Hey U X Explained

Hey U X
Type:studio
Artist:Benee
Cover:Hey U X Cover Art.jpg
Released:13 November 2020
Recorded:2020
Genre:Alt-pop
Length:44:07
Label:Republic
Prev Title:Stella & Steve
Prev Year:2019
Next Title:Lychee
Next Year:2022

Hey U X is the debut studio album by New Zealand singer-songwriter Benee, released on 13 November 2020 by Republic Records.

Hey U X was primarily written by Benee and frequent collaborator Josh Fountain, who also executive produced the record. It features guest appearances from Grimes, Lily Allen, Flo Milli, Gus Dapperton, Mallrat and Bakar.

Supported by four singles—"Night Garden", "Snail", "Plain", and "Kool",—Hey U X debuted and peaked at number two on the NZ Albums Chart and number twenty-two on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, with Radio New Zealand listing it among their best albums of 2020.

Background and release

Benee told Billboard that she would be releasing an album in 2020,[1] before formally announcing the release of Hey U X on 15 October 2020.[2] [3] She had revealed prior to this that it would differ musically from her existing repertoire,[4] [5] telling Uproxx:[6]

On the namesake, she told The New Zealand Herald, "'Hey u x' was something that was something that I thought was cute. I feel like there's never a word that sums up the whole thing… I try to just find something that's completely relevant."[7] The album track "All the Time" features Raglan-based musician Muroki who became the first signee to Benee's record label, Olive, which she established in early October 2020.[8] [9] Shortly after the announcement of Olive, Benee embarked on a national headlining arena tour of New Zealand after the country had reported no cases of COVID-19.[10] She performed eight shows across four cities, with the final show at Spark Arena selling out all 12,000 seats and becoming the first sold-out concert at the venue to be livestreamed to ticketholders.[11] [12] [13]

Composition

Benee revealed to Uproxx that the album "infus[es] elements of 'hardcore' electronic [music] with trap-style beats".

Singles

"Night Garden" featuring British musician Bakar and American producer Kenny Beats was released on 15 July 2020 as the album's official lead single.[14] [15] "Snail" was released on 10 August 2020 and served the album's second single.[16] Both "Night Garden" and "Snail" received music videos to support their release.[17] [18] "Plain" was released on 27 October 2020 as the third single, but did not receive a music video to support its release.[19] "Kool" was released as the fourth single from the album, along with a music video.[20] [21] [22]

Hey U X also includes the song "Supalonely" featuring Gus Dapperton, which served as the third single from the 2019 EP Stella & Steve, and achieved mainstream international success following its popularization on the social media platform TikTok in early 2020.[23]

Critical reception

Hey U X received mostly positive reviews.[24] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalised score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received an average score of 78 based on 10 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Radio New Zealand ranked the album at number 16 on their list of the 20 best albums of 2020.[25]

Notes and References

  1. Ginsberg. Gab. 8 June 2020. Chartbreaker: How BENEE Turned Her Breakup Into a Quarantine-Ready Hot 100 Hit. 9 June 2020. Billboard. 0006-2510.
  2. Web site: Langford. Jackson. 15 October 2020. BENEE announces debut album 'Hey u x', with guest artists Grimes and Lily Allen. 15 October 2020. NME. 0028-6362.
  3. Jenke. Tyler. 15 October 2020. BENEE Announces Long-Awaited Debut Album, 'Hey u x'. 15 October 2020. Rolling Stone. 0035-791X.
  4. Web site: Droke. Carolyn. 16 October 2020. Benee's Debut Album 'Hey U X' Features Flo Milli And Grimes. 19 October 2020. Uproxx.
  5. Web site: Stallone. Cole. 26 May 2020. WNYU Interview with New Zealand Rising Star BENEE. 9 June 2020. Washington Square News. en-US.
  6. Web site: Droke. Carolyn. 8 September 2020. Benee Is Blurring Genre Lines On Her Upcoming Debut Album. 19 October 2020. Uproxx.
  7. Web site: Burgham. Lydia. 14 October 2020. Benee announces debut album 'Hey u x', featuring Grimes and Lily Allen. 14 October 2020. New Zealand Herald. 1170-0777.
  8. Brandle. Lars. 8 October 2020. Benee Launches Olive Label, Signs Muroki: Exclusive. 19 October 2020. Billboard. 0006-2510.
  9. Web site: DeVille. Chris. 16 October 2020. Benee's Debut Album Features Grimes, Muroki, Lily Allen, & More. 19 October 2020. Stereogum. 1142733705.
  10. Web site: Burgham. Lydia. 16 October 2020. Concert review: Benee, Spark Arena, Auckland. 19 October 2020. New Zealand Herald. 1170-0777.
  11. Web site: Bruce. Jasper. 8 October 2020. Benee to live-stream sold-out Auckland show later this month. 19 October 2020. NME. 0028-6362.
  12. Web site: 8 October 2020. Benee to perform in first livestreamed concert to sold-out arena in New Zealand. 19 October 2020. The Ticketing Business.
  13. Web site: Fuamoli. Sose. 8 October 2020. You'll be able to watch BENEE's sold out Auckland show from home. 19 October 2020. triple j. 1833-1440.
  14. Web site: Renshaw. David. 16 July 2020. Benee teams up with Kenny Beats and Bakar on "Night Garden". 16 July 2020. The Fader. en. 1533-5194.
  15. Web site: Fuamoli. Sose. 16 July 2020. First Spin: BENEE links up with Kenny Beats and Bakar on the creepy-cool 'Night Garden'. 16 July 2020. triple j. en. 2203-0905.
  16. Brandle. Lars. 15 October 2020. Benee Shares Her 'Lockdown' Song 'Snail': Stream It Now. 2 October 2020. Billboard. 0006-2510.
  17. Brandle. Lars. 16 July 2020. Benee Takes a Walk Through 'Night Garden'. 17 July 2020. Billboard. 0006-2510.
  18. Aniftos. Rania. 8 October 2020. Benee Goes on a Magical, Colorful Trip for New 'Snail' Video. 15 October 2020. Billboard. 0006-2510.
  19. Web site: Lim. Eddy. 27 October 2020. BENEE shares new single 'Plain' featuring Lily Allen and Flo Milli. 28 October 2020. NME. 0028-6362.
  20. Web site: 2020-11-09. Benee debuting "Kool" music video on YouTube's 'Released'. 2020-11-13. 97.9 WRMF. en-US.
  21. Web site: Campbell. Amy. 2020-11-13. Benee On Defying — And Exceeding — Expectations: "I love that I could release a rap song and it wouldn't be a shock". 2020-11-13. GQ. en.
  22. Web site: BENEE on Instagram: "ALSO this is out in the world I luv @thesims". 2020-11-13. Instagram. en.
  23. Hirsh. Marc. 21 August 2020. Benee, the New Zealand singer behind 'Supalonely,' is cool if you don't like her music. 15 October 2020. Entertainment Weekly. 1049-0434.
  24. Web site: Benee shares her Lychee: "I love meeting the people who listen to my music as much as they love meeting me" . Pilerats . 3 March 2022 . 29 March 2022 . Backler, Will . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303040036/http://pilerats.com/written/get-to-know/benees-lychee/ . 3 March 2022 . live.
  25. Web site: 5 December 2020. Best of 2020: RNZ Music's top 20 albums. 11 December 2020. RNZ.

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