Stella & Steve is the second extended play by New Zealand singer Benee, released on 15 November 2019 by Republic Records.

Stella & Steve
EP by
Released15 November 2019 (2019-11-15)
Genre
Length17:24
LabelRepublic
Producer
Benee chronology
Fire on Marzz
(2019)
Stella & Steve
(2019)
Hey U X
(2020)
Singles from Stella & Steve
  1. "Find an Island"
    Released: 11 October 2019
  2. "Monsta"
    Released: 1 November 2019
  3. "Supalonely"
    Released: 6 December 2019

It was supported by three singles; "Find an Island", "Monsta", and "Supalonely", featuring Gus Dapperton, which the latter went viral on social networking service TikTok in 2020. Commercially, Stella & Steve peaked at number 19 on the New Zealand Albums Chart and the ARIA Albums Chart, number 91 on the Canadian Albums Chart, number 138 on the US Billboard 200, and number 150 on the French Albums Chart.

Background

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Detailing the inspiration behind the EP title, Bennett said: "I am Stella and my car is called Steve".[3] Her car Steve, featured on the cover, is a Honda Integra DC2, which also serves as the namesake for the upcoming track Green Honda.[4]

Promotion

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The lead single, "Find an Island", was released on 11 October 2019.[5]

The second single, "Monsta", was released on 1 November 2019.[6]

The EP's third and final single, "Supalonely", featuring Gus Dapperton, was released on 6 December 2019.[7][8]

Critical reception

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Gab Ginsberg from Billboard described the EP as "a tight handful of R&B and electronic-tinged pop tracks that showcase where she is here and now" and "serving as a more chill companion to the bubbly Fire on Marzz EP."[2]

Nathan Gunn of Tone Deaf called the EP "Benee's most emotional and well-constructed work, which becomes especially apparent in latter tracks like 'Drifting' and 'Blu'."[9]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Find an Island"
  • Fountain
  • Djeisan Suskov
3:12
2."Supalonely" (featuring Gus Dapperton)
  • Fountain
  • Dapperton
3:43
3."Monsta"
  • Bennett
  • Fountain
  • Schoushkoff
  • Fountain
  • Suskov
3:41
4."Drifting" (featuring Jack Berry)
  • Bennett
  • Damin McCabe
  • Fountain
  • Schoushkoff
  • Fountain
  • Suskov
3:23
5."Blu"
  • Bennett
  • Andrews
  • Fountain
Fountain3:22
Total length:17:24

Personnel

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Adapted from the Fire on Marzz / Stella & Steve compilation album's liner notes.[10]

Musicians

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Other musicians

Technical

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Charts

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2019–2020 chart performance for Stella and Steve
Chart (2019–2020) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11] 19
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[12] 91
French Albums (SNEP)[13] 150
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[14] 19
US Billboard 200[15] 138

Release history

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Release history and formats for Stella & Steve
Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various 15 November 2019 Republic [16]

References

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  1. ^ "Benee Finds Her 'Island' in the Sun With Shimmering New EP. Rising New Zealand pop singer Benee on her new EP Stella & Steve, a tight handful of R&B and electronic-tinged pop tracks that showcase where she is here and now". Billboard. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ginsberg, Gab (13 November 2019). "Benee finds her 'Island' in the sun with shimmering new EP". Billboard. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Benee unveils new ep Stella & Steve!". NZ Music. 15 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  4. ^ Henderson, Taylor (1 November 2022). "BENEE teases new music at ACL, reflects on "one-hit wonder" fears". Alternative Press. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  5. ^ Riddell, Rose (11 October 2019). "Listen: Benee's new single, 'Find an Island'". Coup De Main Magazine. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  6. ^ Brown, Bianca (1 November 2019). "Benee doesn't want you to be afraid of the "Monsta" that goes bump in the night". Ones to Watch. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  7. ^ Thomson, Zangba (3 December 2019). "Benee releases an upbeat alternative-pop tune, entitled, "Supalonely", featuring Gus Dapperton". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  8. ^ Davies, Hayden (December 2019). "This Week's Must-Listen Singles: Benee, Spacey Jane, Young Franco + more". Pilerats. Retrieved 24 January 2020.
  9. ^ Gunn, Nathan (15 November 2019). "'Stella & Steve' is Benee's most assured work yet, here's why". Tone Deaf. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  10. ^ Fire on Marzz / Stella & Steve (booklet). Republic Records. 2020. 0-602508-558467.
  11. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Billboard Canadian Albums Chart: March 28, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  13. ^ "Top Albums (Week 15, 2020)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Charts.nz – Benee – Stella & Steve". Hung Medien. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  15. ^ "Billboard 200: March 28, 2020". Billboard. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  16. ^ "Stella & Steve by Benee on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 25 December 2019.

Notes

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  1. ^ All tracks
  2. ^ Track 2
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