MIXTAPE
BENIN
CITY
Image by Sophie Winder
The Hook mixtape is compiled through a series of music related questions. Each artist who fills it out can answer as many or as few of the questions as they wish, and elaborate on their choices, or let them speak for themselves.
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Artist
Benin City
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Location
London
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Members
Joshua Idehen, Shanaz Dorsett, Tom Leaper
Press Clippings
'Even as Idehen rages against gentrification the trio sound energised rather than deflated by their central theme. Benin City come across as the perfect companions for a boisterous, richly textured night out.' The Guardian
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The last piece of music you paid for (streaming doesn’t count)
Rachel K Collier - RKC album. Fantastic Dance Pop from one of the best UK producers in the country.
Your favourite place to listen to music
I love TFL and noise cancelling headphones so now I can sit on the bus and be blissfully ignorant as the universe glides past me. I once sat next to a screaming baby. It might as well have been dishing out lottery numbers. I was jamming Francobollo.
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A song which reminds you of your childhood
Adam And The Ants - Prince Charming. When I was in Nigeria we’d do the dance round the parlour.
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Your go-to karaoke song
Frank Sinatra - New York, or That’s Life. Why would anyone do anything other than Ol’ Blue Eyes?
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A song which could change the world if everyone heard it
Be Nice to People by Alabaster DePlume. Just hear it, bruv.
A song you’d rather never hear again
There is nothing I would not hear again. Give me one bottle of Cider and what was once rinsed is fresh again.
A song which reminds you of someone you don’t see anymore
Everything In Its Right Place by Radiohead. They know who they are.
A song which gets you in the mood (for dancing)
Inspector Norse by Todd Terje. That song comes on, all conversations and chirpsing is suspended.
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A song which gets you in the mood (for romancing)
Inside voice by Joey Dosik. True story, I heard this in a bar and shazamed it and a lady asked me to tell her when I found out what it was. And I bought her a drink and so on...
The soundtrack to your last holiday
Why Why Why Why Why by Sault. I think I gave them a tenner in repeat plays when I was in Lisbon.
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A song which has changed your mind
The Art Teacher by Rufus Wainwright. I was on my way out of ingrained homophobia but this song gave me the conscious push I needed.
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A song which makes you cry
All I Can by Sharon Von Etten
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A song which makes you laugh
Babyfather by Sway. As a lyricist he’s pretty much unbeatable.
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A song which gives you goosebumps
Real Thing by Tune Yards. A no-nonsense political banger.
A song which makes you feel empowered
Nothing To Worry About by Peter Bjorn and John. I play this before I leave the house and everything on the list is gettin done.
An artist you regret never having seen live
Michael Jackon and Prince. I wasted time.
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An artist you hope to see live soon
Beyonce.
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A gig you'll never forget
Beach House, Shepherd's Bush Empire. They played all my favourite songs. It was the best.
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An album you know by heart
Everybody's Heart Is Broken Now by Niki And The Dove. The greatest, most underrated pop album ever made.
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A cover which is better than the original
The Easy Star All Star cover of Climbing Up The Walls is the reason I listen to Radiohead at all.
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A song you first heard on a film soundtrack
Save Me by Aimee Man. From the Magnolia Soundtrack.
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A song you love in a foreign language
Clara Nunes, Canto Das Tres Racas. When I learn portugese I’m jamming the lyric sheet on this.
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An instrumental song you love
Eros, by Nicholas Britell from the If Beale Street Could Talk soundtrack. Perfection.
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A song which gets stuck in your head
Cranes In The Sky, by Solange.
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A recent musical discovery
Von Sell. He makes dance pop like I want to when I grow up.
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https://benincity.bandcamp.com/
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