Brissy crooner Benjamin Forbes, who now goes by the moniker BANFF, is a purveyor of daydream-inducing indie pop. Infusing his vocal hooks with endearing honesty, the former Little Casino frontman’s debut EP Future Self is rich in soul.
Future Self from BANFF exceeds all expectations. With the guiding hand of Tom Iansek, Benjamin Forbes has made a dreamy EP to get lost in.
After starting his solo project late last year, the singer-songwriter journeyed down to Melbourne to record his EP with Big Scary and #1 Dads legend, Tom Iansek. Writing his tunes with either an acoustic guitar or piano, Forbes made full use of Iansek’s Mixed Business studio, dabbling with gear and production techniques to create indie pop gold.
On working with Iansek, Forbes said that, “Working with Tom was probably the best opportunity I could have hoped for. I learnt so much from our time writing and recording together, and since have had such a different perspective on how I approach my writing. Tom’s got that signature sort of sound that I feel resonates through the EP, and I think the songs couldn’t have suited a better treatment.” Collaborating with such a revered producer clearly paid off: Forbes’ four-track debut EP is, unsurprisingly, blissful and lush.
Soaring to a stirring crescendo before plunging into a mellow soundscape, Stand In Line is a beautifully spacious opener. Forbes’ brooding croon wafts in and delicately coils itself around the soft instrumentation, oozing more soul into the tune. Adding an oomph of pop, The Great Unknown is a guitar-driven dream. Forbes and Iansek added its rich guitar tones using an Electro Harmonix Small Stone phaser effect, which rinses the tune in swirling emotion.
Ambling amongst ambient folk, Anyone Else is a melodic love tune doused in Forbes’ pining vocals. Likewise, All Again is another sauntering folk track layered with tip-toeing percussion and ethereal vocals that seep into your heart and warm you from the inside out.
These soul-baring tunes come courtesy of the EP’s self-reflection theme. Forbes said that, “Future Self comes from a reflective time in my life, thinking about the choices I made and where they would lead me down the track. It was an overwhelming and vulnerable period into adulthood, but one that has taught me a lot as far as music, and life in general goes.” Laying bare his innermost thoughts, Forbes has created an endearingly honest EP with plenty of chills-down-the-spine moments.
Mesmerising us with his hypnotic folk-infused indie pop tunes, BANFF makes the ultimate daydream-inducing music. After recently supporting Japanese Wallpaper, he is now all set to kick off his EP launch tour. Be sure to drift away to Future Self out now through We Are Golden and Create/Control.
BANFF Future Self Tour:
Fri 7th August – The Grace Darling, Melbourne
Fri 14th August – Oxford Art Factory, Gallery Bar, Sydney
Fri 21st August – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane