Royal Benson
State College, Pa.
East Coast California Grooves
www.royalbensonmusic.com
“It’s that cool California groove – driving with the windows down kind of music – juxtaposed with sardonic lyrics,” lead guitarist Matt Fern says of Royal Benson’s brand of jazz-flavored pop-rock. The Pennsylvania-centric quintet formed in late 2007, released its debut album (long) Drive in 2010 and is currently working on a follow-up recording. Fern and keyboardist Adam Tarin wrote the songs on (long) Drive¬¬ and the group’s lyrics range from revealing personal ballads to upbeat descriptions of freeze framed snapshots in time. Royal Benson achieves its textured sound by layering instruments with the minimal use of effects. “We work together as a cohesive unit, everybody listens to what everybody plays,” says Fern. “It’s a breathe in, breathe out kind of thing and we try to make it a wide organic experience.”
“It’s that cool California groove – driving with the windows down kind of music – juxtaposed with sardonic lyrics,” lead guitarist Matt Fern says of Royal Benson’s brand of jazz-flavored pop-rock…