From Poet to Rapper: Benny Duhay’s Music Debut

[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell me about yourself? How did you begin your music journey?

[BENNY:] I have been interested in music ever since I was a little kid. My dad used to play the drums so I’d say at least initially I got into music because of him. I started writing poetry in middle school and that sort of evolved into songwriting by the time I was 13-14 or so. I used to record with friends throughout high school but my passion for music and dedication really grew once I started college and started doing shows. 

[UNPUBLISHED:] Was there a particular song on this album that took longer for you to complete? Or equally one that was so easier to write?

[BENNY:] I’ll start with the easiest one to write and that was “Mexico”. That one really just flowed for me both from a melody standpoint on the hook to the verse lyrics. I started writing it when I was actually in Mexico and it didn’t take very long to have enough for both verses. The tougher part about it was actually finding a beat that it would work well with. The song that took the longest to write was “Drowning”. I think partly because it was a song that really required me to open up and self reflect. I think for the most part the EP is positive, fun, party vibes. But Drowning is on the opposite end of that. 

[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have a favourite rapper or artist? Who inspires you musically or lyrically?

[BENNY:] There are quite a few artists that I go to for inspiration but if I had to choose one, I’d have to go with Drake. Everything he does from a lyrical standpoint and from an overall sound standpoint is just insane. I know for most people he’s labeled as a rapper but I’d argue that he makes music that crosses quite a few genres. My goal is to do something similar with my sound. 

[UNPUBLISHED:] Who would you love to collaborate with? A dream collaboration?

[BENNY:] There is a long list for me honestly. Growing up in California (even though I’m from Southern California) I’ve always gravitated towards some of the Bay Area rappers. Everyone from E40 to G Eazy, I mean those would be amazing collaborations. A dream collaboration would be with anyone on my top 5 artists list; Drake, Kanye, Eminem, Chris Brown and Bruno Mars. 

[UNPUBLISHED:] What is your process when writing? How do you complete one of your songs?

[BENNY:] I’d say that almost every song is different. From a writing standpoint I can be on the road and write full verses without really having a beat ready or a beat that i've worked on. I’ve also done the opposite and worked on an instrumental without really having a concept or lyrics for the song in mind. But I’d say that ideally, I like to work on both simultaneously. It just doesn’t always happen that way. 

[UNPUBLISHED:] What would you like people to take away from your music? What do you want to convey?

[BENNY:] I think music is a powerful thing. There are so many songs and albums that take me to different points in my life. Happy moments, sad moments, etc. And it almost feels like I’ve shared those moments with those artists in a sense. That’s really what I want people to get from my music, I want them to feel like I’m a part of their moments when they’re listening to my music. Whether it’s a fun song concept like Mexico or WWBD or a song that’s a bit less happy and more somber like Drowning, I feel that relatable songs and relatable lyrics are really what connects artists with their listeners.  

[UNPUBLISHED:] What are your future plans for 2021? What have you got in store?

[BENNY:] Dropping my debut EP “Know It All” a few weeks ago was an amazing first step in this journey that I’m on. The positive feedback and love I got surrounding the album was truly remarkable. I celebrated the release by recording 6 more songs over the last couple of weeks. It’s another project that I am super excited about. I’m working on a couple of collaborations that you will have to stay tuned for but I do plan on dropping something right in time for Halloween.

Make sure to check out Benny on Spotify