Meet The Musos: Get To Know Rising Aussie Pop Star BEHANI

Melbourne and Miami-based rising Australian sensation, BEHANI, has dropped with her electrifying brand new track, Pretty Beast.

Following the rousing triumph of her Afro-centric pop gem Comfortable, which soared past the million-view mark on YouTube, BEHANI propels us into an exhilarating new sonic odyssey with her latest track.

The seductive and empowering track — co-written by Ne-Yo — is all about BEHANI wanting to show her darker side and feminine power: “Pretty Beast is a celebration of your alter ego, as we all have our shadow side. I discovered that we can either deny our dark side or learn to embrace it in a way that can magnify the light. The song focuses on breaking your boundaries and protecting your self-worth.”

The new single comes following collaborations with other award-winning producers worldwide, including French Montana, and DJ Khaled.

In celebration of the release of Pretty Beast, we caught up with BEHANI to find out everything you need to know about the singer, songwriter, record producer and performer.

Tell us a bit about your latest track Pretty Beast.

Pretty Beast is a celebration of our alter ego, as we all possess a shadow side. I've come to realize that we can either deny this darker aspect or learn to embrace it, thereby amplifying the light within us. The song's focus is on shattering our self-imposed limits and safeguarding our self-worth.

You worked with Tyga for Comfortable. Can you share the backstory and creative process?

Having a deep appreciation for Tyga's artistry and rap style, I felt that his vibe would complement the easy-breezy, feel-good nature of Comfortable.

After sending him the record, Tyga loved it and even contributed a verse. His addition elevated the song to a whole new level, allowing it to resonate with both pop and R&B audiences.

You also worked with Ne-Yo on Real Man. What was that experience like?

Ne-Yo is not only incredibly talented but also easy-going and cool. Our collaboration was a mix of friendship and professionalism, resulting in a fruitful creative process.

The visuals for Real Man have a really cool aesthetic -  what can you tell us about the music video with Tyga for Comfortable?

Thank you, I’m very hands-on with all of my treatments to each of my songs and similar to Real Man, the thematics of Comfortable are very song visually through styling and choreography. These components tell a story of the four elements of nature, earth, wind, fire, and air.

Any dream collaborations for the future?

Absolutely! There's a multitude of exciting collaborations to anticipate. To uncover them, you'll have to follow my journey.

How different is the music scene in the US compared to Australia?

Being an Australian artist making strides in the US music scene fills me with pride. My Australian roots set me apart and keep me grounded. Perhaps someday, I'll even collaborate with an Australian artist.

If your music was a flavour, what would it taste like?

Honey.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences and how have they impacted your own sound and style?

From a performance perspective, it’s Beyoncé and J.Lo. I love their dedication to choreography, vocal strength, and performance stamina. From a sound perspective, I’ve always admired The Weekend who has a lot of meaning and an element of melancholy to each of his songs.

What’s been the biggest moment in your career so far?

I’ve been lucky to have many of those — meeting and working with incredible artists and producers will be moments I’ll never forget. Even though I haven’t released that many songs, there are lots of upcoming songs to look forward to. A highlight this far has been performing Real Man on Good Day New York.

What's the most unusual or unexpected source of inspiration you've drawn from when writing a song?

I think the best songs often come from pain or hardship — personal tribulations. There’s always a silver lining to every scenario and music is an outlet for me to channel that.

Can you share a hilarious or cringe-worthy moment from your early days as an artist?

In my first live performance in Lagos, Nigeria — my outfit popped and my in-ears fell out, everything that could have gone wrong, did. I learned a lot and I just had to keep pushing on. 

What are the top three tracks or artists you’re vibing on right now?

• Kylie Minogue - Padam Padam

• Beyoncé - Renaissance Album

• Calvin Harris with Sam Smith - Desire

What’s something that fans might not know about you?

I like to put honey in almost everything.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

Enya — because she is peaceful and relaxing.

What's in the works for you in 2023?

We’ve got two exciting new releases to come in the next few months.

The first being Pretty Beast, which is coming out on August 25th — The song was co-written by Neyo and produced by Scott Storch in Circle House Studios in Miami. The second is Comfortable featuring Tyga, with a video clip to follow.