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Manila Bulletin devider Drive devider Indie darling Clara Benin makes it to New York

Indie darling Clara Benin makes it to New York

Published Feb 19, 2022 10:00 am

Meet the Filipina artist who’s on a Times Square billboard right now

BLINK Clara's billboard in New York

Clara Benin’s laidback and enchanting voice is known throughout the Philippines. Now, the folk-pop phenom is making waves overseas, in New York in particular, as her face is flashed on a Times Square billboard.

The Filipino singer-songwriter lands on the iconic Branded Cities 7 TSQ, the LED display at the focal point of Times Square, just a month ahead of International Women’s Day. Her special ad appearance is part of Spotify’s EQUAL Campaign, an initiative that aims to amplify the work of outstanding women and gender-nonconforming musicians.

The audio streaming platform turned its spotlight on Clara as this week’s cover artist of the EQUAL Playlist in the Philippines. Her songs “blink” and “Araw’t Gabi” occupy the top two slots. The former is her latest single that honors the fundamental aspect of human nature and muses on memory with the lyrics written as various scenes of Clara’s past. The latter, meanwhile, is a 2014 hit written and recorded for the official soundtrack of Jay Abello’s indie film Red.

“I feel really humbled to be featured on a Times Square billboard in New York and to have my songs be part of Spotify’s EQUAL playlist alongside these lovely and talented women,” the young songstress wrote in a statement. “I really hope our music reaches and inspires more people from all over the world.”

Clara is one of the first artists under Sony’s latest pan-regional label OFFMUTE, focused on championing new and emerging Southeast Asian talents.

Photo by Noel Pabalate

Widely loved for her serene brand of music, her angelic voice paired with her acoustic guitar playing, Clara is a huge name in the local indie scene. The artist who rose to fame with her track “Parallel Universe” has amassed over 30 million streams on Spotify. She’s also played in distinguished festivals such as the 2019 edition of Zandari Festa, an annual three-day music festival held in Seoul, South Korea.

‘I feel really humbled to be featured on a Times Square billboard in New York and to have my songs be part of Spotify’s EQUAL playlist alongside these lovely and talented women. I really hope our music reaches and inspires more people from all over the world.’

Other Pinoy artists who were previously featured on Spotify’s Times Square billboard include Nadine Lustre, Julie Ann San Jose, Ylona Garcia, Janine Teñoso, and Zack Tabuldo, to name a few.

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Jules Vivas Spotify Clara Benin New york Sony
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