2nd SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM , OUT ON JULY 11th
Yellowknife musician Benji Straker’s indie folk project Hughes shares their raw and introspective new single ‘Passerby’ out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
Produced by Dan Ponich (Bad Hoss, Twin Willow) and featuring the vocals of Yellowknife musician Ben Cornel (MOOCH), ‘Passerby’ is the second single from Hughes’ self-titled debut full-length set for release on July 11th. Reflective and richly textured, the new single feels both intimate and expansive, capturing the fleeting nature of time and the quiet significance of human connection.
“‘Passerby’ was an interesting song to write because, at first, I wasn’t even sure what I was trying to say – it just started coming together as I put the words down,” says Benji Straker. “It’s about reflection, about how the past, present, and future are just fleeting moments in the grand scope of life. We’re all just passing through, so there’s no point in clinging to things that don’t really matter. What does matter is making the most of the time we have with the people we love. My good friend and incredible musician, Ben Cornel, really connected with this track, so we teamed up for the recording – blending harmonized vocals and his additional guitar work to bring it to life.”
Through Hughes, Benji Straker blends introspective lyrics, ambient textures, and country-surf guitar into a sound that feels both ethereal and grounded. Rooted in the wild beauty of the North, the project channels the stillness of lakes and the glow of the aurora to explore themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. Hughes was a solo project until last year, when Benji invited some other musicians to jam. The band quickly came together and shaped many of the compositions that made it onto the forthcoming album. What began as a solo endeavor has since evolved into a full-band experience, combining folk storytelling with blues-rock grit and richly layered instrumentation.