Bennett Mitchell’s Upcoming Album Begins With a Simple Question

Bennett Mitchell at Sled Island Music Festival. Photo credit: Daman Singh.

Bennett Mitchell is a man of many talents. I first came across his music during Sled Island in 2023 after a friend suggested I’d enjoy his sound (spoiler alert: they were right). His crooning voice, laced with folk-twang, evokes a sense of closeness and comfort, while his music bridges folk roots with psychedelic textures in a way that feels both timeless and exploratory.

With the release of his single “who do i talk to?,” REVERIE chatted with Mitchell about his upcoming album, the stories woven into his songwriting, and how his evolving sound reflects both his personal growth and the landscapes that inspire him. 

REVERIE: “who do i talk to” feels like such a personal title. What was the starting point for this song? And who do you talk to?

who do i talk to?

Bennett: This song came out of a new found thing to me that was relationship anxiety and the desperate need to talk to someone, anyone, a therapist or a friend, about what this feeling means and simply 'how do I get through?’ Is this relationship and every other one doomed to be broken down by anxiety? Truly this song was and is a cry for someone or something to help myself manage my intensely over-active mind and very activated gut feeding me with anxiety. I still don’t know exactly who I talk to but I am deeply appreciative of my friends and family and the crystal in the forest at my ranch for hearing my fears, concerns and yearns. Also, the cows and my puppies too. 

REVERIE: How does this track fit into the bigger picture of your upcoming album, does it set the tone? or is it more of a standout moment?

Bennett: It’s definitely a stand alone moment in the context of the new record as it’s the only one I wrote and performed with a new drum machine where I programmed all the drums, bass, and synths giving it a very different tone and feel to the other more guitar driven folk/country songs surrounding it. It’s also an homage to my love of Fleetwood Mac and the Japanese group Fishmans. In a way it’s a conglomeration of the two bands with me in the middle. I am a deep lover of dance music as well so this song is a branch of the album where I explore the electronic aspects a bit more. 

REVERIE What can you tell us about the themes or stories running through the new album?

Bennett: Well ‘who do I talk to?’ Is a perfect little intro to so many of the themes explored in the new record which really all tie back to dealing with anxiety, physically and mentally, and generally gut-wrenching loneliness. A desperate need for purpose and questioning everything. I found myself asking the universe or god or whoever deep questions about the meaning of my existence and the reality around me. I did most of this crashing out while mowing the insanely large lawn in the compound of our ranch. Nearly breaking down a few times a month. 

REVERIE How does this record represent a step forward from your past work? There’s a big gap since you’ve released music in 2022!

Bennett: It’s been forever I know! Honestly, I wanted to have this record done in like 2023 but I started talking to labels and such which has dragged it out to now. I think it’s a massive leap from my last record in many ways, but I still see so much room for improvement always and since it’s been so long since some of these songs were written, I have grown ten-fold and am already a different songwriter. This collection of music on this record is truly a deeper and more honest window into how I’ve felt over the past few years like truly it’s like you're listening to my most private journal entries. That's how I wanted it to be. I wanted to literally make an album out of demo’s that sounded like they were recorded on my own in all the living rooms of the six different places I’ve lived in the past 3 years… Now it’s not that record anymore because I ended up hiring an intensely prolific group of my best-friends and professionals to take my record and make it even better with the power of collaboration. This might be the biggest step for me because I actually had a whole band play five of these songs live off the floor in a mansion I was house-sitting last winter. We spent 3 days in intensive recording mode with cables draping and lining the walls, microphones planted everywhere and drums and pedals and cushions isolating amps. It was truly a fever dream. 

REVERIE: Who were some of your influences when shaping your new music?

Bennett: My friends told me that I kind of sounded like Fleetwood Mac in some ways, specifically on their record Tusk, so I dove into that album like crazy and found endless inspiration from that. Seeing little bits of similarities everywhere and really just feeling a deep connection to that music. Snail Mail, specifically Valentine, was on repeat and repeat again and threw me right into the headspace of grungy pop-rock which felt like it just clicked in my soul. I played a ton of down-stroked guitar and found new melodies that I haven’t explored before. Skullcrusher also completely inspired a whole song and a lot of the production style with their cover of Cloudy Shoes. Some other mentions would be the band @ and their album My Garden was a morning staple and made me play my acoustic guitar and play percussion. Paul McCartney and Wings played their part heavily here as well with their pop/rock butter. And I can’t forget Mac Demarco always inspires me so, so much especially with Here Comes The Cowboy for this record of mine. 

REVERIE:  Do you prefer to write alone in your own headspace, or do you thrive on collaboration?

Bennett: I definitely need to be in my solitude to write, almost to a fault. I escape out to my ranch (where I now live) frequently to get away from anyone's ears. It’s like I can feel people hear me and it takes my voice away and makes me play completely different. Like to my core. I think it’s some sort of quantum physics type stuff. My body and my cells know when someone other than me is listening. There’s just something, maybe it’s everything, that comes out when I’m alone. Like there’s no filter. I’ll laugh hysterically or ugly weep all over my guitar. it's just not somewhere I’ve been able to get to while anyone's around. I hit my drums harder. I dance when I sing and I shake when I hit my tambourine. 

REVERIE: How has being a Calgary-based artist shaped your sound or the way you approach music? Any local shoutouts you’ve been enjoying?

Bennett: I feel like I’ve only just started to realize Calgary’s impact on my music ever since I met Samantha Savage Smith. She has not only introduced me to like every musician here ever but has also inspired me with her songwriting and delivery and has made me feel future nostalgia more times than I can count. I’ve cried in the back corner at her shows, while learning her tunes on bass and even watered up while on stage with her. Her community that she introduced me to has also now become my community. Her whole band also now plays in mine including her sometimes. And they’ve all become dear friends of mine. Another shout out would be Temps because I’ve had many epiphonies at their shows and their guitar playing has drilled into my head and come out in little ways in my own playing and writing. 36? Maybe one of my first Calgary inspirations as they were some of the first shows I knew about in the city and they were, and still are, uncontrollably wild!! Taylor has also become a good friend. Ok ok ok I could just go on and on but I have to mention Laura Hickli as well because the first time I really saw her play was at a festival at my ranch and she literally filled the valley with colours I had never seen in music and she made me weep at my own home. Also also a good friend.

REVERIE: Outside of music, what’s inspiring you lately—books, films, conversations, day-to-day moments?

Bennett: Recently, I’ve been out in Ontario at my family's cottage on the Otonabee river so I’d say my biggest inspiration right now is that river itself. Swimming in it, boating, floating, feeling the sun reflect off of it. Everything that has to do with that river fills my heart. Also, ranching and being up at early hours and watching the sun come up everyday in a new way is difficult not to be inspired by. Walking through the forest with my dogs with nothing in my pockets and nothing over my ears. Walking and talking with my parents about life and love and purpose. And finally, riding my bike through the pasture on one specific path that I race down multiple times a day. 

REVERIE: If you could describe this new era of Bennet Mitchell in three words, what would they be?

Bennett: Heart It Races

Bennett Mitchell’s latest single is out on October 3.