Clara Benin explores dreamier soundscapes on new album, befriending my tears
The Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin teams up with acclaimed producers Sam Marquez, Tim Marquez, Gabba Santiago, and The Ringmaster on this album about self-acceptance and healing.
Listen to the latest single “imposter syndrome”
Clara Benin finds the courage to embrace self-acceptance in the face of adversity on her sophomore studio album, befriending my tears—out today via OFFMUTE. The introspective record serves as the follow-up release to 2020’s Fragments, a 5-track EP that maps out different seasons of her life during the pre-pandemic days.
According to Clara Benin, that 9-track album takes listeners on a journey from the self to the soul in the bid to love, lose, and grow as individuals.
“This album’s lyrical theme is learning to believe in yourself,” Benin explains. “You can surround yourself with all these people who love you and believe in you, but if you don’t love yourself and believe in yourself first, you’re just going to keep hurting inside. We all need to learn how to befriend our tears in order to heal.”
Enriching the shrewd sensitivity of her songwriting with dreamier, more expansive soundscapes and a refreshing musical direction that leans toward emo-tinged indie folk, the Filipino singer-songwriter collaborated with a variety of producers whose credits one would normally see outside of the mainstream vault. She enlisted producers such as Sam Marquez, Tim Marquez, Gabba Santiago, and The Ringmaster to improve and interpret some of the demos that she has arranged and produced herself.
“Working on this record, I really learned how to be intentional with all the details and elements of production,” Benin shares. “I wanted every song to sound new and fresh to the listener’s ears, and I want the songs to not just have an emotional impact but a visceral impact as well, which is what song production can do.”
befriending my tears is led by her latest single “imposter syndrome,” which deals with self-doubt while navigating through all the uncertainties in life. Produced by Sam Marquez (Ena Mori, One Click Straight, Zild), the intricately detailed alt-pop jam is about Clara Benin coming to terms with her own insecurities. The release of the song is accompanied by a Josh Elefan-helmed visual that portrays Clara Benin as a completely dissociated person, “rediscovering connection through a friend that reached out to her.”
Other highlights in the album include the Gabba Santiago co-write “small town,” (featuring Gabba Santiago) and the rom-com-inspired tunes “blink” and “affable dork.”
Track List:
- imposter syndrome
- small town
- blink
- different…
- affable dork
- momentary
- keep still
- darling, i’ve been there
- don’t hurt yourself trying to get it all back
Clara Benin’s new album, ‘befriending my fears’ is out now on all digital music platforms via OFFMUTE. Watch the music video here.
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About Clara Benin
Clara Benin is touted as the indie darling of the Philippines. She is one of the first artists under Sony Music’s new regional label OFFMUTE. Her signature angelic voice and melodic acoustic guitar playing bring a kind of serenity that her listeners gravitate towards. She has collaborated with Singaporean artists Charlie Lim for a remake of her hit single “Wine” and Gentle Bones for the pop track “A Day At A Time”.
Widely loved for her warm and quiet demeanor, the acoustic-folk artist has played in notable festivals like Wanderland Arts and Music Festival in the Philippines, Music Matters in Singapore, and Zandari Festa in Korea. She sold out her first solo concert in 2016 for her album “Coming Home” and had a back-to-back concert with fellow artist Ben&Ben in 2018.
