As Benny Divine, New Orleans-based Ben McCullough has sung and played in several garage, psych, and punk rock bands, including Gary Wrong Group, Missing Monuments, Natural Child, and Wizzard Sleeve. However, he dons the name Bênní for his solo project, which ditches guitars in favor of atmospheric synthesizers, recalling Vangelis and Moroder soundtracks as well as the otherworldly new age of Iasos. Both of Bênní's albums, 2017's I & II and 2018's The Return, were released by Memphis garage rock institution Goner Records. Bênní's first performance took place in New Orleans in April of 2016. He continued playing gigs, sharing the stage with the likes of Quintron & Miss Pussycat and Shannon & the Clams, and a cassette appeared by the end of the year. In 2017, after performing at SXSW and opening for Hans-Joachim Roedelius, Bênní's debut LP, I & II, was released by Goner Records, was followed by 2018's The Return. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi