SINGER/SONGWRITER BENNY MARCHANT PREPARES FOR ‘COLD WEATHER;’ DEBUT FULL-LENGTH OUT TUESDAY, MAY 31

The songs on the EP–“Cold Weather,” “Been Too Long,” “A Better Way” and two versions of “Conversations Missed”–introduced BENNY’s haunting alternative folk-rock and offered a sample of what’s to come on COLD WEATHER.

“I didn’t want to give too much away, but I really wanted to give a great and balanced representation of myself and the upcoming full-length album,” says BENNY.  “I think I did a good job with that. I want the listener to know that I’m not trying to be a catchy commercial pop artist.”

Fans, music journalists and radio programmers have all responded positively to the music on the EP. BENNY has garnered airplay at over 20 stations nationwide, including Sirius/XM’s The Loft. CONVERSATIONS MISSED also attracted attention from the media. Sam Gnerre of the Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance, CA highlighted BENNY in his year-end picks for 2010: “Benny Marchant comes through with several richly melodic tunes on his debut, Conversations Missed EP (Marina), including two versions of the infectious title track. It's inviting enough to make one want to pursue the L.A.-based singer-songwriter's full-length debut…” (12/30/10) 

Ashley Eliot of the Los Angeles bi-monthly arts and lifestyle magazine LA Canvas praised, “The LA rock/folk singer-songwriter's voice quivers while he delicately sings heartfelt lyrics that deliver an amicable feeling of comfort. Marchant bears similarities to Tom Petty and Nick Drake, and his wistful voice adds charm that brings out the emotion in his lyrics. From the more upbeat rock sounds of ‘Conversations Missed’ to the country-influenced ‘Been Too Long,’ the four-song EP is genuine and blends acoustic and electric guitars, an xylophone, violin, drums, shakers and a synth.” (1/24/11)

Brian Willett of Bloginity.com said “Conversations Missed features Marchant’s unique blend of catchy folk-rock that is personal, yet has pop appeal. Marchant is a master of making complex melodies sound simple and eliciting impromptu sing-alongs, even before you know all the words…While painting an intimate portrait of his own emotions, Marchant’s songs are universally accessible.” (9/13/10)  Elsewhere, Suite101.com’s Markos Papadatos proclaimed, “Benny Marchant is one of the most promising new artists to emerge in 2010.” (1/11/11)

Dana Feldman of Examiner.com is also an early supporter: “There is a new singer/songwriter that can best be described as a blend of Tom Petty and Ben Harper.  His name is Benny Marchant and he is a dynamic rising talent with vocals so incredibly soulful that it is hard to believe he is not already being played on every national radio station." (11/11/10) Adam Rothenberg of the New York culture and art blog AdaumbellesQuest.com called the EP “a true dream come true,” noting “his folk-rock style is reminiscent of many musicians before him, but Benny’s style is clearly all his own. His songs are heartfelt, emotional, and delightfully enjoyable to listen to.” (10/22/10). Additionally, Francis Vega of USC’s NeonTommy.com said, “The juxtaposition between the upbeat guitar riffs and Marchant’s melancholy lyrics in ‘Conversations Missed’ made the song somewhat haunting. It was definitely unforgettable and seems like a great choice for a title track." (11/5/10)

The upcoming LP COLD WEATHER is representative of the Annapolis-native’s diverse and honest work. His music is personal, yet relatable, diving into feelings of love, loss, journey and victory. The title track, “Cold Weather” is especially meaningful for the artist.  “That is probably one of my favorite songs on record,” says BENNY. “It was originally a kind of poppy tune I had written for a side project, and then it changed a bit as I began working with Joe on the EP. I wrote a different bridge for it altogether, a Simon & Garfunkel-ish bridge, because again I listened to the classics, so that kind of took it to a whole other level.  Lyrically, it’s one of the songs that says, ‘I’m not alone, I’m actually with somebody and I don’t care what anyone says, I’m so excited that I am in this moment.’ ‘Cold Weather’ is just kind of like a metaphor for life.”

BENNY and his band–Walker Gibson (keys/guitar/vocals), Hubie Wang (electric guitar), Spencer Wright (bass) and Steven Robinson (drums)–will perform in Los Angeles at Tommy’s Place on the USC Campus February 12 with additional shows to be added soon. Laurel Kathleen of BestNewBands.com experienced BENNY’s live show and said, “Benny Marchant has everything he needs to stride forward into the world of musical success…After hearing his music online, I knew he had some serious chops but I was expecting a mellow, Americana-flavored singer/songwriter performance. Benny can croon with the best of them, but he can do so much more than that. He can stretch out his vocal chords to sound a little like Ben Harper, or soften his throat to almost sigh into the microphone. Even when he's jamming with his band (and his band can jam) he keeps total control over his occasionally raw-around-the-edges voice.” (10/16/10)

For more information on upcoming news and dates, visit: www.officialbennymarchant.com.   

To read a Q&A with BENNY, go here: http://www.msopr.com/?q=node/5906