Night Garden

"Night Garden" is a song by New Zealand singer Benee featuring American producer Kenny Beats and British musician Bakar. It was released as the lead single from her debut studio album Hey U X on 15 July 2020.

"Night Garden"
Single by Benee featuring Kenny Beats and Bakar
from the album Hey U X
Released15 July 2020
StudioThe Cave, Los Angeles
Genre
Length3:41
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Benee singles chronology
"Lownely"
(2020)		 "Night Garden"
(2020)		 "Snail"
(2020)

Background and composition

"Night Garden" was recorded in Kenny Beats' studio The Cave in Burbank, California, just before the institution of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.[1][2] The song became Benee's first release following the popularization of the song "Supalonely" which initially was an album track on the EP Stella & Steve (2019) but later became its the third single.[3] The commercial success of "Supalonely" led it to becoming a sleeper hit, with Benee performing the song on both The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.[4][5]

Critical reception

In terms of musical genre, Mike Wass of Idolator noted that "Night Garden" "falls somewhere between alt-R&B and alt-pop."[6] Chris DeVille of Stereogum described Kenny Beats' production as "hard-hitting yet surprisingly low-key,"[7] while David Renshaw of The Fader described the instrumental as a "low-slung beat" which Benee maintains by "keep[ing] things in a similarly downbeat mood as she sings of things creeping in her dreams".[3] DeVille noted that "despite the music’s relatively laidback vibes, Benee’s lyrics are paranoid. [...] She switches into rich, soulful singing for the chorus."[7] Ruby Scott of Ones to Watch described "Night Garden" as "jaw-dropping from start to finish," while drawing resemblance between Benee's "restrained delivery" and that of both Björk and Billie Eilish.[8] DIY described the song as an "example of Benee’s skill at crafting infectious pop bops".[9] Cameron Adams of Herald Sun described "Night Garden" as "a Wu-Tang-inspired, hip hop influenced single".[10] Happy Australia noted that the song was "a change in scenery from Benee’s usual brand of summery pop".[11]

Live performances

On 19 July 2020, Benee performed the track on the premiere of The Sound, a music television programme broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.[10]

Charts
Chart (2020) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[12] 26
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[13] 4
New Zealand Artist Singles (RMNZ)[14] 12

References
  1. Fuamoli, Sose (16 July 2020). "First Spin: BENEE links up with Kenny Beats and Bakar on the creepy-cool 'Night Garden'". triple j. ISSN 2203-0905. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. Brandle, Lars (16 July 2020). "Benee Takes a Walk Through 'Night Garden'". Billboard. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  3. Renshaw, David (16 July 2020). "Benee teams up with Kenny Beats and Bakar on "Night Garden"". The Fader. ISSN 1533-5194. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  4. Triscari, Caleb (16 July 2020). "Benee drops new track, 'Night Garden', with Kenny Beats and Bakar". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  5. Johnson, Patrick (15 July 2020). "BENEE Connects With Kenny Beats and Bakar for "Night Garden"". Hypebeast. ISSN 2304-1250. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. Wass, Mike (15 July 2020). "BENEE Follows Up "Supalonely" With "Night Garden"". Idolator. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  7. DeVille, Chris (15 July 2020). "Benee - "Night Garden" (Feat. Kenny Beats & Bakar)". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  8. Scott, Ruby (15 July 2020). "BENEE Links with Bakar and Kenny Beats For the Jaw-Dropping "Night Garden"". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  9. "BENEE releases new single 'Night Garden'". DIY. 16 July 2020. ISSN 1863-9275. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  10. Adams, Cameron (17 July 2020). "How Benee is conquering the world from her home". Herald Sun. ISSN 1038-3433. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  11. Hansen, Ben (17 July 2020). "Happy Listening: The 6 best new releases of the week". Happy. ISSN 2206-2661. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  12. "Ultratop.be – Benee feat. Kenny Beats & Bakar – Night Garden" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  13. "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  14. "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.


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