We’re super excited this week to be Spreading the Good Stuff for our good friend and uber talented local musician Benny Walker who recently launched a brand new single Ghost, which looks set to take his burgeoning career to even greater heights.
Ghost debuted at #1 on the iTunes Blues chart and check out some of the love Benny has received from industry gurus since its release last week on ABC’s Double J with Myf Warhurst:
“Ghost oozes class. Sophisticated and soulful, it’s another step on Benny’s Walkers road to superstardom,” – Jeff Jenkins
And this…
“A year ago Benny Walker showed potential. Now he’s the real deal, a soul singer as ready to sing about the world as about the heart, in a rich song that sounds old-before-its-time yet anything but old-fashioned,” – Bernard Zuel
There’s no doubt Benny Walker has ‘arrived’ and if you, like us, have tracked his career since its early days you’ll join us in celebrating his new ‘coming of age’ sound. And we just can’t wait to hear more when the full EP Undercover is released on Monday September 11.
Like many Echuca Moama locals, we are so proud of Benny’s talents, but it’s his ability to stay ‘local’ and humble, which sets him apart.
As a proud Yorta Yorta man, who grew up playing in the bush and swimming in the Murray River, Benny holds strong to the premise that he creates music, and dedicates the majority of his time touring, simply because he is drawn to it.
“It’s an unexplainable thing… but I do it because it’s always enjoyable and it makes me feel good, and always has,” Benny said.
Despite the hard slog as an independent artist and countless nights away from his gorgeous wife Fiona and 14 month-old son Archie, Benny is living the dream and explains how it has provided him the freedom to fully enjoy life.
“I decided I didn’t want to sit around and wait for my life to happen… success can mean something different to everyone and I wish I had gone for it earlier,” he said.
Benny is taking his Wine, Women and Soul tour on the road throughout September and October and you can catch him LIVE in Echuca Moama at The Mill, where he will play his new EP to an intimate audience, which is guaranteed to be teeming with family and friends.
“I just love playing in Echuca Moama and I’ve always felt drawn back home… to family, friends and my ancestral connections – way back,” Benny said.
Benny is super excited about his new sound and the direction he has been brave enough to steer his music, thanks to ARIA award-winning producer Jan Skubiszewski who has worked with the likes of Dan Sultan, Cat Empire and John Butler Trio.
“There’s a huge difference between my previous work and Undercover… it’s an evolution and I’m out of my comfort zone… but you have to be open to it,” he said.
In the past couple of years Benny has played some of the country’s finest music festivals and supported many of Australia’s most talented acts, he was also named Best Aboriginal Act of the Year at the 2016 Age Music Victoria Awards, and you might have heard him as a guest on ABC radio on numerous occasions.
This guy is going places and we are privileged to share just some of his inspiring story.
We suggest you ‘do yourself a favour’ and come along to The Mill on October 15 to see for yourself how this local lad has emerged as a real deal on the Australian music scene.
See you there…
Christy xo
#spreadingthegoodstuff #bennywalker #localtalent #therealdeal
Follow these links to listen to Benny’s new single and also to book your spot at The Mill.
