All Out Magazine

Filipino singer-songwriter   Clara Benin   explores the “inner weather of love” in   really got me thinking —her latest EP under   Sony Music Entertainment . Pivoting towards delicate soundscapes and lush arrangements, the 6-track release embraces a quieter form of introspection: the sonic treatment, pared down and intimate, leaning towards newfound openness in both sound and storytelling. “I’ve learned to sit with simplicity and to trust that not every space needs to be filled, that silence and restraint can carry just as much meaning as sound,” Benin explains. “Because of that, I allowed the words and melodies to breathe more, and I think it creates a more intimate listening experience, like you’re just sitting in the moment with me.” Benin adds that it’s her first time writing a record entirely dedicated to love from a more optimistic perspective. “Having an EP that’s entirely made up of love songs is something new for me. It feels like a different kind of opennes...

Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin has dropped the deluxe edition of her critically acclaimed album, befriending my tears, now available worldwide under Sony Music Entertainment. The expanded version, titled befriending my tears (and then some), adds ten new tracks, including two fresh originals, five remixes, two live recordings, and a fan-favorite early demo, offering a deeper dive into Benin’s introspective musical journey. Reflecting on the process, Benin shares, “This deluxe version gave me the opportunity to explore the more nuanced aspects of music production—whether it’s about satisfying my curiosity with different sonic textures, reworking instrumental arrangements, or experimenting with vocal harmonies. I wanted to create something immersive, something that resonates both on record and in a live setting.” In addition to revisiting the themes of vulnerability and self-discovery explored in the original album, the deluxe edition features two brand-new tracks that continue t...

Clara Benin celebrates the release of her sophomore studio album with a major concert happening at the Music Museum on September 22, 2023 (Friday), from 8pm onwards. Aptly titled ‘befriending my tears, a Clara Benin concert,’ the show chronicles Benin’s journey as an artist coming to terms with self-acceptance and healing while showcasing musical maturity through years of experience and growth.  “Headlining my concert at the Music Museum feels incredibly exciting and a bit nerve-wracking,” the Filipino singer-songwriter shares. “I think that the venue's classic charm and quality acoustics make it the perfect place to perform my new album! I really want my fans to be comfortable and fully immersed in my music, so choosing a seated venue was very important to me.” ‘befriending my tears, a Clara Benin concert’ serves as her second major show after staging a sold-out, two-night residency at Teatrino Greenhills in 2016. This time around, the Parallel Universe artist will be performing a...

Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin drops a song about leaving the past behind, and embracing the newness that comes with it. On her new single “small town,” the Parallel Universe artist continues the journey of acknowledging that the world is changing and that unlearning people and places could be an enriching way of taking control of one’s life and destiny. “small town was inspired by my high school experience living in the province, where it was inevitable to bump into someone you know when you're out in public,” Benin reveals. “It's a post-breakup song about trying to find yourself again and struggling because everything around you reminds you of your ex.” While the exquisitely moving track comes from a place of familiarity, Benin mentions that “small town” is inspired by her growing fascination with coming-of-age films of the early 2000s. The pensive pop-rock lullaby is written by Clara Benin herself and Gabba Santiago and produced by Sam Marquez and Tim Marquez of One ...