At a glance
- From: the Netherlands (he was born in Dordrecht)
- Released: 25 September 2026, on the Los Angeles label Stones Throw
- Length: 10 songs, about 31 minutes (some editions add an 11th track)
- Language: English
- For fans of: Mac DeMarco, Rex Orange County, Steely Dan
The cover says a lot. A man with wild curly hair stands in his living room, in a dressing gown, with a cup of coffee, in front of a wall of books. No studio, no stage, no lights. Just home.
Benny Sings is the name of Tim van Berkestijn, a Dutch singer, songwriter and producer born in Dordrecht in 1977. His first album came out in 2003, and he has made soft pop with soul and hip-hop inside it for more than twenty years. Many people know his work without knowing his name: he helped to write “Loving Is Easy”, the 2017 hit by the British singer Rex Orange County, and later co-produced his album Who Cares? (2022).
22 Durnham Dew is his most personal record. “I’ve been totally immersed in family life lately,” he says. “We bought a house, renovated it, and still are. The new music is all about that, my adult life as a real person.” He made the album mostly alone, in his home studio, after he moved from the centre of Amsterdam to the Dutch countryside with his wife and children. His daughter sings on the title track, and his wife appears on “You Love Me” and in its video.
Clash magazine describes the album as soulful, with nods to hip-hop and electronics. The guests are Baby Rose, who sings a duet with him, tUnE-yArDs, Ana Tijoux and Elijah Fox.
His label, Stones Throw, is American, so on Bandcamp the prices are in US dollars.
Where to start
Start with the title song, “22 Durnham Dew”, which has an official animated video. Then listen to “You Love Me”, the first song on the album, and watch the video with his wife.
If you like this, try these from Europe
- Tom Misch 🇬🇧: a London born multi-instrumentalist and producer who mixes electronic music, soul and jazz with smooth vocals.
- Jacco Gardner 🇳🇱: another Dutch multi-instrumentalist, who makes psychedelic and baroque pop.
Where to find it in Europe
- Buy it: on Bandcamp, as a download ($10), on CD ($11) or on vinyl ($28). It is the most direct way to support the artist.
- Stream it: on Qobuz and Deezer, two French services.
- See him live: at Trix in Antwerp on 27 November and at the Bataclan in Paris on 28 November.
The European context
The Netherlands has a small but very creative pop scene, and Benny Sings is one of its best exports. He works with American and British artists and releases his music on a label from Los Angeles, but he makes his records at home, with his family close by.
Watch the video for “22 Durnham Dew”: https://youtu.be/tHuN1MObG6c
Also on Choosing Europe
- Music: Samen Tegen Elkaar · Goldband 🇳🇱: more pop from the Netherlands, with its own social comment.
- Music: People of the Moon · Nu Genea 🇮🇹: another European album full of warm, hypnotic grooves.
