Cheyenne Benton

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Cheyenne Benton

Interview conducted on Sept. 30, 2020

By Dan Locke

Bursting with bubblegum angst, singer/songwriter, Cheyenne Benton breathes lyrical fire into the world of atmospheric Indie Pop with the release of her new charismatic self-penned, self-produced single, “In My Head.” The catchy up-tempo track sporting her powerful vocals and perfectly stacked harmonies recently premiered on San Diego’s 91X FM and is now available at all digital outlets and streaming platforms.

What is your upbringing?

I was brought up by a mechanical engineer and a stay-at-home mom in San Diego, CA

How did you discover music?

I discovered music pretty early on – growing up my parents really only played country music around the house, so for the first 7 or 8 years of my life that was all I knew. The first band outside of the country genre I remember listening to was Maroon 5 – the song ‘Makes Me Wonder’ came on the radio when I was in the car with my aunt and that was kind of the beginning of my deep dive into pop and other genres.

Do you still play the Tupperware drum set?

I don’t – that was quite a point of contention between my mother and I. But I’ve been learning audio production and programming my own drums, so I might just have to sample some Tupperware for my next project!

How did you start to write music?

I began writing music in junior high – at that time it was mostly just fragments of lyrics. When I got into high school was when I really started writing fully-fledged songs – it was just me and my guitar, and I would get an idea and sit down and work it out. Sometimes I could do it in one sitting, and other times it would go through many different revisions.

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

My dad bought me my first guitar when I was 9 – it was an acoustic mini-Martin. I still have it!

What is the make, model and year of your favorite guitar now?

My favorite guitar is my Fender Stratocaster – it’s a limited-edition light purple/grey color.

What was your first performance at like?

My very first performance took place when I was in the 5th grade – I played a donkey in my elementary school’s Christmas play. I had a solo with the girl who played Mother Mary – my hands were shaking the entire time! But I remember the feeling really exhilarated, and afterward so many people came up to me afterward and complimented me, and that made me feel really good. I had never really sung in front of anyone up until that point. It’s definitely a sweet and encouraging memory.

What makes a good songwriter?

The ability to tell a good story that evokes some kind of feeling within the listener. Even if it doesn’t personally resonate with me – if a songwriter is able to capture my attention within the first 30 seconds and pull me into their world for even just a minute – I think that says something.

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

My first original song was called “Coffee Shop” – I wrote it when I was 15 about the right person, wrong timing type of thing. I never recorded it professionally, but I’m sure there’s still a video of it that exists somewhere.

Let look at your first video. Do you still have the typewriter you used in the video?

Yes, I do! Unfortunately, I could never really figure out how to change the ink… so it just sits on my desk collecting dust.

Why did you choose Jason Gonzales as the director for the video?

He was working with my manager at the time, and he connected us. That was a really fun shoot – we just kind of ran around San Diego going to a few different places that hold some special memories for me.

Your latest single “In My Head” How did you get the idea for the song? You have been working on it since 2018.

The idea came to me when I was going through a period of time when I was dealing with a lot of really conflicting, confusing emotions – and my anxiety was at an all-time high. I kept replaying conversations over and over in my head, driving myself crazy – and I kept getting this imagery of being locked in a room with yellow walls. Visuals are a big part of the process for me, and I associate different sounds and feelings with color. Yellow is a color that gives me anxiety, so that was a motif I really wanted to drive home with the single.

What is your favorite track on the album?

I don’t have an album out yet, but on my EP, I would have to say “Angels”.

How do you stay healthy while touring?

I actually haven’t toured yet – it’s definitely on my bucket list, but doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon with COVID-19. At home I go on a lot of walks, I try to meditate for at least 10 minutes every day, and I watch what I eat to an extent (but I’m not super disciplined with that, I probably should take better care of myself when it comes to food).

What are your feelings about streaming music?

I love that music has become so widely accessible to mainstream audiences, however, it makes it really hard for the average independent musician. I don’t have a big label to back me financially and push my music when it comes out, so I make little to nothing from streaming.

Digital vs. vinyl?

I don’t own a record player, but I do think there’s something magic about listening to music on one.

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

I think it’s been a long time coming. Black Lives Matter. I hope we will continue to fight for change, because our system is very broken and it’s about damn time, we take the initiative. I urge and encourage everyone to register to vote if you haven’t already. Especially my generation, it’s really crucial we show up to the voting booths this November.

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

I’m by no means an expert when it comes to mental health, but when the average American is struggling to meet their basic needs, it’s really no surprise we are seeing skyrocketing rates of mental illness. I think the average American can help doctors and nurses on the front line by following social distancing guidelines, wearing a mask in public, staying 6 feet apart and avoiding large crowds whenever possible. It’s really the least we can do.

Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?

The average-sized universities and schools shouldn’t be meeting in person – if possible, I think online classes are the best way to go. I know my program is fairly small – there are only 14 students in my class, so we have been meeting in person and on Zoom, but when we are in person, we are required to wear masks and our desks are spaced 6 feet apart. I think if it’s possible to go back safely, then that’s okay – but in the United States that isn’t the average school, most schools have thousands of students. especially colleges with dorms and living situations.

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

This morning I woke up with “Cooler Than Me” by Mike Posner just on repeat in my brain. I think it’s just funny, it’s got a killer beat and makes me feel like a diva when I’m driving down the road blasting it, and it reminds me of 2012 so that’s always a plus.

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

I think it’s definitely already affected a lot of small venues and independent artists. Moving forward I think there’s going to be more thought put into large gatherings in general. We’re seeing a rise in online concerts, livestreaming, all of that – a lot of musicians have moved online to try to make ends meet because so many indie musicians rely on touring for their income.

What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?

I actually decided to go back to school – so I’m getting my degree in The Recording Arts and Audio Engineering. I’ve been writing a lot, working on my independent projects, planning, producing, creating – not only just music, but it’s pushed me to explore other mediums like photography, makeup, drawing, etc. A lot of meditating, journaling, inner work.

How did you get into the San Diego Loyal?

Someone who works closely with SD Loyal reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in a gig playing for their Livestream meeting – and I accepted because it sounded like a lot of fun. I played soccer for a year in junior high growing up, so it was definitely a full-circle moment. They’re a great team of hard-working, genuine athletes who are passionate about what they do and I admire that. I love supporting others to pursue their passions!

How was it to perform at the California Women’s Music?

It was fun! Definitely a lot different from what I’m used to – every Zoom gig comes with its challenges – but I’m a big advocate for women supporting women, so it was really great to be able to have that opportunity to play alongside some really talented women.

Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?

I got to collage a bit during quarantine – like, cutting up pictures from a magazine and gluing them together to make something entirely different. It’s something I used to really enjoy as a teen, so it was nice to be able to have time to do that again.

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 watch a lot of TV myself – I just really don’t have a lot of time. I like to occupy my free time with something I feel like I can learn from, but I do indulge in streaming from time to time. Personally, I use YouTube the most – I’m really into supporting independent creators and I just don’t have the patience to sit and digest movies. But on the rare occasion, I do, it’s usually Hulu or Netflix.

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 includes [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’m sure artists and musicians are going to find their way around it. I’m personally not a big fan of Facebook myself, but I assume it’s going to push a lot of artists off the platform and onto other streaming services like Twitch, Periscope (if that’s still a thing?), or YouTube.

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?

I think it’s been really neat to see how creative and innovative people have gotten during this time of uncertainty. My hope is that we eventually return to touring and live shows, but also, I think this is going to encourage artists to branch out and think outside the box when performing to the public. I think the best artists offer more than just a live performance – they offer an experience, whether that’s online or in person, and I think we will continue to see the best artists evolve with the times to meet those new qualifications, whatever they may be in the future.

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

Bands can still create songs, music videos, artwork and music digitally. We are really blessed to live in a time with the capabilities of the world wide web. I’ve seen a lot of really creative artists put out their best content during this time. And bands can still sell merch digitally, I’ve even seen a number of artists selling masks as merch!

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?

It’s hard to say. I’m still very small, I wasn’t making ends meet off of my music alone before any of this happened – so I don’t feel qualified to speak on behalf of bigger acts. I know it will further complicate the industry though – even more so than streaming already has.

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 mean, I’m sure it will happen, slowly but surely. I’m not really sure what the future holds or what that will look like.

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

I think festivals will make a return as soon as we have a vaccination and people feel more comfortable leaving their homes. I’m not sure how many years from now that will be, but I have hope it will be within the next year.

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 registered to receive a mail-in ballot, but I usually drop the actual ballot off at a polling place. I did not know that! Good information to know, you really do learn something every day.

What about Holographic concerts in our living room?

That sounds like fun! It wouldn’t surprise me; technology is advancing at such a rapid rate. If that becomes a possibility, I’m all for it.

How do you see yourself in the next five years?

I’ll be 27… that’s scary to think about. Hopefully living in a cute little apartment in a bustling city, with a small black cat. Continuing to create music and art – on my own terms, with more than enough money to get by. Touring, producing (for myself and others), maybe even winning a few awards along the way! But overall… I see myself happy with myself and happy with my life. That’s the goal at the end of the day – to find peace within. Everything else will come, but that’s what’s most important to me.

Anything you would like to say in closing.

If you’ve read this far – thank you! Thank you for the support and for believing in my art and believing in me. You can find me on social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube and my music at https://linktr.ee/cheyenne.benton Sending you positivity, love, and light during these times.