New Zealand’s rising star BENEE released her sophomore EP STELLA & STEVE on November 15th.
The record opens up with single “Find an Island”, a song about having a conflict with someone. BENEE says it was inspired by an argument she had with her guitarist Tia. “You know when you’re having a petty argument with a friend you don’t want to swear at them or put them down or anything, but I was like, ‘What would I say?’ It’d be like, ‘Find an island, go somewhere else,’” she explained in an interview with Coup De Main.
The EP continues with “Supalonely”. The singer explained to the New Zealand Music Commission that “this one is a super self-deprecating song where I just take the piss out of myself being sad haaaa! Then BOOM, Gus Dapperton drops a twist at the end with his funky lil verse.” It showcases a different sound for the star, a fun beat mixed with relatable lyrics.
The third track is called “Monsta,” and BENEE explained on her New York show at Rough Trade back in October that it was inspired by a dream she had after she moved out of her parents’ house into a sleepout in the backyard. “This monster took me in the middle of the night but it was actually trying to help me. It saved me from my house catching on fire.” She explained when introducing the song to the audience.
The following song is called “Drifting”. It paints a dreamy haze up in space, and it talks about finding one’s way through life. It features Jack Berry, another artist from New Zealand.
The EP closes with “Blu”, the softest and most vulnerable song on the record. It’s stripped down from the layers visible in the past tracks and gives space to BENEE’s vocals to shine.
STELLA & STEVE showcases the growth of BENEE’s craft, giving a whole different vibe from her debut work but still sounding familiar to those who been supporting for a while. This sophomore EP shows the diversity that the rising star has.
You can stream STELLA & STEVE below.
