Hailing from the vibrant underground scene of New York, Bentley Robles is a force to be reckoned with – bold, passionate, and fiercely spirited.
It all started with the release of his electrifying single, “i hate the weekend,” which caught the attention of us all. From there he earned a coveted spot on Spotify’s acclaimed “Fresh Finds” playlist, boasting nearly 1 million followers and his track also found its way onto “RADAR US,” solidifying his status as an emerging star.
Collaboration and experimentation are close to Bentley’s heart; he relishes discovering fresh and innovative sounds and enjoys working closely with fellow musicians to craft evocative lyrics and captivating beats.
In an exclusive interview with Bentley Robles, he continues to redefine the boundaries of pop music with his remarkable talent and unbridled passion for the craft.
As a rising star in the indie pop scene, how would you describe your musical journey from your childhood to where you are now?
Growing up as a young gay kid, I was raised by main pop girls. I remember locking my bedroom door and escaping into this fantastical pop world they allowed me to step into. I would emulate their every move. I knew every lyric, I watched the live performances over and over (I still do). It inspired little me to dream. And bigger me has set out to fulfil it.
Your latest single, “HOPE U CRY,” has gained significant attention with its powerful lyrics and infectious beats. What inspired you to create such a cathartic breakup anthem?
Breakups SUCK, heartbreak SUCKS, love can SUCK. With ‘HOPE U CRY’ I wanted to help people heal, but on the dance floor. Sometimes being the bigger person isn’t possible, I wanted those people to feel empowered and seen, to let loose. You can cry – just leave the tears under the disco ball. It’s a 3 minute and 30 second therapy session. It’s that friend that says ‘girl I hear you, have your moment and then we’re we’re moving on.’
With your earlier singles like “i hate the weekend” and “lay all your love on me” receiving immense popularity, how do you feel about becoming one of the defining voices of the New York underground music scene?
Wow, thank you!! The further I get into my career the more I want. This is what I am supposed to do, I know that. Creating, performing, sharing, connecting and all that comes with being an artist is my first and biggest love – music is a literal dream come true for me. I don’t take a day for granted, I am working every moment I have to give. ‘HOPE U CRY’ is the first chapter of my next endeavor, and if you’ve liked it, just you wait for what’s to come, and be prepared because there’s a lot!
Your collaboration with Zee Machine on the TikTok hit “See Me Naked” went viral. How did this collaboration come about, and what was the experience like working on such a successful track?
Going viral has never been my thing (as much as I’ve tried) so with “See Me Naked” it was wild to see the power of virality and what it can do. I’ll let you in on a secret here – ‘See Me Naked’ was originally released by me in October 2021 solo, and it was a complete flop. No one paid attention, no one f**ked with it, except for Mr. ZEE MACHINE–who I sent it to looking to rework and feature him on the track. It was as simple as that, it was an immediate no brainer, I’d been a fan for a while and through the collaboration we became best friends. It’s one of my favorite things to come from this music career of mine.
You’ve mentioned that you’ve written over 50 songs for your upcoming sophomore EP. Could you give us a glimpse into what we can expect from this project? Any themes or musical directions you’d like to share?
GET READY TO CRY ON THE DANCEFLOOR, to roll your car windows down and sing along at the top of your lungs. As an artist I feel like I’ve found my voice, my place, my meaning. I see beyond just a song now, everything has meaning, it’s all intentional. I’ve gone all the way there–even if it was painful–because I don’t want to put anything out in the world that isn’t 100% Bentley. The overarching theme of all of it is feeling, the good, the bad, the extreme. It sits around relationships, romantic, platonic, toxic. It’s the heartbreak hotel, and I hope you’ll enjoy your stay!
Being an indie artist, releasing bodies of work can be challenging. What has been the most significant hurdle you’ve faced in preparing your EP, and how have you overcome it?
It’s all in the detail. It’s more than just the song, the cover art, the promo. I want every detail of everything I’m putting out or attaching my name to, to be as close to perfect as it can get. With detail comes great effort, when it’s over a shade of blue needing to be a degree lighter it can get VERY tiring but it’s always worth it, and it always pays off.
Your music often combines infectious pop melodies with sharp and honest lyrics. How do you balance the emotional depth of your songs while still creating music that makes people want to dance and sing along?
The funny thing is, this whole crying on the dance floor thing kinda happened by accident. I am first and foremost a pop boy, I love big hooks, crunchy basslines, epic synths, all that good stuff. Sonically I’m inspired by music that makes people wanna move, whether that’s dancing at the club or running through the streets with their friends, I like sonics that get people hype. However, all the things I wanna write about are big emotions like: heartbreak, betrayal, obsession, anxiety, the list goes on. These two core elements of mine kinda created the perfect psychotic pop storm.
You’ve been on tour across North America with Tom Aspaul for the Planet Fantastic Tour. What has been the most memorable experience from the tour so far, and how has it influenced your growth as an artist?
Touring with Tom Aspaul was truly a dream come true. He’s inspired me in ways I didn’t know I needed to be inspired. Everything you see him put out is handcrafted by him and he does it with such grace, it’s beautiful. Music aside he is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met, he also doesn’t take himself too seriously which is a breath of fresh air. He has this view on music that is so refreshing, he says he’s just happy to be there and that everything good that happens to him is “just a bonus” – I’ve really tried to adapt that way of life. Also, getting to be on the road with AlexZone, Sabby Sousa & Vardaan Arora was so fucking fun, I love what all of them are doing individually and it really felt like popstar camp.
As a proud Cancer sun boy, how does your astrological sign influence your music and creative process? Are there any specific traits or emotions you find yourself drawing upon when writing songs?
UM YES!? Being a cancer is like my biggest identifier. As someone who was always teased for being “overly sensitive” or a “crybaby” my cancer sun really helped me learn to love my tears. I am an enormous empath, I feel everything, I can hear a friend’s story and shed a tear over their pain. Not only that I feel my emotions so deeply it makes it really easy for me to channel those feelings into a song. Being a cancer is my superpower.