Ground Control Touring

Hidden behind flowing rusty hair and Shakespearean beard is Benji Hughes, a complex, and often funny, dreamer with a harmonious voice. The singer songwriter from North Carolina subtly infuses his music with flavors and colors, evoking the numerous feelings that love brings. From happiness to misery, Benji describes relationships with friends, women and life in general. New West Records will release Benji’s debut, 25 song, two album set, A Love Extreme on July 22nd.

Benji, excited to share his songs with the world, is about to embark on a two-week run with indie-rock royalty Rilo Kiley. The dates take him and his band (Keefus Ciancia, Jonathan Wilson, Barbara Gruska and Gus Seyffert) from New York, through DC, the Carolinas and Texas to Los Angeles.

A highly original wordsmith, Benji can tap into the highs of love, find humor there, but also embrace the lows with melodic pieces that stir the soul. From the uplifting tracks “So Well” and “All You Got To Do Is Fall In Love” to the darker “Even If” and “You Stood Me Up” his lyrics tell a well crafted story regardless of the underlying mood. Benji’s natural songwriting skills and musical depth are what brought him to New West. A casual acquaintance of the former house painter suggested he send some recordings, unsolicited, to a long time friend of New West who played the songs for label President Cameron Strang. The relationship and story built from there.

A Love Extreme was recorded in Silverlake, CA in collaboration with Keefus Ciancia, a top LA session musician and producer who regularly works with the likes of T-Bone Burnett, Cassandra Wilson and Everlast. Also integral to the album was multi-instrumentalist Gus Seyffert (Inara George, Sia). Benji & Gus recorded several of the tracks including “Waiting For An Invitation” and “All You’ve Got To Do Is Fall In Love” in Gus’ living room with the bulk of the album being recorded at Keefus’ Silverlake studio.