Benny S

 

🎹 Benny S's track 'Zoom Zoom' is available now on OTBD009

 

If you could go back in time and give guidance to your younger self, what would you say that would impact your career the most?

 

If I could go back in time and give guidance to my younger self, I’d say don’t rush anything — especially releasing music. In the early years, it’s tempting to put out everything you make, but there’s real value in taking your time to develop your sound, skills, and artistic identity. Quality over quantity matters, and sometimes sitting on ideas, revisiting them later, and refining them can lead to much stronger results.

 

Sometimes going back to old ideas can create something really strong. Within old loops, you’ll always find something you liked at the time but maybe didn’t have the technical knowledge or experience to finish properly. Revisiting those moments with fresh ears and new skills can unlock a whole new level of creativity.

 

Patience is key in this journey. Growth as a producer doesn’t happen overnight, and each track, even the ones that don’t feel perfect, is a stepping stone. When you look back at your old work, it can be tempting to feel frustrated, but it’s actually a powerful reminder of how far you’ve come. Embracing that evolution, and learning from it, is an important part of building a sustainable and fulfilling career in music.

 

What is the one thing that you always do when producing that if you didn’t, it wouldn’t be a “Benny S ”’track?

 

The one thing I always do that makes it a ‘Benny S’ track is starting with chords and pads. They’re pretty much the heart of my sound and set the vibe right away. Chords build the atmosphere, and pads fill out the space with texture — together, they give the track its soul. This is how people usually recognize my style. Even before the drums or bass come in, that harmonic vibe is what really tells the story and makes it feel like mine.

 

Do you have a ritual when composing music and how do you stay inspired after all these years?

 

Starting with harmony and letting that set the emotional tone is a powerful and intuitive approach for me. Pads and chords really give a track its soul, and I find that they often determine the overall mood and direction of the piece. Depending on how I’m feeling, the harmony sets the emotional foundation — whether it’s warm and deep, moody and introspective, or somewhere in between. This approach works especially well in genres like deep house and dub techno, where atmosphere and subtle emotion play such a big role.

 

I also stay inspired by listening to a wide range of music — everything from deep house and tech house to dub techno — as it constantly exposes me to new ideas, textures, and moods. At times when I’m not feeling particularly inspired to write full tracks, I shift gears and focus on creating sample packs. It keeps me in a creative flow, sharpens my sound design skills, and often leads to unexpected ideas for future projects.

 

When producing, are you more in the box or do you use Outboard too? Could you share with us a single unit or tool that is a true game changer for you, and why?

 

I use a combination of both in-the-box and outboard gear. I have quite a bit of hardware — including various synths, drum machines, a modular rack, and a collection of pedals — but I don’t try to use everything at once. Lately, I’ve been picking just a few pieces and trying to get the most out of them. I wouldn’t call myself a master of any particular machine, but I enjoy noodling around and usually end up with something interesting. That process of discovery is a big part of the fun for me.

 

That said, I can just as easily sit with a laptop and build a loop completely in the box. It really depends on the mood and the moment. The flexibility of going back and forth between both worlds keeps things fresh and helps me avoid getting stuck in a rigid workflow.

 

As for a game-changing tool, it’s hard to pick just one — but I’d probably say my Novation Peak. It has a great filter and a really rich sound overall, which often leads me to unexpected results. It pushes me to experiment and stay curious — and that’s what it’s all about.

 

My long-term goal is to eventually create tracks that are 90% hardware, recorded and arranged straight through the mixer. There’s something really satisfying and immediate about that hands-on, live workflow — it feels more human and raw.

 

Sometimes I’m happy even if I just get one thing from the outboard gear in a session. One day it might be a melody, another day a bassline or just a weird effect— but these are the kinds of sounds I wouldn’t have created on a computer. They have a certain unpredictability and texture that adds real character to the track.

 

If you could travel into the future and bring us back newfound wisdom that could help music producers make a sustainable living from their craft, what would you hope to experience?

 

If I could travel into the future and bring back some wisdom, I’d hope to see a world where music producers can make a sustainable living from their art — not just to survive, but to grow creatively. I’d love to see systems and platforms that enable producers to earn enough from their music so they can reinvest in their craft. That could mean buying better gear, paying for high-quality mastering, supporting other artists, or simply having the time and space to focus more deeply on making music.

 

Right now, many small or underground artists put in hours that easily match a second job, yet receive little or no financial return. To see those artists finally gain from their work, even modestly, would be a dream — it would make their passion truly sustainable.

 

I also really hope outboard continues to grow in popularity. There’s a great vision behind it and a true underground feeling that connects artists to their music in a unique way.

 

Lastly, I hope the industry finds better ways to protect artists from piracy and unauthorized distribution. If I knew how to hack, I’d be taking those sites down!

🎹 Benny S's track 'Zoom Zoom' is available now on OTBD009