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Benjamin Kheng opens up about journey as an artist

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Nikka Avegail Sabio

<p>Singaporean singer-songwriter Benjamin Kheng expressed his love for music and the joy he finds in sharing it with others.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/"><em><strong>PUSH,</strong></em></a> the 33-year-old singer opened up about his journey as an artist.</p><p>The multitalented artist shared with <a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/"><strong>PUSH</strong></a> how he found himself doing music.</p><p>“I think I was very lucky because I was born into a very music-heavy house,” he said.</p><p>The singer knew about the importance of music at a young age.</p><p>“I grew up in a wonderful musical house. There’s always been classical music or folk songs I was playing in the back so I understood what it meant to me at that age," he said. </p><p>The singer, known for "Better With You," discovered his style through family jam sessions.</p><p>Ben shared that he grew up as a big musical theater enthusiast. This made him fall in love with the classic songs by Jason Robert Brown and Filipino singer Lea Salonga. If given a chance, he wishes to work with Lea Salonga in the future.</p><p>Ben's dad was also musically inclined and was a leader of their church's musical choir. He was one of Ben's musical influences.</p><p>“I think, to be honest; a lot of what my dad is into (music inspiration) growing up. He became my influence too. He likes a lot of Bee Gees, Abba, Hall & Oates, Simon & Garfunkel, so very guitar-based folk songs and that essentially became my starting point," he remarked. </p><p>At the beginning of his music career, he co-founded The Sam Willows, a pop-rap group that performed at events such as the Canadian Music Festival in Toronto and the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in 2013.</p><p>In 2019, Ben started his journey as a solo artist.</p><p>“I started my solo career in 2019. That’s around time or a bit later after the band has been disbanded. I love playing with people," he said. </p><p>He continued: “Music for me is always more fun if shared with people and I think I missed that. So that’s why I always try to collaborate with people, to write together, to be on a song together.”</p><div><br></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-4" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CwVLQN9Pz10/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=536&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A4%2C%22os%22%3A7594871.700000048%2C%22ls%22%3A6468496.600000024%2C%22le%22%3A6468773%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1216" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-4" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p><strong> </strong>The singer of "Break From A Party" stayed true to his beliefs as he collaborated with artists from around the world. </p><p>In his latest release titled "Shared Trauma", Ben has teamed up with versatile Australian singer-songwriter Keenan Te. </p><p>He mentioned that Keenan was the ideal partner for the project and had been the perfect co-pilot throughout the process.</p><p>“I love Keenan. I think he's so deserving of everything that’s coming his way. He not only worked incredibly hard but he was one of the best melody writers I know, one of the best! He's so humble and young and he’s just really, really nice guy, really great guy, who genuinely wants to write and work with artists and friends”</p><p>He mentioned feeling comfortable and having a fun experience working with Keenan.</p><p>“Having Keenan in the song, having two of our voices together,” he continued, “It just feel correct. That’s just how the song came about.”</p><div><br></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-5" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy0Rom6qnPo/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=536&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A5%2C%22os%22%3A7594948.800000012%2C%22ls%22%3A6468496.600000024%2C%22le%22%3A6468773%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1036" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-5" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p>From the ‘land down under”, Benjamin also had a great experience collaborating with a Filipino artist.</p><p>Last July, he worked on a track with James Reid for the first half of his two-part album. </p><p>“Working with James is kinda special,” he said.</p><p>“He was really, really nice and a really great talent too. When he sing on the track I was, I had to take a walk. I was like ‘This is insane! He sounds so good at it.' He just made it his.  I think it's a really fun project to put together.”</p><div><br></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-6" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxX3HMwyS7e/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=536&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A6%2C%22os%22%3A7594982.600000024%2C%22ls%22%3A6468496.600000024%2C%22le%22%3A6468773%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1201" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-6" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p>Ben has shared how the second half of his two-volume album G<em>loomy Boogie</em> differs from the first.</p><p>“All different songs. I think genre-wise; this second half is a bit more eclectic. it’s a bit different,” he shared.</p><p>“I think I’ve gone in ways a little bit different from anything I've done before. I think thematically as well. I never thought I would be saying some other stuff I wouldn’t be saying.”</p><p>Ben finds it challenging to work on the project honestly.</p><p>“I think having done this for quite a while, I was always conditioned to write stuff that people can relate to but also make sense and don't push boundaries too much. But I was like I wanted to be honest in my approach," he said. </p><div><br></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-7" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CyS3HrqrlXq/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=536&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A7%2C%22os%22%3A7596391.900000036%2C%22ls%22%3A6468496.600000024%2C%22le%22%3A6468773%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="866" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-7" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p><strong> </strong>The singer also talked about another upcoming release, "A Nothing Day'" which he co-wrote. It is part of the Volume 2 album with "Shared Trauma." </p><p>“It’s really just about a song you know it’s very easy to spiral in this day of age where you know you do scrolling on your phone at night and you’ve got things to do but if you tell yourself that you need time to rest, and to you know go to usual gear and just relax, then it’s a very much healthier way of looking at it," he said. </p><p>“I think introducing the idea of taking breaks for everyone, especially us workaholic Asians, I think it’s very important, (especially) for (y)our mental health. I wrote the song and I took my own advice and I’m very happy," he added. </p><p>The album Volume 2 is set to be released in December, just in time for the holiday season. Ben also teased potential collaborations with other artists for the included songs.</p><div><br></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-8" src="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CzLyemNvW4I/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=536&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A8%2C%22os%22%3A7596437.700000048%2C%22ls%22%3A6468496.600000024%2C%22le%22%3A6468773%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="1000" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-8" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p>Ben expressed openness to collaborating with Filipino artists in music and acting.</p><p>“Filipinos really love and cherish music.”</p><p>“I think I've been name-dropping this band a lot but I love the work of Oh Flamingo. I think they have a song that feels like home to me," he said. </p><p>He also expressed that he is open to collaborating with Filipino singer-songwriter Ace Banzuelo.</p><p>“I’ve always loved Ace. I think he's got a crazy voice," he remarked. </p><p>Despite his busy schedule, Ben expressed his desire to perform in theatrical productions when given the opportunity.</p><div><br></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-9" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CxFxCeAvJm4/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=536&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A9%2C%22os%22%3A7596545.700000048%2C%22ls%22%3A6468496.600000024%2C%22le%22%3A6468773%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="938" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-9" scrolling="no" style="background: white; max-width: 540px; width: calc(100% - 2px); border-radius: 3px; border: 1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219); box-shadow: none; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 12px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0px;"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br></div><p>“I would love to do theater,” he continued, “It’s very wanting to do. I think the first love is always a kind of music, so there's no (chance) of having to go away for too long," he said. </p>

<p>Benjamin Kheng also talked about working with more Filipino artists in the future. </p>

Benjamin Kheng also talked about working with more Filipino artists in the future.

Benjamin Kheng opens up about journey as an artist

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Benjamin Kheng opens up about journey as an artist

Nikka Sabio

Published November 13, 2023 11:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Benjamin Kheng

James Reid

Ace Banzuelo

Lea Salonga

Gloomy Boogie

Shared Trauma

A Nothing Day

Abba

Bee Gees

Filipino

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