Tim van Berkestijn (born 28 April 1977), better known by hisstage nameBenny Sings, is a Dutchpop musician, songwriter, and producer from the Netherlands. Since 2003, he has released ten studio albums, including his most recent album, 2023'sYoung Hearts onStones Throw Records. He has since collaborated with many artists worldwide, likeMac DeMarco,Mocky, andRex Orange County.[1]
Benny Sings | |
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![]() Benny Sings performing in 2021 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Tim van Berkestijn |
Born | (1977-04-28)28 April 1977 (age 47) Dordrecht, Netherlands |
Origin | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
Genres | |
Occupations | |
Years active | 1999–present |
Labels |
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Website | www |
Biography
editTim van Berkestijn was born in 1977 and raised inDordrecht, a city in the Western Netherlands. He formed his first band, the Loveboat, in high school. He attended theRoyal Conservatory of The Hague, where he studiedsonology.[2] He made beats under the name Benny V Kreamtits before changing his name to Benny Sings.[3]
In 1999, Berkestijn adopted the stage name Benny Sings when he joined theDutch hip hop group Abstract Dialect as a bassist. During this period, he also worked with hip hop collective De Toffen and the soul group Heavenly Social.
In 2003, Sings released his first solo album,Champagne People, which did well in the Netherlands and Europe. During the 2010s, Sings gained more attention in the United States.[4] In 2017, he helped pen theRex Orange County single "Loving Is Easy".[5]
Beyond his solo career, Sings has collaborated with, written for, and produced many notable artists, includingMayer Hawthorne,Free Nationals,GoldLink,Mac DeMarco andTom Misch. He also composed songs for the animeCarole & Tuesday.[6] In 2022, Sings co-producedRex Orange County's albumWho Cares?, which debuted at number 5 on theBillboard 200.[7]
Sings released the single "The Only One" on 26 October 2022. His albumYoung Hearts was released onStones Throw Records on 24 March 2023.[8] Sings recorded a cover of "Time After Time" for the 2025 tribute albumChet Baker Re:imagined.[9]
Discography
editStudio albums
editTitle | Details |
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Champagne People |
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EUH (with Rednose Distrikt) |
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Benny... At Home |
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Art |
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Studio |
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Beat Tape |
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City Pop |
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Music |
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Beat Tape II |
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Young Hearts |
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EPs
editTitle | Details |
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Santa Barbara |
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Live albums
editTitle | Details |
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I Love You (Live at the Bimhuis) |
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Compilations
editTitle | Details |
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The Best Of Benny Sings |
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As featured artist
edit- C-Mon – "Beggars for Sun" (Cereal, 2008)
- Che Grand – "Soraya's Jam" (Everything's Good Ugly, 2009)
- Knobsticker – "Hypothetical_Theoretical" (Forest Fruit, 2009)
- Scallymatic Orchestra – "All I Can Give" (Annie Get Your Gun, 2009)
- Kan Sano – "Go Nowhere" (2.0.1.1, 2014)
- Data – "Don't Sing" (Don't Sing, 2015)
- Koffie – "Hard Times" (Huntu, 2017)
- Instupendo – "Homme" (Friend of a Friend, 2017)
- Rex Orange County – "Loving is Easy" (2017)
- Onelight – "Aldehyde" (Vanderlay, 2018)
- Tuxedo – "Toast 2 Us" (Tuxedo III, 2019)
- Shuko & The Breed – "Life in Los Angeles" (Dippin', 2019)
- Blackwave. – "The Antidote" (Are We Still Dreaming?, 2019)
- Free Nationals – "Apartment" (Free Nationals, 2019)
- Les Cooles de Ville – "Starr People" (L.C.D.V., 2019)
- Intellextual – "Popstar" (Intellextual, 2019)
- Gosto – "The Other Way" (2019)
- Aaron Taylor – "Shooting Star" (Icarus, 2020)
- M.I.L.K. – "Prisoner" (Always Summer Somewhere, 2020)
- Yaffle – "The Child Inside" (Lost, Never Gone, 2020)
- Darius – "RISE" (Utopia, 2021)
References
edit- ^"Benny Sings | Stones Throw Records".www.stonesthrow.com. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"Benny Sings on Apple Music".Apple Music.Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^Sessions, OCB."Benny Sings interview".YouTube. Retrieved12 September 2019.
- ^"With The Vibrant 'City Pop', Benny Sings Stakes His Claim For The Masses".NPR.org. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^Balfour, Jay (13 October 2017).""Loving Is Easy" [ft. Benny Sings]". Pitchfork. Retrieved31 March 2023.
- ^"Carole & Tuesday Composer Introductions No. 1".Carole & Tuesday Official Website.Archived from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved7 April 2019.
- ^Shutler, Ali (3 February 2022)."Watch Rex Orange County debut unreleased 'Who Cares?' tracks 'Amazing' and 'Making Time'". NME. Retrieved31 March 2023.
- ^Loftin, Steven (24 March 2023)."Young Hearts run free on Benny Sings' latest album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved31 March 2023.
- ^Tyler Damara Kelly (28 November 2024)."dodie, Matt Maltese, Ezra Collective, mxmtoon, and more to feature on Chet Baker Re:Imagined".The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved22 December 2024.
- ^"Champagne People, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"Euh, by Benny Sings & Rednose Distrikt".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"At Home, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"Art, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"STUDIO, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"Beat Tape, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"City Pop, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved26 February 2021.
- ^"Music, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved12 April 2021.
- ^"Beat Tape II, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved1 November 2021.
- ^"Music, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved20 May 2022.
- ^"Music, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved14 February 2005.
- ^"Music, by Benny Sings".Benny Sings. Retrieved2 October 2012.
External links
edit- "Discogs Biography".Discogs.com. Retrieved1 January 2008.
- "Sonar Kollektiv".Sonarkolletiv.com. Retrieved1 January 2008.
- "Official website".Bennysings.com. Retrieved1 January 2008.