BenBen and Lily Desmond have released their debut collaborative EP ‘White Elephant’ this month. Working as a symbiotic musical entity, this EP is a culmination of the duo’s astoundingly unique marriage of riff-driven rock and folk magic. Known for his unforgettable high-tenor vocals and captivating lyrics, BenBen is offering up an effortless evolution of his signature soul-stirring sound with ‘White Elephant’.
From the spell-binding, genre-blurring opener ‘Leaky Ship’ to the hard-hitting, rock-infused concluding track ‘Sunniest Sentiments’, BenBen and Lily Desmond take you on a journey through their immersively colourful sonic world. The former single ‘Leaky Ship’ racked up over 22,000 streams in just one month. Both fixtures of New York City’s indie scene, they became songwriting partners when BenBen’s debut album ‘
Sincere Gifts’ (2023) had to be partially re-written mere weeks before its release. BenBen + Lily found safety in each other after a period of loss, collaborative turbulence and burnout. Unearthing their newly merged sound together, this collaborative EP is a gift to the extroverted introverts, acting as a musical blanket for those of us navigating life with anxiety.
Throughout the EP, their vocals melt into one another, flowing in and out of each other’s ranges with captivating precision. Whilst bridging the gap between traditional folk instrumentation and synthetic textures, each of the six tracks flows to its own current. Occasionally, rock guitars crash into the tide with electrifying guitar riffs, notably in Silver Thoughts and Tuba Joe. BenBen sprinkles his indie-folk magic into the mix too, namely in Ian Anderson’s Voice and Leaky Ship. With such a diverse soundscape in one EP, ‘White Elephant’ is set to make waves in the indie music scene, when we all get caught up in the duos’ current.
The White Elephant EP will be supported by a series of tours across both American coasts and an epic return tour through Great Britain and Scandinavia. Fans can expect a series of unforgettable performances that showcase the unique blend of BenBen's art rock sensibilities and Lily Desmond's violin virtuosity.
This Summer, BenBen + Lily will return to the UK and EU for a three week tour. Their trek begins in Glasgow, continues down to Newport's buzzy Le Pub on 19 July, and then zig zags all around the UK including stops in Trowbridge, Bristol, London, Manchester and many other regions! A full tour itinerary will be released after 'White Elephant' debuts.
UK Dates Include: 17th July - Hug and Pint, Glasgow [TICKET LINK HERE]
https://thehugandpint.seetickets.com/tour/endless-summer
here18th July - Jam Factory, Hereford
19th July - Le Pub, Newport [TICKET LINK HERE]
http://www.gigantic.com/benben-lily-tickets/newport-le-pub/2024-07-19-19-30
here20th July - Tin Church, Trowbridge
25th July - Green Note, London
Many More TBA!
“Ben Wigler has been all over the indie rock landscape... craft[ing] deluxe, swirling indie odes that mine Beatles-y textures, songs dense with instrumentation and unconventional percussion.” -
Stereogum"BenBen crafts music for sensitive souls seeking an otherworldly indie rock wonderland to get lost in, and don’t we all need that sometimes?" -
Third Eye Psych Rock About BenBen [Pronouns: He/Him]
Based in Brooklyn, BenBen is an animator, producer and musician, who creates riff-driven art rock, adorned with a feeling of folk magic. Best known for his unforgettable high-tenor vocals, his music is an intriguing fusion of Soundgarden and Radiohead collaborating earnestly with Michael Jackson. As a darling of the sub-underground indie scene, BenBen has fronted bands that have toured with artists as diverse as Band of Horses and The Indigo Girls. In the studio, BenBen has worked with indie legends, including Swedish psychedelic-rock genius Gustav Ejstes of Dengen. After contributing vocals and guitars to a number of her albums, he co-wrote the single ‘Garden Dove’ with indie-folk goddess Samantha Crain her beloved 2020 album ‘A Small Death’. In late 2023, the highly buzzed-about US indie label Perpetual Doom released BenBen’s debut solo LP “Sincere Gifts.” Featuring beautiful arrangements, infectious melodies, and a golden heartbeat of unusually sincere magic, Psychedelic Baby Magazine notes that the LP “invites sensitive souls who seek beauty in the small, overlooked places to find refuge in a gorgeous indie art rock wonderland.”
About Lily Desmond [Pronouns: She/They]
Composing themself into layers using their loop pedal and 5-string violin, Lily Desmond is a US Based composer, songwriter and 5-string violinist. Based on the East Coast, Lily has toured nationally with country-pop Brian Falduto and indie-meets-pop artist Ellen Winter. They lend their incredible 5-string violin melodies and vocals to White Elephant, forming a symbiotic musical entity with BenBen in both the creation and performance of the six songs.
Lily Desmond’s other band, Sloppy Jane, recently featured heavily on screen, alongside Phoebe Bridgers, in the recent A24 film ‘I Saw The TV Glow’ starring Brigette Lundy-Paine.
BenBen on
InstagramLily Desmond on
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