Photo credit: Demarquis McDaniels – alt text: « Benny Sings portrait »

 

Benny Sings: Intimacy on a Global Scale

Some careers are built loud. Benny Sings built his quietly -one perfectly crafted melody at a time- until half of modern pop’s biggest names were queuing up to work with him. From his studio in Amsterdam, Tim van Berkestijn, better known as Benny Sings, has spent over two decades shaping a musical universe entirely his own. The Dutch songwriter and producer has refined a signature formula that acts as a genuine antidote to gloom, seamlessly blending soul, R&B, disco, hip-hop, and jazz with effortless fluidity.

Across two decades and a string of acclaimed albums, he has amassed a monumental body of work – a catalog that has now topped 2 billion cumulative streams and continues to draw a large, engaged global audience.

Benny Sings is the ultimate musician’s musician. His luminous songwriting and undeniable sense of groove consistently draw major international talent, leading to standout works alongside Rex Orange County, Mac DeMarco, Tom Misch, Kenny Beats, and Remi Wolf.

With his most personal album fresh out, now’s the moment to get properly acquainted. To mark the recent release of his new album, 22 Durnham Dew (released on September 25th 2026 via Stones Throw Records), let’s trace the pivotal milestones of a career that continues to redefine Benny Sings music publishing on a global scale.

The Foundations of a Sound

In the early 2000s, Tim van Berkestijn cut his teeth in the Dutch hip-hop scene as a bassist and producer. Everything shifted in 2003 with the release of his debut solo LP, “Champagne People”, under his moniker Benny Sings.

The record immediately established his sonic aesthetic: refined pop melodies, lo-fi textures, and jazz-tinted arrangements. Long before « bedroom pop » became a ubiquitous industry term, Benny was already pioneering the craft in his Amsterdam workspace.

From a commercial perspective, success arrived swiftly and unexpectedly from overseas. His compositions struck a massive chord in Japan that proved to be a decisive turning point. It established Benny Sings’ international career from day one and demonstrated a core principle for any music publisher: great songwriting transcends geographic borders -but capturing its full value abroad still depends on solid publishing rights administration and the right sub-publishing partners in each territory. Over the next decade, he honed his craft, released successive projects, and cultivated a fiercely loyal global fanbase, collaborating with artists from all over the world such as Connan Mockasin , Marc Rebillet and french speaking artists Renaud Letang, Philippe Katerine, Chilly Gonzales, Myd, Polo & Pan and Feist.

 

Photo credit: Takuroh Oyama – alt text: « Benny Sings during an early performance in Japan »

 

The Stones Throw Turning Point & Worldwide Reach

2018 marked a major milestone when Benny Sings signed with the legendary Los Angeles imprint Stones Throw Records. Historically tied to underground hip-hop icons like J Dilla, Madlib, and MF DOOM, the West Coast label alongside publisher Penniers from Heaven and co-publisher & management company Soepermarkt (both sub-published in France by Alter K) provided the Dutch creator with unprecedented global reach.

This shift in scale materialized in 2019 with his album “City Pop”. While the title paid tribute to his early triumphs in Japan, his sun-drenched, sophisticated, yet accessible pop captured an international audience. 

He cemented this momentum with 2021’s “Music” and 2023’s “Young Hearts”, a project co-produced alongside acclaimed American producer Kenny Beats. These releases firmly anchored his sonic identity, proving that artistic integrity can walk hand in hand with melodic efficiency. In just a few years, he evolved into a central figure of the global pop landscape.

 

Photo credit: Yaz Dinaully – alt text: « Benny Sings performing live during the City Pop era »

The Art of Elevation

Benny Sings possesses a rare skill: he knows how to elevate another artist’s vision while maintaining his own instantly recognizable touch. His most celebrated masterstroke remains his collaboration with Rex Orange County on the breakout hit « Loving Is Easy. » Co-written and produced by Benny, the track became a global hit and a textbook example of the power of co-writing rights. From Mac DeMarco and Tom Misch to Remi Wolf and PJ Morton, top-tier creators regularly seek out his creative touch.

« Benny has always been a massive inspiration for me and my music. » – Rex Orange County, on the collaboration behind « Loving Is Easy »

This innate ability to craft immediate hooks makes his repertoire an invaluable asset for any music publisher, feeding directly into music catalog valuation over time. His catalog presents an ideal profile for sync licensing: warm, timeless, and naturally feel-good. His productions integrate seamlessly into film soundtracks, television series, and major brand campaigns.

 

22 Durnham Dew: A Return to the Intimate

Following years of global collaborations, Benny Sings felt the pull to return to his roots. He re-immersed himself in writing and recording in complete solitude. This homecoming birthed 22 Durnham Dew, his most personal body of work to date, created alongside and inspired by his immediate family.

The new record signifies a return to pure songwriting craftsmanship. The Dutch creator focused on the intimate process of building an entire world within a single track.

« The new music is all about that, my adult life as a real person. »  Benny Sings, on 22 Durnham Dew

Despite its introspective nature, the album still features tastefully curated guest appearances: soul singer Baby Rose on « Do No Harm, » Elijah Fox on « Real Person, » and Ana Tijoux alongside Tune-Yards on « Be Myself. »

22 Durnham Dew released September 25th via Stones Throw Records, alongside videos and animated visuals. Fans can also catch him live on stage this autumn during his major European tour, which includes a date at Paris’s iconic Bataclan venue on November 28th.

 

Photo credit: Brechje Tromp

 

Discover Benny Sings

Curious to hear where twenty years of pop craftsmanship land next? Watch the official video for the title track, and catch him live this autumn on his European tour (full dates at bennysings.com/live).

For more, follow Benny Sings on Instagram.

This ability to project influence beyond solo releases and drive high-impact creative ventures highlights the evolving role of the modern rights holder. To explore these strategic dynamics further, read our dedicated article: Music Publishing in the Streaming Era: Why the Publisher Has Become a Strategic Player.

 

Photo credit: Brechje Tromp – Benny Sings at home during the making of 22 Durnham Dew

 

FAQ

How is publishing rights administration organized for an international creator like Benny Sings? Managing a globally distributed catalog across key territories (such as the US, Europe, and Asia) demands seamless coordination between the original rights holder and local sub-publishing partners. This network ensures accurate work registration with territorial collective management organizations (CMOs like SACEM, ASCAP, or JASRAC) and enables full collection of foreign performance and mechanical royalties through proper publishing rights administration.

What is the financial impact of co-writing rights in a composer’s career? Co-writing rights expand a songwriter’s repertoire to new audiences and grant access to massive streaming volumes. Global hits like « Loving Is Easy » (co-written with Rex Orange County) demonstrate how contributing composition and production work can multiply overall publishing royalties by leveraging third-party fanbases and broadcast channels worldwide.

What role does a sub-publishing partner play in maximizing international catalog revenues? A dedicated sub-publishing partner represents and protects copyrights within a specific territory. By meticulously registering titles with local CMOs, optimizing royalty collection, and proactively developing regional opportunities (such as local sync licensing, creative co-writes, or brand partnerships), a sub-publisher enhances the overall music catalog valuation and revenue yield of an international music catalog.