With new music just around the corner, Aotearoa’s own alt-pop princess Benee is back and better than ever in 2025. But if it’s been a while since you’ve caught up with her musical antics, we’ve got the tea on everything she’s been up to, ahead of her sophomore album Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles out November 9th!
She’s been touring with modern pop icons
Ever since her impressive explosion onto the scene in 2019, Benee has been quickly gathering prestigious opening slots across the globe. Her first major supports were for Lily Allen and Conan Gray in 2019. But more recently, she’s been exposed to massive crowds with indie rock band Wallows on their Model World tour, and Olivia Rodrigo on the Guts tour in 2024. This year, she dodged the New Zealand winter altogether, instead travelling Europe with Tate McRae and supporting over thirty dates on her Miss Possessive tour. This whirlwind time has transformed Benee into an incredibly seasoned performer, with powerful stage presence, personality and a relentless energy that hypes audiences up everywhere they find her.
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She’s collaborated with major brands
Over the past few years, Benee has released plenty of droplet singles, particularly in collaboration with other brands and companies. For instance, ‘Do It Again’ featuring Mallrat premiered as the official song for the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup. As a kid, Benee immersed herself in sports like water polo and football, so this athletic number is a true full circle moment for her.
That same year, ASB and Youthline launched a campaign spreading mental health awareness throughout New Zealand. They released Benee’s song ‘Bagels’ in support, which was created with the top neuroscientists from Auckland University of Technology to specifically build a song which eases anxiety. “I’ve always seen music as a kind of therapy, but it was fascinating to learn why certain sounds move your mood,” Benee explained about the track.
Plus this year, Benee’s banger ‘Zero to Hero’ featured on the soundtrack for the hotly awaited A Minecraft Movie. It’s full of witty puns and loving references to the game which inspired it all. During the film, it even plays during the climactic fight against the Piglins, making it one of the most memorable A Minecraft Movie moments.
She’s co-written and featured on songs with other artists
Since blowing up alongside Gus Dapperton on ‘Supalonely’, Benee has followed a collaborative streak in her work, always down to make art with other talented creatives. Her 2023 single ‘Green Honda’ was made alongside rising Swedish pop producer Elvira, who’s best known for material with Taylor Swift and Addison Rae.
Benee has featured on recent singles with artists like Pusha T, Phoenix, Chad Hugo, Jeremy Zucker, Muroki and more, too. Eagle-eyed K-Pop fans will even spot her name in the writing credits for ‘How Sweet’ by NewJeans. Benee’s sassy, wry sense of humour is instantly recognisable in the song, perhaps hinting at more major co-writes to come?
She made her acting debut in Head South
Whilst Benee has made music for close to a decade, she was a relative stranger to the art of acting until 2024, when she appeared on film for the first time playing Kirsten in the coming-of-age comedy-drama Head South. The movie follows a Kiwi teenager in the 1970s seeking musical success with his post-punk band The Daleks. It’s a fitting theme for Benee, who has become a role model for youth seeking careers in the music industry. Reviews from sites including The Spinoff, FilmInk and Stuff praised her performance, suggesting there could be more opportunities in the acting space ahead.
She’s gearing up for her second Laneway set
First appearing on the stage of Laneway festival back in 2019, when she still went by her original moniker ‘Bene’, Benee is back for the 2026 season in support of her second album. Her upcoming set is sure to be action-packed, with all of the on-stage banter and pumping pop anthems she’s become known for.
Her new album is out this November
Five years on from her debut record Hey u x, Benee’s sophomore full-length project is finally almost here, after she started actively working on the project around 2022. Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles revolves around a glittery alien aesthetic, moving her indie pop sound into a dreamier space but maintaining her trademark attitude and sense of humour.
Many songs have already been teased live during Benee’s support slots. Plus, she’s already released several singles, including the eclectic ‘Cinnamon’ which tackles the chaos of her move to Los Angeles, punchy numbers like ‘Animal’ and ‘Off The Rails’, and the alternative track ‘Sad Boiii’ addressing a lover whose personality feels disingenuine.
Describing this as a deeply personal record which she “poured her whole heart into”, about finding the positive amongst the negative, Ur an Angel I’m Just Particles is guaranteed to be an innovative and exciting release from one of New Zealand’s most intriguing artists.
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