to open for one of my favorite artists such as Devin Morrison, Mac Ayres, Lucky Daye, or Anderson. Paak.

Anything you would like to say in closing.