Bênní

As Benny Divine, New Orleans-based Ben McCullough has sung and played in several garage, psych, and punk rock bands, including Gary Wrong Group, <a href="spotify:artist:573RJl38NhXNh9GA0A8jyx">Missing Monuments</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7epIIT85VR8OEggqKO3RSt">Natural Child</a>, and Wizzard Sleeve. However, he dons the name Bênní for his solo project, which ditches guitars in favor of atmospheric synthesizers, recalling <a href="spotify:artist:4P70aqttdpJ9vuYFDmf7f6">Vangelis</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:6jU2Tt13MmXYk0ZBv1KmfO">Moroder</a> soundtracks as well as the otherworldly new age of <a href="spotify:artist:33CRejQfhC9RbBrPHMKgAd">Iasos</a>. Both of Bênní's albums, 2017's I & II and 2018's The Return, were released by Memphis garage rock institution <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Goner+Records%22">Goner Records</a>.

Bênní's first performance took place in New Orleans in April of 2016. He continued playing gigs, sharing the stage with the likes of Quintron & Miss Pussycat and <a href="spotify:artist:6A5Ns1SpGWTt8SzXPwiqVE">Shannon & the Clams</a>, and a cassette appeared by the end of the year. In 2017, after performing at SXSW and opening for Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Bênní's debut LP, I & II, was released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Goner+Records%22">Goner Records</a>, was followed by 2018's The Return. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi