Looking for a soundtrack to the unseasonably lovely Spring sun we’ve been having? Well look no further than Charlotte Rose Benjamin‘s uplifting new single ‘Slot Machine‘ from her forthcoming debut album, Dreamtina, which is set for release on April 22.
Refreshing and catchy ‘Slot Machine’ sews country flecked guitar licks and bouncy percussion with Benjamin’s stream of conscious, her lighthearted and life affirming lyrics laced with a wistful and bittersweet tone pirouettes through the “inbetween” feeling of being between generations. As Benjamin sings, “If I let you play me like a slot machine / maybe I’ll win sometimes.”
The wonderfully joyous accompanying video was shot by Benjamin and frequent collaborator, Hlif Olafsdottir, documenting a leisurely day on a Williamsburg Ferry, a Chinatown Arcade, a Dime’s Square dive bar and their favorite downtown karaoke spot.
Benjamin describes ‘Slot Machine’ as a “Sunday-morning-strolling-through-a-New-England-Beach-town kind of song,” relating it to her hometown of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. “I think there’s a waspy country club vibe that comes to mind when people hear that I’m from Martha’s Vineyard,” explains Benjamin. “That definitely exists, but most people who are privileged enough don’t choose to live there in the off season. I always identified more with the towny girls from the movie Mystic Pizza. I had a wonderful childhood, but living on an island can be incredibly isolating. My music has changed so much since I left, but I think I’ll always have a little bit of a twang in my writing because of where I grew up.” On recording the video, Benjamin says “My best friend Hlif and I got day drunk and took the Williamsburg Ferry into Chinatown with a camcorder and a dream.”
Self produced alongside her bandmates, Nardo Ochoa, Matti Dunietz and Zoe Zeeman, Charlotte Rose Benjamin’s debut album finds her analyzing her identity in correlation to romantic relationships and in comparison to “Dreamtina,” a fictitious namesake for the effortlessly-perfect girl you see and aspire to be. Under the Radar broke the news of the album, premiering the pyromaniac-puppet-show video for her song “Satisfied,” calling the song “an irresistible power pop hook, paired with instantly quotable lyrics.”
Previously released songs, “Cumbie’s Parking Lot” and “Heat Stroke Summer,” were released as an a-side/b-side single last Summer, Last week, Benjamin performed alongside Japanese Breakfast and Weyes Blood in The Unfinished Fest showcase at the acclaimed SXSW festival.
Benjamin’s debut EP Party City (2020) was released with Moshi Moshi/Neon Gold records. That same year, Benjamin performed background vocals on Gus Dapperton’s album, ORCA, and starred in videos for his breakout hits “I’m Just Snacking” and “Post Humorous.” Outside of her musical endeavors, Benjamin has appeared in ads and magazines as a model (a campaign for Ralph Lauren funded most of the album). Her eye for fashion and vintage sense of style also landed her in a “What I Love About Me” piece in Marie Claire in 2019.
Dreamtina track listing:
- Hayden Panettiere
Louis
Satisfied
deep cut
Slot Machine
Cumbie’s Parking Lot
Heatstroke Summer
Gracie
Friend
Louis Pt. 2
Upcoming dates:
March 23 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Sultan Room
April 24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Baby’s All Right
Credit: Roeg Cohen
