We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Benign Envy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Benign, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Benign Envy is my stage name for the songs I write, perform, and put out for the world to listen to. Figuring out the name was a long process of trial and error. I knew that the word “Envy” was important to me and my journey and I wanted it to be a part of the name. Originally, I thought my stage name might be “E is for Envy”, but it didn’t feel like the persona I wanted to live by (this later became the title of the second track on my first EP). When talking with a friend about why envy was the right word, I discovered that I see envy differently than most people. I find it motivating, when most people find it inhibiting. Benign Envy is the kind of Envy that makes you want to be a better version of yourself. That was the exact message that I wanted to express and I felt it best embodied my stage persona as well. I’ve been “Benign Envy” since.

Benign, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For those who haven’t heard my music before, I am a pop/rock singer/songwriter who moved to LA from Boston in 2017 to pursue a career in music. Being put in such a new environment inspired so much in me, and I felt ready to experience anything. When going through the motions, I dealt with a lot of inspiration, crushes, getting crushed by friends and lovers, and much more that can only be summed up in my songs. I value the words I write the most and hope that comes across in my writing. I’m not afraid to put the truth on paper, which is most prevalent in my latest single “BLAKE” which I wrote about an ex of mine (and yes his name was Blake). I have put out an EP prior to this song called “Hopeful Pessimist” which is a mix of fun upbeat songs, some about the possibility of love and also some about the downfall that comes with it. I’ve put my heart and soul into every song I write and release, and I am excited to share what’s coming next!!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I always thought that there was a set timeline for and definition of success. I would work to get somewhere quick, but life didn’t want me to catch up just yet. I learned that just because it takes longer and may be a different path than you originally thought to reach success, it does not mean it is not going to happen. The whole point of doing what you do is because you love it, and want to share it with the world. As long as you’re following your heart and working to get somewhere, you will do some really great things and that is enough.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Growing up music has always been a part of me. For a long time it was a part of me I kept hidden because the world makes it seem unattainable. I went along for a long time with the idea that I would go to school, play sports and live a normal life of a girl from a small town. But I’m not normal, and I don’t ever want to be. When I realized it’s okay to be my true self, I did all I could to get there. I started with playing gigs out in my hometown, and people started to recognize my talent. Then I wanted to do something big because I felt bigger than what I was doing. People didn’t quite understand it at first. Everyone around me supported me but always wondered why I was doing what I was doing. I left to LA on my own and as excited as I was, it was terrifying out here. It’s easy to second guess everything when it’s completely different from what you know, but I always held my vision because I knew it was what I was meant for. I never went home, I never stepped away from music and that is key. No matter how hard it gets, I will never let go of believing in my songs and my strength to move forward and I think that any artist who is successful feels this way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://erined77.wixsite.com/benignenvy
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/benign_envy_?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@benignenvy5487?si=kaTBuCGRyPSuwMHa
• Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benign_envy_?_t=8gEysZjO43q&_r=1

Image Credits
Mathias Fau (performance photos) Krysty Rivera (Artist Photo) Heather Kathryn (BLAKE Single Cover) Lenix (Picture In Front of Marquee)