BENEE is moving on from a ‘Sad Boiii’ in her new single

“Sad boy / I was mistaken you’re no bad boy.”

BENEE has such an incredible talent for making any subject matter sound like a party. On her most recent single “Sad Boiii”, she sings of leaving behind a partner that is no longer is the person she thought he was. She weaves these sanguine sentiments in with surfy guitar as well as some horns and piano, making it yet another summer banger. Its addictive and atmospheric tone makes you want to put on some sunglasses and lounge with a cocktail in hand.

The New Zealand singer has been on tour with Wallows all summer, and I was lucky enough to be in the Portland crowd that was first to hear the then unreleased track. It falls right in with the energy she’s so known for bringing to the table. Her music-making style just feels colorful even though you’re listening to it, not physically seeing it. Maybe that has to do with the persona she presents, a bright and glowing aura surrounds her everywhere she goes, and that transfers over to her music.

I love the idea of this song so much. We all know of the “bad boy” persona, and BENEE expresses how frustrating it is to fall for it and end up on the receiving end of someone who doesn’t want to change. This person is too good at hiding their true self with that image of toughness and mystery. The message behind the track is one I know that I’ve seen time and time again, so it’s nice to hear it being talked about.

This single is her first official release since 2023, and it makes me incredibly excited to hear what the sound of her next era will be. “Sad Boiii” is loads of fun, and it’s so authentically BENEE.