Donny Benét Explained

Donny Benét
Birth Name:Ben Waples
Genre:Post-disco
Years Active:2010–present
Instrument:Vocals, electric keyboard, synthesizer, drum machine, accordion, electric bass, double bass
Label:Rice is Nice, Dot Dash, United Talent Agency, DonnyLand Records
Associated Acts:Jack Ladder and The Dreamlanders, Kirin J. Callinan, Sarah Blasko, Oh Mercy, Triosk

Donny Benét (born Ben Waples) is an Australian recording artist, based in Sydney. In 2011, he released his debut studio album Don't Hold Back through indie label Rice is Nice.[1] His fifth studio album, Mr Experience, reached #26 on the ARIA Charts in May 2020.

Biography

Benét was born Ben Waples to a family of an Italian mother and a father who, like Benét, is also a musician.[2] [3] According to an NME interview in 2020, Ben Waples developed his Donny Benét persona when he watched an Italian accordionist perform to nursing homes.[3] Prior to his solo career, he played double bass for jazz bands in Sydney.[2] [4]

Benét claims he was exposed to music from an early age as his father Antonio Giacomelli Benét was an Italian Disco accordionist and taught Donny to play the accordion and the electric bass.[5] Benét played his first shows as an accordionist and synth player in Italian bands around Sydney until in the mid-2000s.[6]

In 2010, Benét played in Jack Ladder's band The Dreamlanders and began recording his own songs in his studio Donnyland Studios. In 2011 he signed with Rice is Nice records and released Don't Hold Back, which was received with interest from Australian music media publications praising Benét's sincere take on 80's pop music.[7] [8] [9]

In March 2020, Benét's track "Konichiwa" was included on The Weeknd's 'Handpicked Playlist', which highlights 24 songs that inspired his album, After Hours.[10]

In March 2020, Benét announced the release of his fifth studio album Mr. Experience as well as an accompanying tour of Europe and Australia.[11] [12] In April, many of these tour dates were postponed due to effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic.[13]

Benét said Mr. Experience was inspired by the stylings of Bryan Ferry and Hiroshi Yoshimura, and in order to produce the record, he "envisioned the soundtrack to a dinner party set in the late 1980s".[10] Mr.Experience was released on 22 May 2020 and debuted at number 26 on the ARIA Charts, becoming Benét's first release to reach the ARIA top 100.

In 2020, Benét's portrait, painted by Melbourne artist Tom Gerrard, was selected for the Salon des Refusés (Archibald).[14]

In February 2022, Benét released his first new music in almost two years with the instrumental piece titled Le Piano and announced the release of his forthcoming EP, of the same name, released on 1 April 2022.[15]

In October 2022, Benét announced a 2023 North American tour for Le Piano from 22 February to 18 March 2023.[16]

Influences and musical style

Benét's music mostly consists of synthesizers, but also features electronic drum machines, saxophone and electric bass, all of which (excluding saxophone) are played by Benét.[17] Benét's influences includes Jan Hammer, Alan Vega, Prince, Eberhard Weber, Bernard Edwards, and Lou Reed, whom Benét credits as his inspiration to sing his own songs.[3] [4] [5] The sexual nature of his lyrics arise from his experiences playing Tom Jones covers in the Airport Hilton Ballroom, Benét writing that he "had to sexualize his songs a lot more to keep (the audience) interested, make them a little bit more risqué, and I think that carried over to my own songs."

In a 2018 interview he explained, "I'm kind of always poking the piss at what a poor lover I am or you know, fictitiously what a great lover I could be."[18] Benét was described by KEXP as "a fun, baffling mystery of a performer, one who you’ll find yourself falling in love with from his charisma alone" on the debut of the single "Second Dinner" in August 2019.[19] Following the release of the single "Girl of My Dreams" in January 2020 during the North American Donny Benét Live tour, it was reviewed by Chicago Reader as a single that "is a tender ballad" and "Anchored by a wistful whistle, it has a relaxing feel that makes it perfect for catching your breath with a slow dance."[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
AUS
[21]
Don't Hold Back
Electric Love
  • Released: September 2012[23]
  • Label: Rice Is Nice Records (RINCD018)
  • Format: CD, digital download
Weekend at Donny's
  • Released: September 2014[24]
  • Label: Rice Is Nice
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
The Don
  • Released: 6 April 2018[25]
  • Label: Dot Dash (DASH047CD/DASH047LP)
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
Mr Experience
  • Released: 22 May 2020[26]
  • Label: Dot Dash (DASH064CD/DASH064LP)
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download, streaming
26
Infinite Desires
  • Released: 29 February 2024[27]
  • Label: Donnyland (DLAND002LP)
  • Format: LP, digital download, streaming
46
[28]

