Unless you were living under a rock in 2020, you probably know the name BENEE. As one of the pioneers of the sound that defined our quarantine, her soundscape encapsulates a world of funk, spirituality, childlike wonder, and existentialism.
I have personally been a follower of BENEE for the past 6 years, from discovering her alongside everyone else due to her viral sensation ‘Supalonely’ in 2020, to barricading her Coachella set in 2023, to finally shooting for her as she tours her sophomore album in 2026. Although she may have been more behind-the-scenes since her initial virality, it was clear to see at Irving Plaza in New York City last week that BENEE has been steadily mastering her craft the whole time. Her persona and art have evolved seamlessly, now evocative of more sonic depth and refined poise. The fans who stuck by her since 2020 have grown through their formative years alongside her, and have matured into a resilient, tight-knit collective.
As BENEE took the stage, bathed in dim lighting and a lingering colorful haze, she presented a new, almost indescribable aura; her style felt more intentional and her creative vision more avant-garde. Watching her through my lens now, it’s clear that the quirky, precocious energy of her 'Supalonely' days has metamorphosized into something far more commanding. BENEE knows what type of art she wants to manifest into the universe, and she delivers it with precision. She begins by submerging the audience in the atmosphere she’s created, opening her set with two of her newest lead singles, ‘Sad Boiii’ and ‘Cinnamon.’ The fans meet her word-for-word, their symmetry a clear testament to years of community.
BENEE’s sophomore album, ‘Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles,” exists in a liminal space between wanting an escape from the world and needing answers from it. Even the title itself suggests a sense of existential duality: a recognition of her own materiality set against a suggestion towards the cosmic and divine. My favorite track from the album, ‘Animal,’ is a microcosm for the material ideologies in the album’s title. With lyrics, “You can’t stay mad at me // I’m just an animal [...] Everything's big to me // And I mean nothing at all” BENEE puts our most primal thoughts into deceptively simple terms and strings them along to an infectious melody. Seeing this song translated so beautifully on stage was a stand-alone moment in her set for everyone.
When I heard the opening chord progression of ‘Animal’ begin to echo from BENEE’s band in the background as she talked to the room, I put down my camera and maneuvered through the packed-out crowd, suddenly just another fan trying to get a proper view of their favorite song. In doing so, I was overcome by a newer, more potent energy in BENEE’s current scene, no longer defined by the carefree frivolity of her earlier years. Instead, the community is anchored in maturity and shared catharsis, with an innate desire to exist more intentionally in the universe. Between her soaring tracks and commanding stage presence, BENEE still remains accessible. Throughout the night, her set was punctuated by glimpses of this newer, refined self. As she exchanged hair clips and banter with the front row, it was almost as if her world tour set had, for a moment, changed into an intimate room of friends.
If you thought you had seen all there was to offer from BENEE, think again: the Particles Tour continues on through 2026 and truly presents a new, never-before-seen side of the New Zealand-born sonic visionary. Be sure to catch her on one of her upcoming tour dates, and find the full gallery of photos from her New York City date HERE.