Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                

Ben&Ben are a Filipino indie folk-pop band from Manila. They were formed in 2016 by twin brothers Paolo and Miguel Benjamin Guico (lead vocals and acoustic guitars), calling themselves The Benjamins. A year later, they expanded into an ensemble and settled on the current name, adding Poch Barretto (electric guitar), Keifer Cabugao (violin), Patricia Lasaten (keyboards), Toni Muñoz (percussion), Andrew de Pano (percussion), Agnes Reoma (bass guitar), and Jam Villanueva (drums). The band's musical style has garnered praise for its anthemic quality and emotional engagement that appeals to a broad audience, while their lyrics focus on subjects including loss, heartbreak and relationship, and the journey towards self-love.

Ben&Ben
A wide angle shot of musicians performing onstage
Ben&Ben performing in 2018
Background information
Also known asThe Benjamins (2016)
OriginManila, Philippines
Genres
Discography
Years active2016–present
LabelsSony Music Philippines
Members
  • Paolo Benjamin Guico
  • Miguel Benjamin Guico
  • Poch Barretto
  • Jam Villanueva
  • Agnes Reoma
  • Pat Lasaten
  • Toni Muñoz
  • Andrew De Pano
  • Keifer Cabugao
Websitebenandbenmusic.com

The band's first effort, a self-titled extended play (EP), was released in 2016. The EP's singles, "Leaves" and "Kathang Isip", helped raise Ben&Ben to prominence. Under Sony Music Philippines, the band released their debut studio album Limasawa Street (2019) to critical and commercial success; the single "Pagtingin" earned them the Awit Award for Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist. Their second studio album Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno (2021) received acclaim for its reflective lyricism and sociopolitical themes. It won the Awit Award for Album of the Year and was named by NME as one of the 25 best Asian albums of the year.

Ben&Ben have received numerous accolades, including an Asia Artist Award, an Aliw Award, a NME Award, two Myx Music Awards, three Star Awards, and 16 Awit Awards. In 2020, they placed 29th on the Billboard Social 50 chart. Having amassed more than two billion streams thus far, Ben&Ben have been named the most-streamed Filipino artist of all time on Spotify. Beyond music, they promote causes such as mental health, environmental awareness, and digital well-being.

History

edit

2016–2018: Formation and early years

edit

Twin brothers Paolo and Miguel Benjamin Guico were members of a high school cover band, Deadline, formed during the 2000s.[1][2] They started playing as part of an "after-school culture", performing music from groups such as Paramore, Yellowcard, and Urbandub, and joining several amateur band competitions. After graduating high school, the brothers attended De La Salle University. Their inherent familiarity with music devices, such as fixing loudspeakers, led them to major in engineering. They had been interested in a career in music and thought that this would prepare them for opportunities to pursue it at the same time.[1] While at De La Salle, they auditioned for a Battle of the Bands contest but failed to make it past the first round. Disillusioned by this, the brothers decided to take a hiatus from music altogether to focus on their studies. During this period, they became more involved with extracurricular activities; Miguel was part of an events and production group, while Paolo was a member of the student body.[3]

Around that time, Paolo answered an advertisement on Facebook for Elements Music Camp, a songwriting workshop mentored by Filipino musicians, including Gloc-9, Noel Cabangon, Joey Ayala, and Rey Valera. They considered their participation a "cathartic experience", adding that it prompted a transformative shift in their perspective on music and life.[1] Elements Music Camp was influential in shaping the brothers' musicianship; in addition to honing their songwriting process, it gave them confidence as singers.[1][2] They graduated from De La Salle in 2016 and formed the Benjamins,[4][1] taken from their second given names.[5] In the same year, they began songwriting and took part in the Philippine Popular Music Festival,[2] becoming the youngest finalists at age 21.[4] They wrote "Tinatangi", a song about "life's different phases" which infused folk music and featured lyrics rooted in kundiman.[6] A collaboration with singers Bayang Barrios and Cooky Chua, the piece won third place and was awarded Best Music Video.[2]

