Let’s catch up on the latest news about breakout artist and rising star, Benson Boone.
Rediscovering Benson Boone
Widely known for his hit track, “Beautiful Things,” Benson Boone has become a global sensation seemingly overnight. Utilizing social media marketing to its full potential, Boone teased the release of “Beautiful Things” for months, growing anticipation and his fan base before dropping the track in January. However, this wasn’t Benson’s first step into the music industry. That dates back to 2021 with his debut single, “Ghost Town.”
While we will never know exactly what it is that Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds saw in Benson Boone, we can take a guess. Between a distinct sound that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly new, paired with introspective and catchy lyrics, Boone’s rise to stardom was inevitable. Reynolds was just lucky enough to catch him in his early stages, offering Boone a deal with his own Night Street Records in partnership with Warner Records in 2021. He’s had multiple brushes with fame since then, especially with his Pulse EP last year. But now, we predict unprecedented success for Benson with his latest release.
Benson Shines in Fireworks & Rollerblades
Finally, Benson’s highly anticipated debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, dropped in April. Comprised of 15 songs, the album has many strong moments laced throughout. It’s a shining testament to an artist who knows exactly who he is and strives to maintain an authenticity that is rare to stumble upon nowadays. This is especially evident in track five, “Cry.” With a soft, ballad intro that quickly transitions into an angsty, upbeat eff-you anthem, “Cry” is a great display of Benson’s vocal range and lyricism, and easily a standout track. The ballad returns in the following track, “Forever and a Day,” where Boone gushes over an unknown lover and the feelings that come with entwined souls. This marks a short period of heavier songs that pull at your heartstrings in every way. Especially in the grief embedded in “In The Stars.”
Despite trying to find faults in the album, I find it difficult to give anything but praise to Fireworks & Rollerblades. Listeners join Boone in journeying through every emotion that comes with finding oneself whilst losing (and finding!) so many others. My only grievance would be the overuse of the same writing trope: starting off slow on the production before ramping up to a poppier, more upbeat track. But it’s a method that works for Benson—and there’s no point fixing what isn’t broken.
Overall, Fireworks & Rollerblades exceeds expectations concerning debut albums. It has all of the frilly, heart-wrenching ballads and poppy radio singles that seem to be the recipe for success. But it’s also got some deeper layers underneath. It’s an experience as much as an album, from start to finish. Benson’s found the formula that works for him, and with his charism, vocals and youthful mindset, he’s set himself up for many years of success. If there’s one theme that this album emphasizes, it’s discovery. And now it’s your turn to discover Benson Boone if you haven’t already.
Check out Fireworks & Rollerblades down below. Let us know your favorite tracks in the comments!
