Befriending My Tears (stylized in lower-case as befriending my tears) is the second studio album by Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin. The album was released on August 11, 2023, under Offmute, a sublabel of Sony Music Philippines.
| Befriending My Tears | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 11, 2023 | |||
| Recorded | 2021–2024 | |||
| Length | 32:44 | |||
| Label | Offmute | |||
| Producer |
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| Clara Benin chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Befriending My Tears | ||||
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Background
editMore than eight years after releasing her debut album, Benin announced announced on social media that she will be releasing her second album titled Befriending My Tears on 11 August 2023. On her approach to the album, Benin stated: “Believing in oneself is at the heart of this album. While the support and belief from others are invaluable, true healing can only begin when you learn to love and believe in yourself. It’s an essential step in the process of reconciling inner pain. We must all befriend our tears to embark on the path to healing.”[1][2]
Benin released a deluxe edition of the album on November 29, 2024. The deluxe album consists of two new songs, a demo version of the song "blink", a remix version of five songs and a live version of two songs.[3][4]
Singles
editThe first single of the album "blink" was released more than two years prior to the release of the album. Benin revealed that the song is about recollecting, reliving and healing from her past experiences.[5]
“I had a series of sleepless nights just recollecting and reliving different times of my life. Some were peaceful times. Some were turbulent times. Some were traumatic times. I didn’t really understand why these memories were resurfacing in my head. Writing ‘blink’ just helped me resolve these thoughts. “I particularly wanted this song to be a sonic journey that is metaphorical to one’s journey towards healing.”
More than six months later, the second single of the album "affable dork" was released. Benin revealed that she wrote the song when she was in college and the song was about being head over heels over a person, fantasizing about the relationship like it was in a rom-com story.[7]
“The song is about the thought process of a girl overthinking her relationship with an affable dork because she feels unworthy of his attention. You later on realise that fantasies only remain as such and don’t translate to reality.”
The third single of the album "different..." was released on January 2023. The song was inspired by the movie When Harry Met Sally. On her approach to the song, Benin stated: “My song is about having a really good friendship with someone and wondering if you two could take that relationship somewhere different.”[9]
A couple of months later, the fourth single of the album "small town" was released. Benin revealed that the song was a post-breakup song with her high school love interest back when she was living in the province.[10]
“Small town was inspired by my high school experience living in the province, where it was inevitable to bump into someone you know when you're out in public. It's a post-breakup song about trying to find yourself again and struggling because everything around you reminds you of your ex.”
The fifth single of the album "keep still" was released three months later. Benin revealed that the song explores themes of self-doubt, anxiety, and the fear of not living up to expectations—delving into the internal struggles and insecurities that a person experiences in their relationships and personal life.
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "imposter syndrome" |
|
| 3:15 |
| 2. | "small town" |
|
| 3:25 |
| 3. | "blink" |
|
| 3:47 |
| 4. | "different..." |
|
| 3:00 |
| 5. | "affable dork" |
|
| 4:19 |
| 6. | "momentary" |
|
| 5:19 |
| 7. | "keep still" |
|
| 4:11 |
| 8. | "darling, i've been there" |
|
| 2:24 |
| 9. | "don't hurt yourself trying to get it all back" |
|
| 3:00 |
| Total length: | 32:44 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "hiding in the bathroom" |
|
| 2:55 |
| 11. | "all i do is cry" |
| 4:40 | |
| 12. | "blink (demo)" |
| 3:16 | |
| 13. | "small town (crwn's crying in the parking lot edit)" |
| crwn | 3:47 |
| 14. | "blink (timothyRun remix)" |
| timothy Run | 3:42 |
| 15. | "different... (kenyama remix)" |
| Kenyama | 3:00 |
| 16. | "keep still (theRingmaster remix)" |
|
| 4:21 |
| 17. | "don't hurt yourself trying to get it all back (kvtvlv remix)" |
| 2:54 | |
| 18. | "small town (live at music museum)" |
| 4:01 | |
| 19. | "momentary (live at music museum)" |
| 5:48 | |
| Total length: | 71:08 | |||
Personnel
edit- Clara Benin - vocals, co-producer (tracks 3, 7, 16)
- Fran Lorenzo - co-producer (tracks 1, 3–6, 8–10, 16)
- Sam Marquez - co-producer (tracks 1–2, 7, 9–10)
- Tim Marquez - co-producer (tracks 2, 9, 14)
- Gabba Santiago - co-producer (tracks 2, 6, 8)
- Nick Lazaro - co-producer (track 10)
- King Puentespina - co-producer (track 13)
- Ken Yama - co-producer (track 15)
References
edit- ^ "Clara Benin Unveils Latest Album: "Embracing My Tears"". Wazzup.PH. August 17, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ "Clara Benin embraces her fears and worries in new album, 'befriending my tears' – a track-by-track guide". Bandwagon Asia. August 12, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ Saenz, Rome (November 29, 2024). "Clara Benin Gets Real In New Deluxe Album 'befriending my tears (and then some)' – Listen". Billboard Philippines. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ "Clara Benin releases deluxe edition of befriending my tears with new tracks, remixes, and live recordings". Daily Tribune. December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ Abanes, Mariel (December 27, 2021). "Filipino singer Clara Benin embarks on a healing journey in new single 'blink'". NME. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ "Filipino singer-songwriter Clara Benin honors memories on incredibly moving single 'blink'". Daily Guardian. December 28, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ Bodegon-Hikino, Kara (July 15, 2022). "Clara Benin releases charming new single 'Affable Dork'–listen". Bandwagon Asia. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ Ng, Scott (July 15, 2022). "Clara Benin sings about a teenage romance on new single 'Affable Dork'". NME. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ "Entertainment News (01/31/23)". BusinessWorld Online. January 31, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ del Rosario, Pauline (April 21, 2023). "Clara Benin may bagong hugot song tungkol sa ex-dyowa noong nasa probinsya" (in Filipino). Inquirer.net. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
- ^ "Clara Benin finds beauty in unlearning people and places on new song "small town"". Indiegaga. April 21, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2024.