HAMTRAMCK ‘16 OUT NOW VIA ARBUTUS RECORDS
WATCH AND SHARE “ORDINARY LOVER” FEAT. NATTY G HERE
LISTEN AND SHARE HAMTRAMCK ‘16 HERE VIA SPOTIFY
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES CONTINUE THIS WEEK
"..a perfect distillation of the pop and underground dance vibes the Toronto native picked up on while living in Detroit last year." - self-titled
"...Benjamin’s take on disco is a lovingly crafted homage to the genre." - Pitchfork
"...an exciting foray into lo-fi synth-pop, disco, house, and soul." - Hype Machine
PHOTO CREDIT : Err Head // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES
Today, Moon King (Daniel Benjamin) shares a visual for the alternative-version of single "Ordinary Lover", which features vocals from band-mate Natty G. Following the release of his dance / lo-fi pop tape, Hamtramck '16 on Arbutus Records, Daniel shares, "We hope this video can be a helpful tool in the fight against FOMO - if you feel like you can't make it out the door to the rave or perhaps don't know when your next rave sesh will be, peep this vid for some inspiration, motivation, liberation, and/or perspiration."
Director Bronwyn Ford adds, "...it's inspired by the 1995 Gabber documentary ‘Lola da Musica’. In the documentary, there are scenes of people dancing in front of a white backdrop. As a homage to this, and the classic era of dance music and early music videos, the dancers are shot in front of a similar setting. This simplicity allows the focus to remain on the dancing and music."
WATCH AND SHARE “ORDINARY LOVER” FEAT. NATTY G HERE
Moon King is the alias of producer, singer and songwriter Daniel Benjamin. Born in Toronto, the musician spent 2016 in Detroit, where the musically fertile and offbeat neighborhood of Hamtramck became both his home and the inspiration for a new set of recordings. Hamtramck '16 documents his arrival into a new and unfamiliar environment combined with a growing obsession for underground dance music, a sound and spirit that has always felt right at home in Detroit. Collaborating with local artists and musicians, and having the freedom to stretch out after several years of constant touring, Daniel put together a completely new band with a sound drawing from dance music's early days, from synthpop, disco and house music up through the more pop-oriented songcraft of the Bee Gees or Prince. Daniel's attention to detail in production, and willingness to break the mold of what he sees as his own potential, have made him an interesting figure to watch. With Hamtramck '16 he has created a lo-fi pop gem that will leave listeners eager to hear what comes next.
PURCHASE HAMTRAMCK ‘16 HERE
LIVE DATES
08/18 - El Club, DETROIT, MI
09/02 - Schubas, CHICAGO, IL
09/03 - The Bishop, BLOOMINGTON, ID
09/04 - MOTR, CINCINNATI, OH
09/05 - Double Happiness, COLUMBUS, OH
09/06 - Sound Hole, PHILADELPHIA, PA
09/07 - Charlies American Cafe, NORFOLK, VA
09/08 - Silent Barn, BROOKLYN, NY
09/11 - One Caroline, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY
09/12 - Bard College, ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, NY
09/13 - House Of Targ, OTTAWA, ON
09/14 - Le Cercle, QUEBEC, QC