BENTLE
I got to chat with Australian artist BENTLE who has just released his brand new single “Darkest Blue”. Blending pop and r&b, the catchy single reveals a heartfelt songwriting accompanied by a feel good production that takes us back to those summer nights.
Currently working on his debut EP, the NYC-based artist is continuing to showcase his talent throughout his memorable pop/r&b records that have already been grabbing people’s attention across the world.
”Darkest Blue” is out now !
Photo credit: @lumi_blu
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
I'm Josh and I'm an Australian artist based in New York City. I write and produce relaxed indie tunes under the name BENTLE. I grew up in Brisbane (between the sunshine and gold coasts). My music combines the waviness of Australian music and the grittiness of New York.
What did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to artists like Bon Iver, James Blake, The Strokes, Bloc Party, just to name a few. I'm also influenced by classic R&B artists like James Brown and D'Angelo.
When did you start singing? When did you know you could sing?
I started singing in high school when a friend suggested I try out for my high school musical and I somehow landed the lead role. From there I started making my own music and layering progressions under melody and lyrical ideas!
Growing up, what were your favorite songs to sing along to?
I loved (and still love) D'Angelo's Voodoo album and James Blake's self-titled album (2011) - I can't pick a single track from those albums without mentioning all the other tracks!
What gave you the confidence to be an artist and release your original music?
The fact that music can communicate a message in such a meaningful and different manner to words is what gave me the confidence to explore songwriting. There's something beautiful about pressing play on a song and telling someone "this is how I feel.”
"Darkest Blue" is your new single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
“Darkest Blue” is very much about the connection between color, texture and location. There’s been a few times over the past year where it feels like I’m not able to stop myself from sinking or falling into a certain state of mind or state of being. “Darkest Blue” is kind of an exploration of that falling/sinking feeling and what it would feel like if I embraced it…the visual I had when writing the song was that I was falling into the night sky (which was scary and unknown) but I woke up in this ethereal new place where, though it was still unknown, it was intriguing and enlightening.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it? When did you start working on it?
I relocated to NYC at the end of 2021 following some time in the Caribbean and Europe. I had the demo version of “Darkest Blue” on my laptop for months, including while I was traveling, so the idea had seen some different sunsets. On that basis, I wanted “Darkest Blue” to have a real momentum to it combined with a hypnotic waviness — something you could listen to while staring out the airplane window. I wrote the song in my NYC studio and built it using a very simple chord progression as a base and used cuts and non-percussive elements to add texture. I added the vocals with an emphasis on simple harmonies to not distract from the overall aesthetic of the track. Once I had a vibe, I bounced the demo off a good friend and he loved it — then I knew I had a track!
What's your favorite lyric on "Darkest Blue"?
Probably the verse 2 lyric: “Waking up at 12pm, I gotta take a walk in the sun again / Gotta breathe a little lightly, hold you less tightly / But you’re right there yeah behind me.”
What can you tell us about the artwork?
The artwork is a photo of me on an afternoon walk near my apartment in Brooklyn. All the parts of “Darkest Blue” were put together in my studio in my apartment while settling into my life in New York City, so it felt natural to capture the environment where the song was finished.
What does songwriting make you feel?
It makes me feel like I have a unique way of communicating with others that transcends location and time. There are so many swirling thoughts at times, so it's very satisfying being able to invest in my craft while also having a therapeutic effect!
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest aspect is continuing to produce songs that are an authentic expression of myself and my experiences in an oversaturated music world. The opposite is also true at the same time - being able to share an authentic version of myself is so liberating!
Who's helping you build your career/artistry?
My family is number one - they're so supportive and always asking about new music! Number two is my tight knit circle of creative friends — they're always challenging me to try new approaches and inspire me to write songs.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
Artists rights and how profits are collected and distributed, without a doubt. We need another Q&A solely on this!
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I think more balanced, respectful and meaningful conversations between people, and a whole lot of empathy. Our lives are flooded with extremes and I'd love to see people trying to do better to understand themselves and understand other people's perspectives.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Everybody has a story to tell... if you ask.
What message do you want to give to anyone struggling with their mental health?
Having navigated my own mental health challenges, I found it greatly beneficial to simply give myself the space to acknowledge what I am feeling and that it isn't 'wrong' or shameful to feel a certain way - I found this to be a great platform to then practice self-care :)
Connect with BENTLE: