Benwal: Tracks That Shaped My Sound

Dutch producer Benwal has been making serious waves with his genre-blurring, emotionally-charged club sound — and his new EP U Need is no exception. Ahead of its release, we caught up with him to talk about the tracks that shaped his sonic world: from rave roots to melodic highs, warehouse heaters to afterparty soul.

As his sound shifts into heavier, UK-influenced territory without losing its melodic pulse, we dig into the music that got him here — and what continues to drive him forward.

1. Intrique – Work That Body (Hard Mix) 

“One of the first Reese bass tracks I ever played out. I found this one two or three years ago, and it completely changed how I approached low-end energy in my sets. Still gets a reload if the system’s right.”

2. Skeptic – Join Hands 

“This track made me fall in love with UKG. It was also how I discovered EC2A in the first place. There’s a kind of rawness and emotion in this one that hit me straight away. One of those you remember where you were when you heard it.”

3. Pearce M – Waiting 4U

 “This one was perfect for introducing garage sounds to Dutch crowds early on. The first drop is organ house, the second has this filthy garage bass. That contrast really helped get people into it — even if it only lasts for a minute, it always went off.”

4. DJ Speed – Brutal House (DJ Speed Remix) 

“This was a big inspiration behind my track B2OS. The way it punches but still swings was a blueprint for how I wanted to shape my own club tools.”

5. Oliver Heldens – Overdrive

 “I know this might surprise people, but Gecko (Overdrive) inspired U Need. It’s a good reminder that influence doesn’t always come from where you expect. When we had the melody, it reminded us of the future house era. We tried to rework that feeling into 2025 and shape it into our own sound.”