Born in NYC and currently based in São Paulo, Benji Kaplan is an award-winning composer, arranger, guitarist, and multilingual vocalist with 7 albums to date, featured in Acoustic Guitar, DownBeat, Billboard Brasil, and JazzTimes. He is recognized for his unique ability to bridge the gap between the American Songbook and Brazilian musical traditions, earning him a reputation as a visionary composer and an ambassador of Brazilian music.
Kaplan is ushering in a refreshing, daring new chapter in his artistry, filled with whimsy, prowess, and unconventional thought. “Ticking Time Bomb Serenade” employs a childlike curiosity, allowing the artists’ most colorful and risky sonic visions to come to life while confronting the all-too-real pitfalls of modern society. There is a cacophony of fairy-like melodies that dance around the room upon pressing play on “Ticking Time Bomb Serenade,” exploring both distorted and blissful guitars, while painting a warping narrative. Despite all of the medieval imagery and Renaissance-style musicianship, Kaplan uses his experimentation to detail the end of times, hiding his bleak imagery behind the subtle psychedelia that drives this performance. “Ticking Time Bomb Serenade” is Kaplan’s most ambitious release yet, creating an immersive world where every risk taken yields great sonic rewards while refusing to ignore the darkness looming above.
