Benjamin Mack on his latest EP ‘Real Fake Feels’
From Tāmaki Makaurau emerges Benjamin Mack, a multifaceted singer-songwriter and producer, presenting his newest EP titled 'Real Feels Fake.' Through poignant storytelling, Mack beckons listeners into a world of introspection, navigating the complexities of relationships and the nuanced landscape of emotions.
Hey Benjamin, thanks so much for taking the time to chat to us! Congrats on your latest project 'Real Fake Feels' - how do you think your sound has evolved since your last project in 2022, the 'Lonely Winter Castle' EP?
Thanks for having me! I feel this project felt a lot more fun and less traditional than the last. I still love the ‘Lonely Winter Castle’ EP and it’ll always feel special to me but it was heaps of fun working with Edy, Sam and Ngariki. It was a very focused environment with a clear vision!
How did you start the process of writing this new EP and what was the overall writing and production journey like?
I got a call from Edy at the beginning of last year and we were discussing what it would look like to make an EP with us coming from such different musical backgrounds. A few weeks later we did a write week at his house and got a song pretty much every day thanks to the help from my amazing cowriters (Smurgy and Ngariki). After that I ended up sitting on the project for about a year until deciding to release it.
What were your artistic influences going into this EP?
Going through my reference playlist I’d made, the stand out songs I think we leaned towards was probably: ‘You Seemed so Happy’ (The Japanese House), ‘Collect’ (Matthew Young) and ‘Grapejuice’ (Harry Styles).
What themes were important to you to write about in this EP, and how did you land on the name "Real Fake Feels"?
When we were writing this project, I noticed a lot of the time we dwelled on the what if’s in the relationships in my life. Like all the possibilities of a relationship happening and then I overthink and drop the ball or something like that. But ‘Real Fake Feels’ we actually wrote about Ngariki being catfished (more than once). Definitely one of the funniest sessions I’ve been in.
'Wait for you' kicks off the EP, and we love this song! Can you tell us about the concept of this track?
Ah yes. I think it’s my favourite song on the EP. I wrote it about a friend of mine who I had a bit of a crush on and she was moving away to study. It was a kind of attempt to tell her how I felt which in retrospect is kind of whack but at the time I thought I was being sweet.
What were some your favourite or most memorable moments working on the EP?
The whole week was such an awesome time. Just being through a bit in the deep end and seeing what comes out might be my favourite way of doing music.
What's next for you for the rest of the year and beyond?
Cowboy Pop
Let’s go! Thanks so much Benjamin - make sure you keep up with him on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify and Apple Music.
