This is the year
The Debut Album from Benkio - out now!
Benkio is an artist who's always on the move.
Though he calls the UK home, he's lived across the globe, from the lush mountain cities of Thailand and Colombia to the ancient, crumbling old towns of Cyprus and Spain.
Benkio's debut album This Is The Year follows one year of that life abroad.
From arriving with a dismantled guitar tucked into his suitcase, and dealing with the initial panic of moving way, to finally making peace with his new home, the album captures the whole experience of starting anew.
For Benkio, This Is The Year is a guiding light through life’s uncertainties, and the record of everything he experienced while away from home - the good and the bad.
Album Reviews
1 Step
"Following the release of its title track back in February, Benkio has dropped the next taste of an upcoming full-length debut, with 1 Step.
This dreamlike, psych-adjacent track drones on like a Gallagher classic in minor key; a thoughtful peek at what’s to come that, even at four minutes, ends far too soon, and shows impressive dominion over the indie genre. It’s a composition written for that hazy, WKD-fuelled declaration of love, but one that proves as profound in your room alone, at 3am."
If You Want Me To
“This track has such a cool, easy vibe to it. The melody is simple but so catchy; the kind that sticks in your head after just one listen. There’s a really warm, feel-good energy running through the whole song. I love the guitar parts too. They have this light feel that keeps everything moving without ever taking over. It’s one of those tracks that feels effortless in the best way; bright, catchy, and very enjoyable to listen to.
“'If You Want Me To' is a cheery slice of Alt Pop with choppy… jangly guitar… with a chorus there is no escape from."
Rabbit Hole
"A thoughtful and intimate acoustic track from Benkio’s album ‘This Is The Year’. I was immediately drawn into this by that lovely melodic intro. It’s an engaging song and Benkio’s easy vocal strikes the right balance to convey the emotional lyrics."