 
The wordmark logo of Ben&Ben

During this time, the duo worked with several different sound engineers and songwriters, including tribal leaders as sources of inspiration; they subsequently took the name Ben&Ben.[7][8] In partnership with Warner Music Philippines, Ben&Ben released their first effort, an eponymous extended play (EP), on December 17, 2016.[9][7] Although the two recorded their material with the aid of layered sound and audio mixing elements, they faced challenges replicating this in a live setting. Prior to their stage debut on Rappler's Live Jam, the duo invited a small group of musicians to perform with them, adding Poch Barretto as electric guitarist, Jam Villanueva as drummer, Agnes Reoma as bassist, Patricia Lasaten as keyboardist, Toni Muñoz and Andrew de Pano as percussionists, as well as Keifer Cabugao as violinist.[2] Six of the additions have previously studied music; Muñoz, Lasaten, and Reoma majored in music composition, Barretto and Villanueva earned music business management degrees, and De Pano is a graduate of music education. Conversely, Cabugao is the only one to have a non-music major, having attended business school.[1] The group continued playing live performances together for several months,[1] and on May 10, 2017, Ben&Ben were officially formed as a nine-member ensemble.[7] "Leaves", Ben&Ben EP's single, helped the band rise to prominence after it had been streamed more than one million times on Spotify.[10] Their next release, "Kathang Isip", was heralded by Billboard Philippines as a "game-changer", highlighting its "melodramatic crooning ... heart-tugging instrumentals ... [and] soaring, cathartic chorus".[11] It was nominated for Song of the Year at the Myx Music Awards.[12] At the 2018 Aliw Awards, Ben&Ben were named Best New Artist – Group.[13] That same year, the band featured on several soundtracks, performing "Susi" for the biopic Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, "Maybe The Night" for the romantic drama Exes Baggage, and "Balik-Balikan" for the television series Coke Studio Homecoming.[7]

2019–present: Breakthrough and success

edit
 
Steve Lillywhite produced the title track for Limasawa Street, incorporating elements influenced by his work with Irish rock band U2.

In the first half of 2019, Ben&Ben signed a record deal with Sony Music Philippines and began work on their debut studio album Limasawa Street.[14] They first paired with British producer Steve Lillywhite, known for his work with U2 and Dave Matthews Band, for the album's title track. The song, heavily influenced by rock, drew its stylistic inspiration from Lillywhite's production with U2's the Edge. The band found Lillywhite to be very encouraging and creative; Paolo cited that working with the producer had significant impact on the album's output overall. The record also fused elements from Motown and soul music, among others.[15]

Preceded by the singles "Araw-Araw" and "Pagtingin",[16] Limasawa Street was released on May 10, 2019,[17] to critical acclaim;[18] Karla Rule of The Philippine Star praised the themes represented on the album for its emotional engagement to a wider audience,[19] while a reviewer from the Manila Bulletin concluded, "With Limasawa Street, Ben&Ben not only proves they are one of the premier bands of the day, but they have enough creativity and depth to be in this for the long haul".[20] To promote the album, the band embarked on their Limasawa Street Tour which ran from May to August 2019, encompassing 12 shows.[21] The album was certified 4× platinum by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry.[22] Ben&Ben won multiple accolades for their work; it was named Favorite Album of the Year at the 2020 Awit Awards, and "Pagtingin" earned the awards for Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist and Favorite Song of the Year.[23] The single "Araw-Araw" was curated for the soundtrack of the romantic film Last Song Syndrome (2019), and won a Star Award for Movie Theme Song of the Year.[24] At the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards, the band were nominated for Best Southeast Asian Act.[25]

