Benjamin Steer's 'Figuring It Out' Is Romantic, Vulnerable and Cinematic
It is a brave thing to step away from the stability of a corporate career for a record deal. Benjamin Steer, though, has proved one release at a time that he is here to make his mark, and his sophomore EP Figuring It Out is a testament to his courage, his vulnerability, and his ever-growing creativity. Romantic, vulnerable, and with a cinematic quality that will immerse you, the EP captures the emotional chaos of the early 20s, from longing and self-doubt to fleeting clarity. It's a journey that stirs the soul and sparks a profound sense of connection, evoking a range of powerful emotions along the way.
The project's opener, "Oh Darling," kicks off with a nostalgic piano arrangement, hooking the listener before Steer's warm vocals chime in, accompanied by pop-infused percussion and summery guitar riffs. He reminisces on the magical night he met his love, recounting their chemistry and how they "...just keep me hanging/ Hanging over you." Mulling over the highs and lows of their relationship, the hook sees Steers ask his beloved to hold him close, pleading with them, "Don't let this slip away/ Oh darling/ Oh at how your face it radiates/ Oh darling/ I'll take a sip on every word you say/ But if you're antidote I guess I'll die."
The following track, "No One Wants To Die Alone," is a personal favorite on the record that punches you right in the gut. The piece showcases Steer's unique talent for pairing dark-humor-tinged honesty with melodic warmth, which feels reminiscent of singer-songwriters like Phoebe Bridgers and their emotional transparency, yet with a distinct style that is all his own. With his unfiltered lyricism, he tackles heavy themes like anxiety, loneliness, and the weight of existing. It's a crafted with care, bedroom-pop confessional that feels like a late-night heart-to-heart.
The record's finale, "Sweat Off Our History," is an aching reflection on love. With a hypnotic staccato delivery, he croons over the infectious production, "'Cause I'm scared to fail/ or lose a friend/ 'Cause I'm a man/ And that shit hits so hard like when/ Our love just ends/ So keep me in your mind again." On the chorus, he ruminates on the mixed signals he's received and wonders if he's blinded by love or just choosing to close his eyes to his lover's behavior. That last line of the hook packs a significant punch, as Steer asks, "Oh are we hanging on to us/ Like a fucking hand before a bus?/ Oh honey it′s enough/ Just know that if you miss me/ And then you come and kiss me/ We won't sweat off our history."
Overall, what sets the rising singer-songwriter apart is the quiet confidence in his songwriting. His work balances artistic clarity with emotional openness, offering a kind of intimacy that feels instantly relatable yet sonically cinematic. Figuring It Out is both a snapshot of where he is now and a promise of what is to come, the sound of an artist turning uncertainty into something worth holding onto, and reminding us all that we're all just figuring it out.
Be sure to check out Benjamin Steer's latest EP, Figuring It Out, today!
