Ben&Ben has released “Upuan” (Chair), the first single off the group’s upcoming sophomore album to be released under Sony Music. The song was written upon arrival at the hotel in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines in 2019 after a show.

“Upuan” takes a nostalgic look on young love and as Ben&Ben describe it, “the palpable romantic tension that arises from friendships that are formed by sitting next to each other, and the adventurous conversations that ensue.” Lyrically, the song draws breathtaking imagery that interprets gestures in such lifelike ways, capturing a play of details with romantic earnestness.

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“We incorporated a more visual style in the song, painting a picture for the listener and transporting them to that familiar place, of falling in love with someone they just met, whether that is in a classroom, by the beach, at a restaurant,” Ben&Ben said in a statement. It helps that the group is painting a picture in the listener’s head with ethereal arrangements and soaring choruses that swirl beautifully against a backdrop of naturalist setting: samples of birds singing, the swoosh of the waves and even the conversation of the trees.

There is magic in the way Ben&Ben fuses all these elements together to create a cinematic landscape punctuated by poetry and inventiveness. It is effortlessly picturesque while employing a level of commitment to make the audience feel like they are part of the experience as if tapping into something personal and is of utmost importance to their being.

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In a joint statement, the nine-piece collective said that the music of “Upuan” was conceived during a random jamming session with no prior agenda as to how it would sound. The group said, “To our surprise, that first jamming brought about the soul of how ‘Upuan’ sounds now.”

“The earthy, ethereal soundscapes, and that sense of sonic adventure came from the fact that we just moved in together and being in a new place surrounded with summer vibes and nature elements, helped shape our expression of our new song,” Ben&Ben continued. “We feel very blessed to be close to nature in this season and it’s almost like a tribute to their beauty that we included them in the song.”

Written and produced by Ben&Ben, co-produced/mixed by Jean Paul Verona and mastered by Leon Zervos, “Upuan” was recorded in the band’s home studio. Verona and sound engineer Sam Marquez helped in the recording process, giving the song its final touches. 

“Since the production of this song, we’re continuously working on all the other songs that will complete it,” Ben&Ben shared. “We’re really pushing forward in terms of experimentation and diversity of sound in the songs.”