On May 27th, Benches (stylized as “benches”) released their new EP entitled “Kill The Lights.” It’s their second extended project since their 2020 release, “Vandalism.” The six-song EP is a stylistic collage of angst and edge that explores elements of the darker side of mental health. The band knew they wanted to use this release to sonically stretch out since its inception. It’s a move with results that surprised both the band and their audience.
Kill The Lights Concepts
A “bittersweet” aesthetic permeates throughout “Kill The Lights.” It stems from the complex relationship the sounds have with the lyrics. Sometimes the songs contain bright and uplifting elements, but there’s a reason for this. benches confront themes of deep fears, overthinking, isolation, and detachment within the EP. Moreover, the project tells a subtle narrative throughout its songs, consistently searching for a source of illumination amidst the darkness.
The four-piece band expresses mature and dark concepts in a forward manner without being obscene. Their messages are delivered through captivating indie rock with 2000s-era NY rock and 90s Britpop tones that sonically resonate with audiences.
Music x Production
benches experiments with a blend of traditional instruments and digital elements for the sonic makeup of “Kill The Lights.” Distorted, fuzzy, and granulated sounds accent every song in a way that highlights the angst.
‘Departure’ starts things off for the six-song EP. Serving as the intro song, it provides a peek into the EP, introducing production elements that represent the thoughts and feelings that arise in the project. A droning Moog-like bass forms the foundation of the soundscape. It provides a rich analog tone as reverb-rich guitar notes and fluttering synths accent the song. The anticipation-inducing song is mysterious and haunting.
The project takes things up a notch with granulated noise and distorted drums as its second track, “Naive” plays, maintaining the moody aesthetic. ‘Naive’ is the first single released that was later incorporated into the EP. It’s one of the first songs the group wrote together, which is felt in its music, according to band vocalist Anston Kelley. He elaborated when he said, It feels live, like we are in the room. It came together very naturally within one day, and helped set the tone for what this EP would eventually become.“
‘Kill The Lights,’ the EP’s namesake single, picks up the pace with a lively aesthetic that focuses on the theme of letting go. With bright tones, it touches on alcoholism, self-esteem, loneliness, and forgetting the past. It’s irony in music form. ‘Kill The Lights’ also follows ‘Naive’ as the second and last of the singles released by benches.
In the middle of the project is ‘Orchid,’ a song that tosses and turns over a sense of dread and distrust. Like tumbling waves, the reverb-washed sounds flow over the track in a manner akin to dream pop. The song represents the unending loop of striving for perfection, a theme that mirrors its own production process.
‘Hear Come The Bitter Tears’ is what plays in the moment when the credits start to roll at the end of a heartbreaking movie. It wraps up the EP in a melancholic final dance and perfectly encapsulates the project’s themes. benches expertly toys with the juxtaposition and makes it passionate yet cold, close but somehow distant. It closes the project on a note that raves romance while staying committed to emotional detachment.
benches
Anson Kelley (vocals/guitar), Ethan Bowers (drums), Evan Ojeda (lead guitar), and Charlie Baird (bass) formed benches in San Diego. The Southern California band has played with notable acts including Foster the People, Inhaler, and Dave Keuning (The Killers).
benches is currently on tour from May 28 to August 3, ending at Lollapalooza. Their tour information can be found here.
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