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the band members lived together and conceived their second album Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno.[26] The title was inspired by the house they resided in, and the album found the band experimenting with different narrative standpoints on the production. Conceptually, "kuwaderno" (lit.'notebook') is an allusion to the music created from ideas chronicled in their "shared life under quarantine". Filipino musicians Chito Miranda, KZ Tandingan, Moira Dela Torre, Juan Karlos Labajo, and Zild appeared as guest performers.[27] The completed album garnered critical praise upon its release in 2021,[a] with NME listing Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno as one of the "25 best Asian albums" of the year.[32] Rick Olivares of ABS-CBNnews.com found its introspective essence timely for the pandemic and regarded its sound as a bold reinvention of Ben&Ben's artistry,[28] while a critic from the BusinessMirror lauded the album's experimental production, emotional weight and reflective songwriting.[29] The album's release was followed by a livestreaming concert which was filmed at the Araneta Coliseum and broadcast on December 5, 2021, via the web-based platform KTX.ph.[33] At the 2022 Awit Awards, the album and its singles received 21 nominations and earned multiple wins, including Album of the Year.[34][35] Ben&Ben were named Best Band from Asia at the 2022 NME Awards, in addition to a Best Album by an Asian Artist nomination.[36]

Also in 2022, Ben&Ben headlined their first international tour which commenced in San Francisco, followed by a series of dates across North America.[37] In early 2023, the band performed at several music festivals, including the Aurora Music Festival in Pampanga, three editions of 1MX Music FestivalLondon, Toronto, and Sydney—and the Clockenflap in Hong Kong.[b] Amidst their touring activities, the band were honored with the Best Choice Award at the 2023 Asia Artist Awards, alongside musicians such as Kang Daniel and NewJeans.[43] Later that year, they debuted the songs "Autumn" and "Courage",[44] and were featured on the soundtrack of the drama film Rewind, performing the single "Sa Susunod na Habang Buhay".[45] A jukebox musical adaptation of the 2007 romance film One More Chance featured Ben&Ben's songs and premiered in April 2024 at the PETA Theater Center.[46] In October 2024, Ben&Ben announced their third studio album, The Traveller Across Dimensions, set for release on November 29.[47]

Artistry

edit

Influences

edit

Ben&Ben have named British rock band Coldplay as their main influence and biggest inspiration. They admire how the group have diversified their sound and explored many musical styles throughout their career, including "the breadth of themes they tackle in their songs, to the contrasts of their musical palette, all the way to making the most of music as a holistic experience".[22] The brothers grew up listening to folk, rock, and jazz musicians, including Urbandub, Paramore, Joey Ayala, Johnoy Danao, Cynthia Alexander, and Franco. Lyrically, they acknowledged Filipino songwriters such as Noel Cabangon, Jungee Marcelo, Jazz Nicolas, and Ebe Dancel as mentors and primary influences for writing their early material.[6] Band members Barretto, De Pano, and Muñoz have all covered songs of John Mayer, while Villanueva cites Nirvana, Radiohead, and the Foo Fighters as musical inspirations. Lasaten looks up to Paramore lead vocalist Hayley Williams, whose "pop punk musical artistry" she wishes to emulate.[1] Cabugao was introduced to the music of former the Belle Brigade member Ethan Gruska through the latter's collaboration with Bon Iver, drawn to its "calm moody sound".[6] In addition, the band are inspired by artists like Queen and the Beatles.[22]

During production of Limasawa Street, the band cited influences from producer Steve Lillywhite's work with U2 and Dave Matthews Band, having collaborated with him on the album's title track and impressed by his "signature way of [audio] mixing" and creative treatment.[15] For Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno, they drew inspiration from musicians who are also band members such as Chito Miranda of Parokya ni Edgar, Zild Benitez from IV of Spades, and Juan Karlos Labajo from his namesake band, all of whom appeared on the album.[30]

Musical style and themes

edit

Ben&Ben's music has been described as indie folk, folk-pop, folk rock, pop rock, and Pinoy pop.[c] In 2016, during the brothers' participation in the Philippine Popular Music Festival songwriting competition, their work had characteristics of kundiman intertwined with folk-pop, which they asserted as an "all-out experimentation". Subsequently, a similar style was implemented into their first EP.[6] Their first studio album, Limasawa Street, featured distinct song identities which were described as "folk-infused pop sound", "jazz-pop strains", and "world music-tinged".[20] With Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno, Ben&Ben further diversified their style; "Sabel" featured "sparse instrumentation, harmony, and handclaps",[28] which incorporated melodic chants.[30] Meanwhile, "Lunod" was considered to be inspired by rock opera.[30] Later in their career, the band ventured into various music genres, exploring elements and melodies rooted in city pop, electronic music, and tropicalismo.[50] A media critic from ABS-CBNnews.com commented that it "signal[ed] a new chapter of musical growth and evolution" in their career.[50]

Ben&Ben's musical style is noted for its anthemic quality and emotional engagement that appeals to a wide range of audiences.[d] Juli Vivas of the Manila Bulletin opined that their "poignant lyricism and unique musicality" are rare among their peers, underscoring that the band "changed the landscape of Filipino pop for the better, ushering in what potentially could be the second golden age of the local music industry".[7] The band's lyrics are known for their deep sentimental and emotional undertones, focusing on themes of loss, heartbreak and relationship, and the journey towards self-love.[e] They delved into the cathartic nature of life on their EP,[11][57] and embraced romance and positivity on Limasawa Street.[58] In a review of their live performance, the critic Rito Asilo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote that the song "Pagtingin" capitalized on the "lead singers' soaring, soothing vocals and radio-ready musicality", while he lauded "Paninindigan Kita" and "Araw-Araw" for expressing "earnest devotion fueling their thematic content".[59] Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno was a departure from the dominant subjects of its predecessor.[53] Influenced by the isolation during quarantine, Ben&Ben diverged from "typical romantic narratives in favor of social commentary", exploring themes of escapism, social issues, mental health, and feminism. The songs generally ruminate around a set of distinctive characters, such as empowered women, emotionally troubled individuals, and the ruling class.[18] Esquire deemed the album to be "diverse yet surprisingly compact that expands the Ben&Ben sound".[53]

Regarding their songwriting process, Ben&Ben explained that the foundation to their songs is attributed to "10% of writing and 90% listening". They stated that identifying with various music genres helped broaden their perspective as songwriters, asserting that their material are often drawn from life experiences.[6] In an interview with Esquire, the band acknowledged a collaborative approach among its members: "It usually starts with a song idea from a single songwriter ... It could be as bare as a single line, or a fully written piece ... After everyone hears it, if the songwriter doesn’t really have any specific ideas for how it’ll be arranged, each person brings in their own ideas to the table".[53]

Advocacy

edit
 
Ben&Ben during their appearance at the ROUND Festival in 2020

Ben&Ben's music—including collaborations with other musicians—has been known to address issues concerning mental health, feminism, social justice, and individualism.[53][50][18][60] In 2021, the band favored writing songs that promote public awareness: "Kapangyarihan" tackles abuse of power, corruption, and police brutality,[50][61] while "Sabel" amplified women empowerment. In addition, songs such as "Lunod" and "Magpahinga" talks about struggles with mental illness.[18][60]

The band supports and have spoken out against the discrimination faced by members of the LGBT community, most notably criticizing inaccurate and sexist gender norms. On social media, Paolo Guico aimed to dispel "outdated prejudices" and voiced his support of "gender expression". In 2018, the band released the single "Maybe the Night", which was inspired by a lesbian couple and is a tribute to "celebrating all kinds of love".[61] Ben&Ben are active supporters of recycling and are opposed to single-use products; they advocate for eco-friendly musical instruments. In 2019, the band were named National Geographic Asia's ambassador for its Planet or Plastic campaign, in recognition of their involvement in the rehabilitation of the Pasig River and reduction efforts to plastic pollution.[62]

In the aftermath of the ABS-CBN broadcast cessation in May 2020, Ben&Ben donated proceeds from the sales of their single "Nakikinig Ka Ba Sa Akin" to employees affected by the subsequent mass layoffs.[63] Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the band organized virtual benefit concerts to raise funds in support of frontline and healthcare workers, disadvantaged teachers and students affected by transition to e-learning, and efforts to provide COVID-19 testing.[64][65] In December 2020, they participated as the Philippine representative at the ROUND Festival, a music event headlined by leading artists from ASEAN member countries which advances music and culture in the region.[66] In partnership with Google, Ben&Ben released the single "Mag-Ingat", which premiered in February 2022, and took part in Safer Internet Day to help promote digital safety and address online misinformation and cyberbullying.[67]

Accolades

edit

Ben&Ben are considered one of the most successful bands of their generation.[7][11][68] After their breakthrough, the band received the Aliw Award for Best New Artist – Group at the 2018 ceremony.[13] In 2020, their debut album Limasawa Street won the Awit Award for Favorite Album of the Year. The single "Pagtingin" garnered the Awit Awards for Best Performance by a Group Recording Artist and Favorite Song of the Year,[23] and the Star Award for Duo/Group Artist of the Year.[69] The band were nominated for a MTV Europe Music Award in the same year. Their second studio album Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno received a total of 21 Awit Award nominations, including a win for Album of the Year, at the 2021 ceremony.[34][35] Having surpassed more than two billion streams to date, Ben&Ben were named by Spotify as the most-streamed Filipino artist of all time, in addition to being the most-streamed Filipino artist in 2020, 2021, and 2023.[70]

Band members

edit

Credits adapted from BusinessWorld.[71]

  • Paolo Benjamin Guico – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Miguel Benjamin Guico – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
  • Poch Barretto – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jam Villanueva – drums
  • Agnes Reoma – bass guitar
  • Andrew De Pano – percussion, backing vocals
  • Toni Muñoz – percussion, lead and backing vocals
  • Keifer Cabugao – violin, backing vocals
  • Patricia Lasaten – keyboards

Discography

edit

Filmography

edit
Year Title Role Director Producer Ref(s)
2019 Last Song Syndrome Cameo No Yes [72][73]

Notes

edit
  1. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[18][28][29][30][31]
  2. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[38][39][40][41][42]
  3. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[1][6][7][49][50][51]
  4. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[7][52][11][51][53]
  5. ^ Attributed to multiple references:[6][54][55][56]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Suazo, Juli (July 7, 2021). "The past, present, and future of Ben&Ben". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lago, Amanda T. (August 8, 2021). "Spotlight: A history of Ben&Ben". Rappler. Archived from the original on March 1, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  3. ^ "Truth in Art with Paolo and Miguel of Ben&Ben" (Podcast) (in Tagalog). De La Salle University. 05:05 minutes in. Retrieved January 20, 2024 – via Spotify.
  4. ^ a b Gil, Baby A. (May 30, 2016). "Philpop unveils 12 interpreters". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  5. ^ Gil, Baby A. (March 5, 2018). "The new pop idols". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 4, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Valeza, Karen (February 12, 2017). "Not old school but cool". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024 – via PressReader.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Vivas, Jules (March 23, 2022). "Ben&Ben: Leading the charge to the renaissance of Filipino pop music". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Castillo, Maddie (July 11, 2016). "Watch: The Benjamins 'Tinatangi' woos its way into PhilPOP 2016". Bandwagon. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  9. ^ "Watch: Rappler Live Jam: Ben&Ben". Rappler. December 1, 2016. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  10. ^ "Ben&Ben hit 1 million plays on Spotify". Bandwagon. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d Saulog, Gabriel (October 4, 2023). "Unpacking Heartbreak: Revisiting Ben&Ben's 'Kathang Isip'". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  12. ^ Fallore, Renuel (April 7, 2019). "Here are the Myx Music Awards 2019 nominees!". Myx. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  13. ^ a b De Guzman, Nickky Faustine P (December 19, 2018). "Lea Salonga, Binondo win big at Aliw Awards 2018". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Ben&Ben reveal details for debut album, Limasawa Street". Bandwagon. April 8, 2019. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Olivares, Rick (June 9, 2019). "Steve Lillywhite magic propels Ben&Ben's Limasawa Street album to levels of magnificence". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2020. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  16. ^ Madarang, Catalina Ricci S. (May 3, 2019). "Filipino band Ben&Ben viral on Twitter after release of two new songs". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Ben&Ben promise a unique audio-visual experience with new album, Limasawa Street". Bandwagon. May 3, 2019. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  18. ^ a b c d e Caña, Paul John (August 30, 2021). "Ben&Ben dig deep and scrawl truths in sophomore release". Esquire. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  19. ^ Rule, Karla (July 3, 2019). "Ben&Ben's mission: Give love, be a light for others". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Ben&Ben basks in the light on Limasawa Street". Manila Bulletin. July 9, 2019. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via PressReader.
  21. ^ "Ben&Ben brings Limasawa Street Tour to Davao". Mindanao Times. August 24, 2019. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024 – via PressReader.
  22. ^ a b c Golangco, Lauren (August 3, 2022). "Ben&Ben: musical influences, operating as a 9-piece ensemble, and living together amidst the pandemic". Tatler. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Full list: Winners, Awit Awards 2020". Rappler. August 29, 2020. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "Alden Richards, Sylvia Sanchez win top acting honors at 36th Star Awards for Movies". Philippine Entertainment Portal. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 29, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  25. ^ Arias, Jacqueline (October 7, 2020). "2020 MTV EMAs: Ben&Ben, Agnez Mo and more nominated for Best Southeast Asia Act". NME. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  26. ^ Godinez, Bong (October 26, 2021). "Ben&Ben on living together and the art of budgeting". GMA Network News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  27. ^ Santos, Aldus (August 30, 2021). "Full house: Ben&Ben return with their second album and "a multiverse of madness"". NME. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Olivares, Rick (August 29, 2021). "Review: Ben&Ben's new album Pebble House Vol. 1 Kuwaderno is a brilliant masterpiece". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Ben&Ben surpass expectations on sophomore album, Pebble House Vol. 1: Kuwaderno". BusinessMirror. August 30, 2021. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  30. ^ a b c d Lago, Amanda T. (September 14, 2021). "In Pebble House, Vol 1: Kuwaderno, Ben&Ben shows the world what they can do". Rappler. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  31. ^ Tugade, Ross (August 31, 2021). "With Ben&Ben, all roads lead to home". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  32. ^ "The 25 best Asian albums of 2021". NME. December 24, 2021. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  33. ^ "What to expect from Ben&Ben's biggest digital concert". CNN Philippines. November 26, 2021. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Javier, Kristian Eric (September 27, 2022). "Ben&Ben gets 21 Awit Award nominations!". GMA Network News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  35. ^ a b Severo, Jan Milo (November 24, 2022). "List: Awit Awards 2022 winners". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  36. ^ Gwee, Karen (January 11, 2022). "BandLab NME Awards 2022 announce winners in all-new Asia categories: Subsonic Eye, Warren Hue and more". NME. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  37. ^ Singh, Surej (June 27, 2022). "Ben&Ben announce dates and ticket details for 2022 North American tour". NME. Archived from the original on September 28, 2022. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  38. ^ "Ely Buendia, Ben&Ben to headline Clark Aurora Music Festival". Rappler. January 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  39. ^ "1MX music fest returns to London with Ben&Ben, Moira, Maymay". ABS-CBNnews.com. June 19, 2023. Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  40. ^ Angeles, Steve (September 2, 2023). "Ben&Ben, BGYO head to Toronto for 1MX". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  41. ^ "1MX heads to Sydney with world-class Pinoy acts from Maymay, KZ, BINI, and Ben&Ben". ABS-CBNnews.com. October 6, 2023. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2024.
  42. ^ "Ben&Ben joins Arctic Monkeys, Phoenix on Clockenflap 2023 lineup". Rappler. December 10, 2022. Archived from the original on June 6, 2023. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  43. ^ Llemit, Kathleen A. (December 14, 2023). "Ben&Ben scores award at Asia Artist Award 2023". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  44. ^ Saulog, Gabriel (November 21, 2023). "Ben&Ben to release trifecta of singles before the end of 2023". Billboard Philippines. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  45. ^ "Ben&Ben amazed with song's inclusion in Rewind". ABS-CBNnews.com. December 26, 2023. Archived from the original on January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  46. ^ Veronique Yap, Jade (January 23, 2024). "One More Chance musical to run from April to June". GMA Network News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  47. ^ Roque, Nika (October 3, 2024). "Ben&Ben reveals new album The Traveller Across Dimensions will have an animated story". GMA Network News. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  48. ^ "2 Brand New Singles from Ben&Ben's Debut Album". Philippine Daily Inquirer. May 22, 2019. Archived from the original on May 22, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  49. ^ Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (July 3, 2023). "Ben&Ben releases new single 'Could Be Something,' announces five-city international tour". GMA Network News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  50. ^ a b c d e "1MX feature: Ben&Ben's envelope-pushing new single "Could Be Something" kicks off 1MX World Tour". ABS-CBNnews.com. July 3, 2023. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  51. ^ a b Roque, Nika (June 22, 2022). "Ben&Ben shows different side in new angsty folk-rock song "Langyang Pag-ibig"". GMA Network News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  52. ^ "21 Ben&Ben songs make it to Spotify's Top 200, including all tracks from their new album". GMA Network News. September 1, 2021. Archived from the original on November 8, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  53. ^ a b c d e Caña, Paul John (December 23, 2021). "In the new golden age of OPM, Ben&Ben are peerless". Esquire. Archived from the original on November 20, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  54. ^ "Pinoy band "Ben & Ben" answers "hugot" questions". GMA Network News. November 25, 2022. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  55. ^ Policarpio, Allan (September 20, 2022). "Why 'The Ones We Once Loved' one of the hardest songs Ben&Ben has ever written". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  56. ^ "Ben&Ben - Profile". 1MX Music Festival. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  57. ^ Castillo Mata, Maddie (May 19, 2017). "Ben&Ben release poignant music video for "Leaves"". Bandwagon. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  58. ^ Olivares, Rick (March 19, 2019). "Ben&Ben's Limasawa Street: Instant classic". BusinessMirror. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  59. ^ Asilo, Rito P. (August 7, 2022). "Ben&Ben beyond soaring melodies, crowd-pleasing musicality". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  60. ^ a b Villanueva, Brooke (August 28, 2021). "Ben&Ben to tackle pressing social issues in new album such as women empowerment, power abuse". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  61. ^ a b Peters, Daniel (February 11, 2021). "Ben&Ben's Paolo Guico speaks out against gender norms after fans react to dress selfie". NME. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  62. ^ Guno, Niña V. (November 16, 2019). "Ben&Ben band named National Geographic Asia ambassador against plastic trash". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  63. ^ "Ben&Ben donates 'Nakikinig Ka Ba Sa Akin' earnings to help retrenched ABS-CBN employees". Rappler. August 28, 2020. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  64. ^ "Ben&Ben to hold fundraising virtual concert in response to COVID-19 pandemic". ABS-CBNnews.com. March 22, 2020. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  65. ^ "Ben&Ben to hold online benefit concert for 'Balik Eskwela' project". BusinessMirror. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  66. ^ "Ben&Ben to perform at ASEAN-Korean ROUND Festival". Rappler. December 1, 2020. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  67. ^ Basco, Karl Cedrick (February 8, 2024). "Ben&Ben, Google release song 'Mag-Ingat' for Safer Internet Day". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  68. ^ Policarpio, Allan (January 12, 2019). "Ben&Ben on its success: Weird, surreal, liberating". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  69. ^ Cruz, Dana (October 11, 2021). "Regine Velasquez, Sarah Geronimo, Daniel Padilla lead winners at Star Awards for Music". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 30, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  70. ^ C., Toff (December 10, 2023). "Ben&Ben surpasses 2 billion streams on Spotify: 'We celebrate this historic milestone with you'". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  71. ^ Soliman, Michelle Anne P. (August 30, 2022). "Ben&Ben releases international single, preps for North American tour". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  72. ^ Paredes, Andrew (September 17, 2019). "Review: LSS will hook you with its sharp take on love (and also make you want to sing)". ABS-CBNnews.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  73. ^ Aquino Sarmiento, Carmen (September 24, 2019). "Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino: Feel good". BusinessWorld. Archived from the original on March 12, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
edit