Donny Benet… A Sophisticated Lover

By John Bones on October 18, 2012 in Arts

Donny Benét burst onto the scene last year with the release of his debut album Don’t Hold Back. Armed with a drum machine, Fender Rhodes and a Moog synthesizer with a pitch bender that won’t stop, Donny stepped up to the plate and delivered a sound full of sophistication, sexuality and street heat.

Benét has returned in 2012 with his sophomore release Electric Love. Aided again by the finest analogue synthesizers and drum machines, Donny has managed to successfully transfer his raw heat and emotion onto tape.

The Beast caught up with Donny Benét during the month…

Donny Benet in a sentence is…
A sophisticated lover.

First memory of music…
Hearing my father yell at his drum machine. And sneaking into his studio while he was watering the tomatoes and having a go on his Minimoog synthesiser. Love at first touch!

First album you bought…
Maybe it was The Best of Buddy Holly. Or it might have been The Drifters. We had a lot of Motown music in the Benet household as well as Italo.

Song that gives you goosebumps…
‘Sussudio’ by Phil Collins. Matching that song to American Psycho really elevated it to new levels.

Fave driving album/s…
‘Saturn Strip’ by Alan Vega, ‘Avalon’ by Roxy Music and anything by Prince or Tonetta.

A Donny Benet highlight…
Playing at a seaside golf club in Japan and being chaperoned on a romantic solo beach walk by a very nervous and attentive guide. The people of Japan are so beautiful and hospitable.

If you could pick a supergroup its members would be…
Phil Collins on drums, Sheila E. on percussion, one of Lou Reed’s bass players (he has exquisite taste!), Prince on guitar and the touch, the Pointers Sisters and Michael McDonald on backup vocals and Jan Hammer on keyboards. And John Maus and Alan Vega as pre-show motivational speakers.

Sydney bands giving you the good tingles at the moment…
There are so many. I always love Kirin J Callinan’s touch. I’m really liking the Ukrainian cage fighter vibe he has going at the moment.

Fave Sydney venue…
That’s easy: Goodgod. Great vibe, great eats and so many pretty girls. Perfect. I don’t know another venue in the country that ticks all the boxes of fun times like this place does.

Band or genre that gives you an ice-cream headache…
Italo disco. No, maybe that Skillrex guy. I accidentally watched a YouTube vid of him collaborating with The Doors. It was pretty embarrassing.

If you bowed to corporate sponsorship it would be to advertise…
Hair loss products. Or Italian leather sofas – everyone needs to sit in style and comfort.

Your dream bill for a night (Donny Benet included of course)…
Donny, Alan Vega, Prince.

An unknown Donny Benet fact…
I’m a master at Cypriot/Italo woodfire BBQing (also known as BenetBQing). I’ve been taught by the best. It’s the only way to BBQ.

What next for Donny Benet…
Small television roles. And maybe some kids’ parties. I’m available and professional. I’d really like to start collaborating with other artists so hopefully the future will feature new and exciting touches.

To find out more about Donny Benet visit www.facebook.com/donnybenet.