Creature Benny Interview With Colby

Colby: Hello, Creature Benny; it’s a pleasure to speak with you! You’ve just released the director’s cut of your video “Pandemic Madness”. It has a different ending than the original; was this an idea that came to you after you released the initial version, or did you always intend to provide a different outcome at a later date?

Creature Benny: From the beginning when Jeremy and I were first scheming up the idea for the video, our concept was always that the events depicted occur over and over again, day after day in the deep indefinite quarantine world of uncertainty that the video takes place in. This was inspired, of course, by the feeling of living through the Fall and Winter 2020.

We released the original cut of the video not realizing that we hadn’t necessarily driven home the point that a Groundhog Day scenario was taking place. In probably November of 2021 we had a conversation in my yard, where we spend a lot of time and incidentally filmed the Spooky America – Live from the Yard video together, and we realized that omission out loud together for the first time. We decided to maybe release a Director’s Cut sometime, probably in the New Year, and left it at that.

When Omicron was doing its thing in December and January, and Covid was the only headline once again, it was clear that the time had come to get that Cut together and on the internet.

Colby: How was it working with Jeremy Trombetta, the director?

Creature Benny: Working with Jeremy is nothing but a pleasure. We’ve been close collaborators on almost everything photo and video for the Creature Benny project, and I’m always stoked about both the process and the result.

Jeremy and I actually met in 5th grade on the bus because we went to the same Atlanta, GA elementary school 4th through 6th grade. He switched schools after 6th grade and we more or less lost touch for a decade or more, but he hit me up when he first moved to LA a few years ago and we’ve been chillin’ hard and making cool shit ever since. So yeah, all that to say is that working with Jeremy is rad.

Colby: Given the recent isolation we’ve all had to undergo due to Covid-19, the meaning of ‘Pandemic Madness’ is heartfelt and ubiquitous. Many people struggled to adjust to the new way of life, but how did you cope during the lockdown? Were you able to work on activities that you might not have had time to do otherwise?

Creature Benny: Pandemic Madness for real. Around Jan-Feb 2021, as we were creeping up on the anniversary of Covid turning life in the U.S. upside down, I started to notice everyone, myself included, acting really squirrely and weird, so that’s what inspired the writing of the song.

I started writing the music that became the Creature Benny project in 2016 and kept writing and recording until I had about 40 songs. The music/energy that became Creature Benny started as a band me and my brother were going to do together, but when it became apparent making music was a higher priority for me than for him, I set him free (with all love, no hard feelings) and called it Creature Benny. I’d written all of those songs, but I hadn’t released anything.

When the Pandemic first hit in March 2020, it really catalyzed the decision and galvanized my resolve to finally start putting out the music I’d been writing those past 3-4 years. It also turned out to be a great thing to keep me busy during the depths of quarantine isolation.

Of course, the rapid-fire release schedule I set up for C.B. Phase I drove me half-crazy staying up till 3 am every single night from October 2020 through January 2021. Between finalizing the songs, drawing and photoshopping all the EP and Album covers, filming videos of myself performing every song for Instagram, and releasing the music online myself, I burnt myself out pretty good. Super crispy, but I was disciplined and I got it done! I was lucky enough to work full-time throughout the entire ordeal, so no extra availability or newfound interests/hobbies, but I’m happy to have found the focus and drive to finally start releasing Creature Benny music, and I attribute that directly to the pandemic.

Colby: The video is incredibly relevant, and it feels fresh with the original passion present, but would you do anything differently if you had to do it all over again?

Creature Benny: Thank you! I’m really happy with and proud of how it turned out!

I wrote the original treatment, rented all the equipment, and created/sourced all props and art + costume pieces; Jeremy helped write the treatment, filmed, directed, was a one-man crew, and edited the video, and three of my very closest friends did me a solid by being in it as my rock band of ghouls.

Colby: Lastly, what is next for Creature Benny?

Creature Benny: Stay tuned for The Crooked Man EP in March 2022, followed by four 2-song releases C.B.9-12, and Creature Benny’s Tales most Wretched, Vol. 2 comprising all of the songs that will be released as CB Phase II, plus an instrumental intro and at least one interlude, as well as at least a few bonus tracks.