Singapore — Following his exhilarating debut EP ‘A Sea That Never Stops’, Benjamin Kheng returns with spirited new single ‘Fresh Feelings’ featuring R&B Artist J.Sheon!
‘Fresh Feelings ’is a dizzying look into the thrill of new love. Benjamin delivers his musical vision in a vividly intimate song about delighting in giddy romance and the self-doubt that follows a budding relationship where one is infatuated yet nervous. The lovesick musician questions whether he is out of his romantic interest’s league and illustrates his frenzy through cheeky lyrics in addition to punchy delivery. He contemplates on his passion with rose-tinted glasses for his partner and critical self-reflection, highlighting the contrasting feelings of desire and self-sabotage.
On the collaboration, Benjamin reflects, “Fresh Feelings was a blast to make. Music’s always been a communal experience for me, so it was crazy fun and an honour to write for a choir of some of my favourite Singaporean voices. Having J.Sheon on board was a blessing, that guy is a beast. We only got to speak about the project over texts and video calls, but the energy he brought was insane, and I can’t wait for the chance to perform it live with him.”
J.Sheon wholeheartedly agrees, “When I first listened to Ben’s demo, I was blown away because this was the genre I always wanted to try out. I have never gotten to experiment with more gospel and soulful styles, so this was the perfect project. Although we worked on the song virtually, the collaboration went smoothly and we really connected with each other.”
Building upon his work in ‘A Sea That Never Stops’, the production is daring and wildly theatrical, pulling from Benjamin’s inspirations of gospel choir and musical theatre tradition with glossy piano chords and layered harmonies. Love is clearly the higher power in ‘Fresh Feelings’ where it straddles between charming and clumsy, delicate yet devastating.
‘Fresh Feelings ’thrives in the spiritual joy and earthly struggle of uncertainty in love’s melodrama, capturing the a distinctively nuanced tension of adoration and insecurity. Benjamin offers the perspective of romantic wonder and the possibility of something more, embracing every emotion along the way.
Benjamin proudly admits to wearing his heart on his sleeve and says, “The track is kind of an anti-flex song. It’s about not being afraid to take a knee for a queen, and wilfully surrendering to the feeling about being helplessly in love.”
‘Fresh Feelings’ is available for download on iTunes and streaming on Spotify, KKBOX, and Apple Music on 29 January 2021.
