Biography
Benedict released the first single "Moldy Rotten" from his upcoming debut solo album River Kid under the moniker Brother Below on November 8th, 2012. The song features a 15 piece band and was recorded using only the built in microphone of the iPhone. The entire album is being recorded this way. The music video for "Moldy Rotten" was recently shot and filmed, also done completely on iPhones, and will be released in the spring of 2013.
Lately, Benedict has been performing and recording with artists such as Vancouver Grammy Award winning producer Chin Injeti, Canadian hip-hop artist Madchild, singer and song-writer Sophia Danai and the Vancouver based rock-reggae outfit, Soatoa.
Born in Montreal, Benedict spent most of his childhood there and in Hong Kong, where he moved with his family at 9. Benedict began to play music at 10, participating in choirs, musicals, and high school bands. At 16 he discovered a knack for composing and began writing his first songs.
After playing in numerous bands in Montreal, Toronto and Hong Kong, he decided he wanted to deepen his musical knowledge and sharpen his guitar playing skills so he began his bachelor studies in composition, arranging, orchestration and guitar at Concordia University in Montreal. He spent his final year at the University of Victoria where studied orchestration with David Clenman, was the guitarist in Hugh Fraser's Trombone Ensemble and sang in the University's Jazz Choir under the direction of Wendell Clanton.
Upon finishing his degree in Victoria he moved to Vancouver to be closer with his daughter and to continue to work on his music career.
As a musician, Benedict brings passion, excitement, a diverse cultural background and a seemingly endless string of creative ideas to his work. He is a trained singer, guitarist, composer and orchestrator. He has taught for over ten years and is a lover of collaboration.
Benedict's work includes compositions for film and television, commercials, chamber music, orchestrations for opera and numerous hook driven songs in the popular realm.
Lately, Benedict has been performing and recording with artists such as Vancouver Grammy Award winning producer Chin Injeti, Canadian hip-hop artist Madchild, singer and song-writer Sophia Danai and the Vancouver based rock-reggae outfit, Soatoa.
Born in Montreal, Benedict spent most of his childhood there and in Hong Kong, where he moved with his family at 9. Benedict began to play music at 10, participating in choirs, musicals, and high school bands. At 16 he discovered a knack for composing and began writing his first songs.
After playing in numerous bands in Montreal, Toronto and Hong Kong, he decided he wanted to deepen his musical knowledge and sharpen his guitar playing skills so he began his bachelor studies in composition, arranging, orchestration and guitar at Concordia University in Montreal. He spent his final year at the University of Victoria where studied orchestration with David Clenman, was the guitarist in Hugh Fraser's Trombone Ensemble and sang in the University's Jazz Choir under the direction of Wendell Clanton.
Upon finishing his degree in Victoria he moved to Vancouver to be closer with his daughter and to continue to work on his music career.
As a musician, Benedict brings passion, excitement, a diverse cultural background and a seemingly endless string of creative ideas to his work. He is a trained singer, guitarist, composer and orchestrator. He has taught for over ten years and is a lover of collaboration.
Benedict's work includes compositions for film and television, commercials, chamber music, orchestrations for opera and numerous hook driven songs in the popular realm.
