Photography by Johnny Miller

Benny Blanco

RECORD PRODUCER, SONGWRITER, AND COOKBOOK AUTHOR

WHO DO YOU CALL THE MOST?

I call my mom every day. If my mom calls me and I don’t answer within 15 minutes, I think that there’s going to be a helicopter searching around my house.

WHAT’S ONE BOOK, WORK OF ART, ALBUM, OR FILM THAT GOT YOU THROUGH AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE?

I have a painting from Noah Davis that I bought because it looked like a friend of mine. Every time I walk past it I see something different. It speaks to me in a different way, and it teaches me something new that I didn’t know about myself. I’m forever lost in it.

““I’m sitting there and then I black out. When I wake up, I’m covered in crumbs and a song is finished. It’s a mystery to me every time.””

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SURPRISED YOURSELF IN YOUR WORK?

Literally, anytime I make a song. It’s like I’m sitting there and then I black out. When I wake up, I’m covered in crumbs and a song is finished. It’s a mystery to me every time.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE MORE OF IN YOUR INDUSTRY? LESS OF?

I just want to see people take risks in any industry. I’d much rather hear something or eat something or watch something where I’m like, Oh, that’s not great, but at least they went for it. More people need to go for it and not be afraid to fall flat on their face. That’s the only way something can actually be transcendent and remembered throughout history.

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