Today, Donny Benét, the Sydney-based composer – hailed and panned by critics as “Prince on a serious budget cut” – unveils his new EP, Le Piano, via Dot Dash Recordings / Remote Control Records, alongside new single ‘Cappuccino‘. The EP arrives hot on the heels of a 13-date US and Canada tour, which saw the self-professed “adult entertainer” captivate his evergrowing audiences in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and more.
Composed and recorded entirely by himself at the renowned Donnyland Studios in 2021, Le Piano sees Benét masterfully utilise vintage synthesisers and drum machines to present his views on life, love and relationships through the power of song. Of the project, Donny shares: “I wanted to create a short EP of instrumentals reflective of the music that has helped me navigate touring life, and life at home for the past years. For me, I really enjoy the headspace that instrumental music can put you in. You can listen to it in any environment with any degree of commitment. It can be something you listen to on the train, plane, something to have on while you’re doing your chores, working from home, working out or just something to bop along to. As mentioned in past interviews I’m very taken by Japanese artists Hiroshi Yoshimura, Yoshio Suzuki and Ryuichi Sakamoto. Side B of the record is influenced by the effect that these artists have had on my musical approach. Side A is a tip of the hat my love of 12′ funk/city pop/disco instrumentals.”
Speaking to ‘Cappuccino‘, Benét notes: “’Cappuccino’ was a half-finished B side left over from The Don. It sat alongside Beneath the Sheets, a bonus instrumental from The Don. I’d always wanted to release it and revisiting it whilst writing the EP gave it a chance to get a fresh lease on life. Creamy, sweet and strong – I hope you like ‘Cappuccino’”.
It is preceded by the project’s title-track: an intoxicatingly groovy instrumental piece paying homage to, and influenced by, Benét‘s love of funk, city pop and disco.
Donny Benét will be bringing his enigmatic live show to Sydney’s The Factory Theatre on Saturday 9 April and Melbourne’s 170 Russell on Friday 29 April, before heading off on a 23-date tour of Europe and the UK. Tickets are on sale via www.donnybenet.com
Buy / Download Donny Benét – Le Piano: https://donnybenet.lnk.
Donny Benét – UPCOMING SHOWS
2022 AUSTRALIA DATES
Saturday 9 April – Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW – Tickets
Friday 29 April – 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC – Tickets
2022 EUROPE & UK DATES
Tuesday 3 May – Nouveau Monde, Fribourg, CH – Tickets
Wednesday 4 May – Exil, Zurich, CH – Tickets
Thursday 5 May – Milla Club, Munich, DE – Tickets
Friday 6 May – Slovak Radio Building, Bratislava, SK – Free Show
Saturday 7 May – Futurum Music Bar, Prague, CZ – Tickets
Monday 9 May – Lido, Berlin, DE – SOLD OUT
Tuesday 10 May – Loppen, Copenhagen, DK – SOLD OUT
Wednesday 11 May – Musikens Hus, Goteborg, SW – SOLD OUT
Thursday 12 May – Blaa, Oslo, NO – Tickets
Friday 13 May – Fasching, Stockholm, SW – Tickets
Saturday 14 May – Plan B, Malmo, SW – Tickets
Sunday 15 May – Hafenklang, Hamburg, DE – Tickets
Tuesday 17 May – Gebaude 9, Cologne, DE – Tickets
Thursday 19 May – The Hope And Ruin, Brighton, UK – SOLD OUT
Friday 20 May – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham, UK – Tickets
Saturday 21 May – Yes, Manchester, UK – SOLD OUT
Sunday 22 May – Opium, Dublin, IE – Tickets
Tuesday 24 May – Broadcast, Glasgow, UK – Tickets
Wednesday 25 May – Headrow House, Leeds, UK – Tickets
Thursday 26 May – The Dome, London, UK – SOLD OUT
Friday 27 May – Botanique, Brussels, BE – SOLD OUT
Saturday 28 May – Paradiso Noord, Amsterdam, NL – SOLD OUT
Sunday 29 May – Badaboum, Paris, FR – Tickets
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Benét’s 2011 breakthrough album Don’t Hold Back confused and intrigued many, establishing him as a cult figure in the Australian music scene. Benét‘s piece de resistance came in his fourth album, The Don, featuring the breakthrough single ‘Konichiwa’.
An unexpected invite to the Pohoda Festival (Slovakia) in 2018 allowed Donny to embark on his first European headline tour. Returning for a further 4 sold-out tours, Donny had now established a new fanbase in Europe. 2019 saw Donny open for Mac DeMarco in the US and after blowing away audiences he returned in 2020 for his first headline tour.
In between his frenetic touring schedule, Donny wrote and recorded his acclaimed follow-up album Mr Experience, which was released in 2020. Unable to tour, the album was filmed as an online concert, Live Experience. An accomplished bassist, Donny is joined by his band of professionals, The Donny Benét Show band when performing live.
Donny has toured Australia since 2011 and Europe/US from 2018, regularly selling out headline shows and performing at festivals including Rock Werchter, Down the Rabbit Hole, Pohoda Festival, Valkhof Festival, Plissken Festival, Sydney Festival, Darwin Festival, Vivid Festival, Adelaide Festival, MONA FOMA, Panama Festival, Yours and Owls, and Big Day Out.
