Ben&Ben’s career is one of courage, change, and continuity
Seasons change, and so do people. Personal evolution is inevitable, but finding people to grow side by side with is something else entirely. Beloved indie folk-pop band Ben&Ben articulates those growing pains across multiple eras of their music, and one question they always return to is, “How much can change within a single year?”
The Traveller Across Dimensions (TTAD) tour ushers in another major shift for the band. They’ve been juggling appearances, shoots, and secret collabs while continually leveling up the tour all for the love of the craft. “We actually just played a spectacularly fun, successful first out-of-the-country TTAD show in Lincoln, California,” Ben&Ben told The Philippine STAR. “It’s been a blast playing our new songs, and we can’t wait to share this with our listeners during the coming Bacolod, Davao, and Baguio legs.”
All nine members have navigated life’s adversities in various ways since forming almost a decade ago. Their individual journeys have left an indelible mark on one another, further nurturing their bond as a collective. “We have so many experiences that are intertwined, and it’s been the greatest honor to witness each other grow. We are able to create freely and make music that speaks to who we are now. There are no limits as long as we make it together.”
The members demonstrate the same camaraderie and care even amid trying times. Following their kickoff TTAD Cebu show last May 24, drummer Jam Villanueva developed De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, commonly known as “Drummer’s Wrist.” The band responded by adjusting the subsequent tour dates.
“It’s been a difficult process. As eager as she is to get back on the drums, and as eager as we are to have her back, her full recovery is our utmost priority. We have been working with two excellent drummers to help us while we wait for Jam’s doctors to give her the go signal.”
Ben&Ben’s compassion isn’t just reserved for each other, as seen through their support for Jam, but also extends inward. Songs of encouragement and luminescence have become integral to the band’s identity, stemming from a Mahatma Gandhi quote they embrace as their north star: “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
“Many times, we write because it’s what we need to tell ourselves. We’ve always believed in how a deeply personal truth can speak to people and help them realize something they might have trouble putting into words. We know what we create matters. We greatly value that truth, hope, and need for real human connection through stories and music.”
The band lives by example. While often associated with the folk genre, Ben&Ben has steadily broadened their sonic horizons with every project. When asked how they’ve retained their signature sound while welcoming reinvention, they explained, “‘Folk’ music has always depended on the very core of the people it comes from. We believe that, much like our food, the Filipino experience is rich and full of diverse experiences and influences.”
That belief has made them resist being boxed into a single genre. “The final sound will ultimately be dictated by the message we mean to convey. Whatever new music we create will never diminish the body of work we’ve already put out. As long as we stay true to ourselves, we’ll never lose our core music identity.”
Saranggola, their latest single, proves that authenticity does resonate with the masses. “We’ve been overwhelmed with the support and love people have for the song, especially with several students using it as their graduation song.”
For the band, reinvention is a prerequisite for creating. “It’s so important to always re-examine ourselves and regularly check in on both the major and little things about what we believe ourselves to be. We will always be changing as people and musicians.”
“As much as we reinvent ourselves, so do our listeners. It’s honestly so cool that the music we’ve created within these eight years speaks to them on different levels and at different points in their lives. It is equally important that we make music that is true for us — so it can speak true to those who will listen to it now and in the years to come.”
It takes courage to change in front of an audience as large as Ben&Ben’s, but that daily decision has solidified their place as trailblazers in the industry. The secret? It’s less grand than one would think.
“We’re just trying to figure things out and keep doing what we’re doing. We didn’t see it as trailblazing then. We were just creating because we wanted to. Maybe that in itself is the very essence of trailblazing — being bold enough to create what is uniquely yours.”
Ben&Ben knows they’re not alone on the front lines of OPM. Better yet, they’re thrilled to witness “so much amazing music these days.”
Unfortunately, the reception toward these newer artists isn’t always kind. According to the band, mental health remains a pressing concern not properly addressed in the music industry. “People tend to forget that the artists they listen to are real people, and they sometimes treat them like they’re infallible beings who can do no wrong.”
“At the end of the day, it is a job, but it is also something that means so much to so many people. A little kindness and empathy from all of us can go a long way in making this community thrive.”
As a new season dawns for OPM, Ben&Ben wants to impart words of wisdom for the next generation of musicians and creators: “Be yourself. Share with others who you are and how you see the world. We’re all just parts of this bigger story, but each part is so significant in making that whole picture a reality.”
