BENITEZ: A Sonic Glow-Up
Pic by Jose Luis Beneyto
After more than 35 years in classical music and a Latin Grammy in 2021, Venezuelan pianist Kristhyan Benítez is taking a new turn with his project #BENITEZ — a bold, colorful mix of house, disco, and pop. This is more than just music: it’s a journey back to his younger, freer self, where playful riffs, chill melodies, upbeat rhythms, and electronic vibes invite people to dance and imagine new creative worlds.
Q: Why the switch to BENITEZ?
A: I wouldn’t call it a switch — it’s more like an expansion and a reconciliation with my artist self. Since I was four, I’ve been playing the piano, studying 8 to 10 hours a day. My training was 100% academic and classical, and I’m grateful for it because it took me where I am today. But it also didn’t give me the chance to explore, break rules, or try different rhythms and sounds. It was basically forbidden. When I did experiment, I did it secretly — like I was being naughty. During the pandemic, I reconnected with that side of me, and I started creating and sharing it with the world.
Q: So is BENITEZ more you?
A: Right now, I’d say yes. Though I still love classical music. Every day, I play Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Chopin. I sit at the piano to improvise, study, and practice. BENITEZ was born from all of that. It’s a combination of the structure classical music gave me and my constant curiosity to try new things and expand my sound.
Q: Why separate Kristhyan Benítez and BENITEZ?
A: Because society still struggles to accept that a person can transform and have different sides without losing their essence. I believe we can become whoever we want without forgetting who we were. We’re constantly evolving. You just have to give yourself permission. BENITEZ is exactly that — reimagining a bolero with house beats, turning cumbia into something electronic, or recreating the sound of the Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona to make something ultra-modern.
Q: Is this like Donald Glover and Childish Gambino?
A: In a way, yes — but Donald and Childish are two different disciplines. One is an actor, the other a musician. Kristhyan and BENITEZ are both musicians.
Q: BENITEZ explores a lot of different sounds. Are you going to pick one and stick with it?
A: I don’t think so. BENITEZ is a space where many things can exist. I want to keep doing Lo-Fi, experimenting with Afro-Latin rhythms, diving deeper into the layers of electronic music. I even sang on this project — something I’ve always wanted to do. What I love the most is building everything from zero.
Pic by Jose Luis Beneyto
Q: The visual side of BENITEZ is very different from a classical pianist too. Why?
A: Because visuals are a powerful way to communicate. I love telling stories through short videos. With BENITEZ, I’m creating visuals that are playful, colorful, irreverent — and most importantly, that break expectations.
Q: Who inspires you musically and visually?
A: Definitely Alberto Stangarone, a.k.a. Sunsplash, who’s been like a mentor during this phase. Also Giorgio Moroder, Daft Punk, Harvey Sutherland, La Fania, Tito Puente, Tyler The Creator, Grace Jones. The track Xoconostle, which I released recently, is inspired by Amor Verdadero by Willy Colón — it also reflects my deep love for Mexico.
Pic by Jose Luis Beneyto
Q: You live between New York and Mexico City. How do both cities feed your creativity?
A: They’re similar and different in equal parts. I love the people, the noise, the energy of both places. They both have a kind of magnetic pull that’s hard to escape. Honestly, I feel like New York is becoming more like Mexico City, and vice versa. Right now, I’d say BENITEZ is more Mexico City, and Kristhyan is more New York.
Q: What would we find if we opened your Spotify right now?
A: L’Imperatrice, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso, Tame Impala, The Weeknd, Tyler The Creator, Kali Uchis, Nicolas Jaar, Midnight Generation, Villano Antillano, Beethoven, Armando Manzanero, Carla Morrison, Caloncho, Doechii, and Snoh Aalegra.
Q: What are your plans for BENITEZ this year and next?
A: BENITEZ is kind of like journaling for me — I feel something, I create it, produce it, and release it. I’m planning to drop my first EP and find a way to bring Kristhyan and BENITEZ together on one stage for a show that blends both sides of who I am.