Extended plays

Title! scope="col"
EP details
Le Piano
  • Released: 1 April 2022
  • Label: Dot Dash (DOT191EP)
  • Format: CD, LP, streaming

Singles

Title! scope="col"
YearAlbum
"All 4 You"[29] 2012Electric Love
"Her Hands" [30] 2015
"Working Out"2016The Don
"Konichiwa"[31] 2017
"Melodie"[32]
"Santorini"[33] 2018The Don
"Beneath the Sheets"[34]
"Second Dinner"[35] 2019Mr Experience
"Girl of My Dreams"[36] 2020
"Mr Experience"[37]
"Le Piano"2022Le Piano
"Multiply"2023Infinite Desires
"American Dream"[38] 2024
"Forbidden Love"[39]

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.! |-| 2021| Mr Experience| Best Independent Pop Album or EP| | [40] [41] |-| 2023| Le Piano| Best Independent Jazz Album or EP| | [42] [43]

APRA Awards

The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA).! |-| 2023| "Le Piano"| Song of the Year | | [44] |-

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. Donny Benét had received 2 nominations.[45] [46]

|-|rowspan="2"| 2020 | Mr Experience | Best Adult Contemporary Album | |-| Tim Rogers for Mr Experience by Donny Benét| Best Cover Art| |-

National Live Music Awards

The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) are a broad recognition of Australia's diverse live industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.

