Yellowknife Indie Folk Project HUGHES Shares New Track, “DESPITE THE DISTANCE”
Hughes, the indie folk project from Yellowknife musician Benji Straker, shares their emotionally tender new single “Despite The Distance” out now.
The first single from Hughes’ self-titled debut full-length (out on July 11th), “Despite The Distance” was initially released last year, but Straker felt the song deserved a place on the album, so he recorded a new version, hoping to get more ears on the authentic and introspective track.
“I wrote “Despite The Distance” during a period of deep reflection on fatherhood—reminiscing about my two little girls, watching them grow, and feeling that bittersweet pull between the past and the future,” says Benji Straker. “As parents, we all question if we’re doing enough, but this song is my way of holding onto the moments that matter most. I originally released it as a single in early 2024, but as both the song and Hughes evolved, I felt it deserved another chance to shine—so I re-recorded it for the album to truly do it justice.”
Through his indie folk project, Straker weaves introspective lyrics, ambient textures, and country-surf guitar into a sound both ethereal and grounded. Rooted in the wild beauty of the North, Hughes channels the serenity of lakes and the glow of the aurora into music that explores love, loss, and self-discovery. What began as a solo endeavour has grown into a full-band experience, blending folk storytelling with blues-rock grit and layered instrumentation. Whether intimate or expansive, Hughes offers an evocative journey that resonates with raw emotion and authenticity.