12 February 2014 - 0 Comments

 BENNY TIPENE
TO RELEASE DEBUT EP ON SONY MUSIC NEW ZEALAND 
TOULOUSE – FEBRUARY 28^TH

INCLUDES HITS MAKE YOU MINE AND WALKING ON WATER

Benny Tipene was just one of thousands of others gearing up to nervously take the stage at The X Factor auditions last year, and now, the cheeky-grinned fella from Palmy is set to release his debut EP on Sony Music New Zealand, titled Toulouse.

Due to drop on February 28^th, Toulouse features Tipene’s hit single Make You Mine, the Coke summer campaign track which is already nearing gold sales, and the Platinum single Walking on Water, which will be a bonus track on the EP’s digital release.

The EP was produced by up-and-coming producer Sam de Jong at Parachute Studios and is a combination of self-penned and co-written tracks, including a collaboration with Avalanche City’s Dave Baxter.

Speaking about his new EP, Tipene says: “I'm pretty happy with how ‘Toulouse’ has turned out. I think there's a bit of everything on there for everyone.

There has been a lot of experimenting and discovery with this EP for me - finding sounds, working with lyrics, working with other musicians and writers. I really just wanted to muck around, create sounds and see what happened. So I guess this is it. I think it's a good ramp to launch off into an album and I hope you enjoy it. Peace and love, Benny.”

Prior to becoming a household name in New Zealand, Benny spent his early years in Palmerston North and initially taught himself the piano in order to learn ‘Let It Be’ as a tribute to his grandmother. After wanting to play in a band but being told by musicians that no one played piano in a rock band, he learned guitar. The band then let him in, and they named themselves The Nerines.

Later, Benny ventured over to the UK and Europe on his Big OE, taking a guitar and teaching himself to write songs. Not long after returning home, the 23-year-old heard about The X Factor auditions and went along out of curiosity to see what it was all about – having never seen the show before.

But from that very first audition, Benny had New Zealand hooked – with this faux ‘50s look, skin-tight black jeans and that knee-weakening grin, not to mention his soulful folk voice and charismatic charm.

Fast forward six months and the self-taught musician had taken out the third spot in the competition and cemented his place on the New Zealand music scene.

Praise for Benny Tipene:

“Not content with being devilishly handsome, he has to be the world’s nicest musician too.” Duncan Grieve – Rip It Up.

TOULOUSE IS AVAILABLE ON FEBRUARY 28^th

Toulouse tracklisting:

1. Make You Mine
2. Lonely
3. Embrace
4. Toulouse
5. Fight for You
6. Better Side

The digital release will also include Walking on Water as the bonus track.

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