Steve Benjamins - Sightlines (Self-Released)

Steve Benjamins is an indie pop artist from Toronto, and is set to release his new EP Sightlines. The six songs on this new release bring more of the same organic, earthly tones that have been a staple since his first EP, Somewhere, Somehow, but it also expands his sound with a fuller production while still remaining sparse and bare. Influenced by the likes Bon Iver and Sufjan Stevens, Benjamins dutifully follows in their footsteps while quietly carving out his own path. The obvious focus here is on his soulful and passionate vocals. They are even singled out on the short, otherworldly track “Devotion,” sounding at times like a full choir.

The tempo and mood on all of the six tracks are for the most part slow and brooding, although on songs like “We Used To Live” and “Exploding Boy,” he will occasionally divert into dance pop before collapsing back into soft and introspective ballads. The instrumentals are almost all played by Benjamins, giving the record an extremely intimate and homespun sound, even at its lushest. It even feels like you’re listening to him in his own home as the EP begins with the a Capella intro of “Sightlines.” It’s a deeply honest and personal offering, and Sightlines will be released May 15th.