It’s not every day that an artist vaults from the bedroom to front and center at Ram Records from the get-go but none other than Bensley seems to be taking it all in stride. Signed on the basis of a few demo tunes that found their way into the hands of Andy C, Bensley debuted with the aptly titled ‘Next Generation’ LP that established his signature melodic sound.
Still buzzing off the vibes of his latest single “Tip Toe” (out now!), we thought we’d check in with the Toronto-based wunderkind for a glimpse into the cuts that continue to shape his sound.
This is Five Tunes That Changed My Life with Bensley:
This tune single-handedly kickstarted my shift towards drum & bass. We would rinse this out on the sound system in my friend’s car every day at school.
The Dave Brubeck Quartet “Take Five” (Fontana) 1959
Easily one of the most prolific jazz standards, and it wasn’t until I first heard this tune that I was fully able to appreciate jazz music. Paul Desmond’s saxophone playing was hugely inspiring to me, and changed the way I played the instrument. I had the privilege of performing the same part with my high school jazz big band several years later.
The Crystal Method “Born Too Slow” (V2) 2003
One of the earliest pieces of electronic music I can remember getting into, and it was all thanks to hearing this tune on the Need For Speed: Underground soundtrack way back when. Over a decade later, I’ve still got this one in rotation when I’m driving a real car!
Billy Talent “Fallen Leaves” (Atlantic) 2006
The soundtrack for angsty twelve-year-old Bensley! All jokes aside, these guys were one of the few alternative/punk/hardcore bands that my nerdy self could get totally hyped by. I’m not into this stuff quite as much these days, but I still hold a lot of appreciation for it. Out of sheer nostalgia, I saw them in concert for the first time last year, and was surprised by how much of it had still stuck with me. Also, bonus points for local talent!
Netsky “Iron Heart” (Hospital) 2010
This tune single-handedly kickstarted my shift towards drum & bass. We would rinse this out on the sound system in my friend’s car every day at school. I never imagined that I would eventually pursue a career within this genre and should I ever need to be reminded of why I got into it, I’ll come back to this track. It’s so energetic, catchy, melodic, and I still love it to pieces.
Get it at Spotify | Beatport | iTunes
KOAN Sound “One Hand Clap” (Inspected Records) 2011
These guys are probably the artists who most inspired me to get into producing, and this track was the first I heard from them. I was totally blown away and fascinated by the sound design, and it really got me interested in the making of tunes like these. At the time, it was like nothing I had heard before, and is still as impressive nearly five years later!