INTERVIEW: BENNY BOI

BENNY BOI is an aspiring, young Australian DJ kind enough to chat with me about his music, influences and how he got started not too long ago.

Benny Boi first became interested in making music in his early teens when he saw his brother using a program called FL Studio, a Digital Audio Workstation that allows anyone to make simple electronic music just with a computer (anyone being the operative word, as yours truly used this program for a Sound Project). Benny Boi claims to have been terrible at it when he first began and wasn't entirely interested in it. He also knew nothing about music theory which, he believes is "just as important when producing electronic music." Agreed (looking at you, David Guetta).

But shortly after, Benny Boi discovered a musician named deadmau5, who he thought was making "really beautiful House music" using similar programs. This instantly inspired him to keep trying, and "all of a sudden I knew I really wanted to make music". Piano lessons and experience helped the music theory side of things and as the years went on Benny Boi's knowledge increased and his skills developed into something that could actually help him make "something not half-bad".

Last year Benny Boi was contacted by someone from one of the websites where he used to share his music, asking if he was interested in sending some demos to the label this certain someone was signed to. He then sent them a few songs and he ended up being signed. He had three songs in total available for purchase on several stores online, including iTunes and Beatport. Unfortunately the label closed down this year and Benny Boi's songs have now been taken down, but he remains optimistic, saying "it was still a great insight into the industry!"

So tell us Benny Boi, what are you currently working on? 

I'm currently working on trying to blend all of the different styles I like into one overarching sound, my end goal being to make something that everybody can like (radio friendly even) but still stay true to the less popular sounds that I love. I would really love to get signed to Future Classic but I'm a very lazy person and I'm not doing enough to achieve that.


Who, if anyone, would be your ideal collaborator(s), living or dead?

My ideal collaboration would most definitely be with Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, otherwise known as Daft Punk. They've been one of my most favourite bands since I was very young and they've always been such a big inspiration to me. I'm pretty sure I would have nothing constructive to contribute in that collaboration and would probably just stare in awe the whole time but that's still my dream!

Do you feel more passionate about making your own music, or remixing the music of others? And why?

It's very hard for me to get a rush of inspiration to make original music, whereas I can listen to someone else's song that I really like and suddenly be full of motivation to remix it and turn it into my own. I think it's easier to inject your own personal style into a remix rather than an original song because you know what the song sounds like and you can have a vision for how you're going to change it/make it better/make it different etc. and add your own personal spin to it. When the inspiration does come for something original though, it can be very rewarding and fun.

Bugg is Benny Boi's YouTube name.

Where do you see yourself in five years time?

Ideally, in five years time I would love to be making music full time and performing live, maybe even touring if I'm lucky! I would also like to own my own record label one day, five years may or may not be realistic for that particular goal. (you never know, Benny Boi!)

Thanks for you time, Benny Boi. Do you have a favourite quote you might want to close with?

"If you're going through hell, keep going." - Winston Churchill.


Certainly some wise words from a teenager.


ROMANY