Summer is here, and with it comes Ben Hazlewood’s U.S. debut ep, VANTA, just in time to stop pretending like you don’t secretly love pop music. Nothing gets lost in translation when it comes to this New Zealand native’s ability to mesmerize with his powerful voice, catchy hooks, and outside-of-the-box instrumentation. Having started on The Voice, Australia, Ben is currently garnering his own distinct reputation on a 30-city U.S. tour.
While there’s an obvious feel-good element to any pop album, there’s nothing bubble-gum about VANTA. Hazlewood incorporates tension by layering haunting vocals and weaving an overall sense of longing throughout his lyrics. So let your guard down, roll the windows down, and let Ben Hazlewood help you forget about the humidity while you drive into the sunset together.
– Christiana B.
Lockeland Springsteen 