MEAWW's Basement Tapes: Binny's tranquil, meditative sound and soft vocals are the perfect lockdown jams
Vietnamese artiste Binny's latest single, 'Deep End', is an "anthem for f-boys with feelings," as the artiste tells it. The dreamy and tranquil track that blends aquatic sounds with the singer's gentle vocals is the perfect representation of his unique style.
Born and raised in Maryland, Binny is a moniker that derives from the Vietnamese name Trị Bình which translates to "peace". Having grown up in a family of musicians and learning to sing before he could even talk, Binny's musicality runs deep in his veins. He learned to play the piano at the age of six and taught himself to play the guitar. He eventually moved on to songwriting and singing and embarked on a musical journey that saw him brush shoulders with some of the industry's top artistes and producers long before he made the decision to put out his own music.
And out of that decision came Binny's debut single 'Retrograde', a track that saw the singer grapple with unhealthy, toxic relationships and the pull they can often have. Speaking about 'Retrograde', the singer had shared, "I’ve definitely experienced being infatuated with someone who may not have the best influence on me, but I’d risk it all to put them first...It is inspired by the unexplainable reasons one may continue a relationship that is toxic."
Following on from his first foray into releasing music, Binny has returned with 'Deep End', a track that narrates connecting with someone on a deeper level beyond the shallow aspects, touching on unintentionally falling for someone and acting, as Binny would put it, "as an anthem for f-boys with feelings". The song incorporates a variety of aquatic sounds, emanating a blissfully, floaty feeling through rippling beats and tranquil melodies. Binny further confides, "Personally, I'm afraid of expressing intimate emotions but this song talks about letting go of any fears and diving into all of those romantic feelings and enjoying it."
After all his years working with other musicians and producers, it is evident that Binny has picked up a few tricks of the trade, particularly with regards to how to make a compelling piece of music and visual art when you have limited access to resources. Sonically, 'Deep End' reflects Binny's musical inspirations which range from seeks inspiration Ariana Grande, Drake, Kim Petras, Justin Timberlake and Mariah Carey to the soulful, R&B greats and powerhouse vocalists of contemporary music and decades part.
However, Binny also made sure that 'Deep End' reflected a softer side to his music, drawing inspiration from the likes of Lana Del Rey, Jhene Aiko and Sabrina Claudio and invoking a similar sound of subtle, almost seductive vocals.
The ocean plays a big part on 'Deep End', both sonically and visually, with Binny stating, "Unfortunately, I was unable to go to the actual beach during the making of the video because of Coronavirus, so I used a projector to display ocean and water ripple images on a blank wall in my basement to shoot in front of." Capturing the beauty and vastness of the ocean, 'Deep End' portrays a calming atmosphere, bleeding with emotion and romance. Admitting how both listening and writing music is equally therapeutic, Binny also shares a hope that by conveying his true emotions and thoughts, his music may act as a form of medication for audiences. But his artistry goes beyond that: he also strives to represent Asian Americans in pop culture and mainstream music, something that he feels lacks enough recognition. He shares, "I hope to be a part of that change and be an inspiration for other Asian Americans who want to pursue music." And to that end, his artistry extends well beyond the sonic realm and far into the visual, encompassing his love for fashion and expression. The singer shares, "It's also important for me that my music is translated visually in what I'm wearing."
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