|-| 2016[47] | Himself| Live Bassist of the Year|

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Donny Benet. 29 June 2017 . Rice is Nice. 6 January 2024.
  2. Web site: 15 Australian jazz trailblazers you ought to know about . Brewster. Will . 16 October 2020 . Mixdown Magazine (Australia) . Furst Media . 4 April 2022.
  3. Web site: Donny Benét: "I'm not interested in carbon-copy pastiches of '80s music" . Buckley . Nick . 22 May 2020. . NME Networks . 4 April 2022 .
  4. Web site: Interview Donny Benét: 'Donny Benét was een schitterend ongeluk' . Van Goethem . Bart. 2 July 2020. Dansende Beren . 4 April 2022 .
  5. Web site: Wallen. Doug. Donny Benet: It's a one man karaoke show. Mess and Noise. Mess+Noise Proprietary Limited. 17 January 2013.
  6. Web site: Carr. Mikey. Interview: Donny Benet. The Brag Magazine. The National Grid. 17 January 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110716042453/http://www.thebrag.com/2011/07/11/interview-donny-benet/. 16 July 2011.
  7. Web site: G. Nathan. Donny Benet - Don't Hold Back. Fasterlouder Reviews. The Sound Alliance. 17 January 2013.
  8. Web site: Cayley. A H. Donny Benet launches Don't Hold Back. Pedestrian.tv. 6 August 2011. Pedestrian Group LTD.. 17 January 2013.
  9. Web site: Downton. Chris. Donny Benet – Don't Hold Back (Rice Is Nice). Cyclic Defrost. Australia Council for the Arts. 17 January 2013.
  10. Web site: Donny Benét was an inspiration for The Weeknd's latest album. NME. May 2020. 1 June 2020.
  11. News: Bruce. Jasper. Donny Benét announces Australian tour and new album. 4 March 2020. New Musical Express. 4 March 2020.
  12. Web site: Donny Benét - Mr Experience (Album Announce). Benét. Donny. 4 March 2020. Youtube. 4 March 2020.
  13. Web site: Donny Benet. www.facebook.com. en. 10 April 2020.
  14. Web site: Salon des Refusés 2020.
  15. Web site: Donny Benét returns with 'Le Piano' single and EP, announces Sydney and Melbourne shows. NME Australia. 15 February 2022. 15 February 2022. Doria, Matt .
  16. Web site: Pearis . Bill . 2022-10-17 . Donny Benet announces 2023 North American tour (listen to 'Le Piano' EP) . https://web.archive.org/web/20221207010301/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/donny-benet-announces-2023-north-american-tour-listen-to-le-piano-ep/ . 2022-12-07 . 2023-02-22 . BrooklynVegan . en.
  17. Web site: Egan. Sam. Donny Benet live review. Time Out. 17 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20120923131804/http://www.au.timeout.com/sydney/music/features/11329/donny-benet. 23 September 2012. dead.
  18. Web site: Donny Benét talks cricket, politics and being a hypocrite. live . Sungenre . Dan . Webb . 11 April 2018 . 24 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180524223353/https://sungenre.com/music/donny-benet-interview/ . 24 May 2018 .
  19. Web site: Self-Professed 'Adult Entertainer' Donny Benét Debuts New Music Video for "Second Dinner". live . KEXP . Dusty . Henry . 14 August 2019 . 15 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190816160228/https://www.kexp.org/read/2019/8/14/self-professed-adult-entertainer-donny-benet-debuts-new-music-video-second-dinner/ . 16 August 2019 .
  20. News: Blair. Ed. Donny Benét channels 80s influences with sly humor. 7 February 2020. Chicago Reader. 4 March 2020.
  21. Web site: Australian Albums: The 1975 'Notes on a Conditional Form' Debuts At No 1. Noise11. 31 May 2020. 1 June 2020.
  22. Web site: Don't Hold Back (DD). Apple Music. 1 June 2020.
  23. Web site: Electric Love (DD). Apple Music. 1 June 2020.
  24. Web site: Weekend at Donny's (DD). Apple Music. 1 June 2020.
  25. Web site: The Don (DD). Apple Music. 6 April 2018. 1 June 2020.
  26. Web site: Mr Experience (DD). Apple Music. 22 May 2020. 1 June 2020.
  27. Web site: Donny Benét Announces New Album 'Infinite Desires', Drops Aus Tour Dates . The Music. 10 November 2023. 11 November 2023.
  28. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. 11 March 2024. 8 March 2024.
  29. Web site: All 4 You - single. Apple Music. 20 July 2012. 1 June 2020.
  30. Web site: Her Hands - single. Apple Music. 21 August 2015. 1 June 2020.
  31. Web site: Konichiwa - single. Apple Music. 1 September 2017. 1 June 2020.
  32. Web site: Melodie - single. Apple Music. 14 December 2017. 1 June 2020.
  33. Web site: Santorini - single. Apple Music. 14 February 2018. 1 June 2020.
  34. Web site: Beneath the Sheets - single. Apple Music. 1 November 2018. 1 June 2020.
  35. Web site: Second Dinner - single. Apple Music. 15 August 2019. 1 June 2020.
  36. Web site: Girl of My Dreams - single. Apple Music. 22 January 2020. 1 June 2020.
  37. Web site: Mr Experience - single. Apple Music. 30 April 2020. 1 June 2020.
  38. Web site: New SIngle by Donny Benet American Dream. Dansen de Beren. 21 January 2024. 22 January 2024.
  39. Web site: Forbidden Love - the third single from Donny's upcoming album "Infinite Desires". YouTube. 23 February 2024. 27 February 2024.
  40. Web site: Details confirmed for 2021 AIR Awards as nominees announced . . 2 June 2021 . 5 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210602000704/https://themusic.com.au/news/2021-air-awards-nominees-and-indie-con-australia-conference-announced/ivyWnJ-egYA/02-06-21/ . 2 June 2021 . live.
  41. Web site: 2021 AIR Awards Winners . Scenstr.com.au . 5 August 2021 . 6 August 2021.
  42. Web site: Nominees Announced for the Australian Independent Music Awards 2023 . Music Feeds. 31 May 2023. 31 May 2023.
  43. Web site: King Stingray and Genesis Owusu Win Big at 2023 AIR Awards . Music Feeds. 4 August 2023. 5 August 2023.
  44. Web site: These 20 songs are up for 2023 APRA Song Of The Year . . 25 January 2023 . 28 January 2023 .
  45. Web site: ARIA Awards 2020 Nominees . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 13 October 2020 .
  46. Web site: And the 2020 ARIA Awards Go To… . Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) . 26 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201126005048/https://www.aria.com.au/awards/news/and-the-2020-aria-award-goes-to . 26 November 2020 . live .
  47. Web site: Nominees 2016. NLMA. 2016. 5 September 2020.