Stella Rose Bennett was born and raised in the suburb of Grey Lynn in Auckland. She grew up in a "really musical" family with parents who would expose her to the catalogs of Radiohead, Björk, and Groove Armada. From the age of eight, BENEE began taking guitar lessons in primary school before starting saxophone lessons in high school. Eventually, BENEE dropped all music in order to prioritize water polo. She claims it "was [her] life" and that she at one point hoped to represent New Zealand competitively. BENEE later became interested in writing and recording music at the age of 17, after deciding that she did not want to pursue a career in water polo. BENEE attended an all-girls Catholic school, St. Mary's College, where music was compulsory for four years.
BENEE began her music career by posting covers to SoundCloud and began making her own music in her final year of high school. After dropping out of a communications degree at the Auckland University of Technology after two weeks, during what she called "a quarter-life crisis", she decided to enter the music business professionally. Her music caught the attention of Josh Fountain, a producer and member of the band Leisure, with whom she produced two singles: "Tough Guy", released in 2017, and "Soaked", released in 2018. she earned her first career entry on the Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2018 with "Soaked" at #58.
In both 2019 and 2020, she consecutively won Single of the Year, Best Solo Artist and Best Pop Artist at the New Zealand Music Awards. BENEE initially gained local prominence with her singles "Glitter" and "Soaked", before her 2019 single "Supalonely" saw international popularity following its success on the video-sharing platform TikTok and YouTube. BENEE subsequently released her debut album, Hey U X, in November 2020.
Under the moniker of Bene, she made her solo debut with the 2017 single "Tough Guy", before later gaining prominence with her 2018 single "Soaked", which has been certified double-platinum in New Zealand. She released her debut EP, Fire on Marzz, with help from producer Josh Fountain in June 2019. Her second EP, Stella & Steve, was released in November 2019 and charted in the US, Canada, and France as a result of the international success of the EP's final single, "Supalonely". Since 2018, BENEE has earned five entries on the Triple J Hottest 100, three of which were in the 2019 list. She also released her third EP, Lychee, in March 2022 which charted at number 13 on the Official New Zealand Music Chart.
In an interview for The New Zealand Herald, Benee revealed that she has dyslexia. She also described her childhood experiences with songwriting:
"throughout school I struggled with writing....I liked creative writing, that was what I loved, but I was always making mistakes, and I was confined to this way that I should write....Songwriting for me was this place where I don't have to be grammatically correct. Learning the craft with [Josh Fountain], when he was sharing all his knowledge – something clicked, and I was just like, I love this. It's a great emotional outlet for me; I just love splashing what I feel on to a track."
Doesnt Matter
BENEE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To not have to think about it?
It seems nice
Not a care, so quiet
Maybe I'm consumed by my mental
Does it hurt me? Maybe, oh, well
If I medicate, would it help me?
'Cause I'm hurting, I feel unwell
You know how I feel
You've told me before
Although my fears are real
The things I fear are not
I know it doesn't matter
I know it doesn't matter
None of this even matters
I know it doesn't matter
I know it doesn't matter
None of this even matters
Check that
Have to check that the oven is off
This happens every night
Sometimes you tell me off
Maybe I'm consumed by my mental
Does it hurt me? Maybe, oh, well
If I medicate, would it help me?
'Cause I'm hurting, I feel unwell
You know how I feel
You've told me before
Although my fears are real
The things I fear are not
I know it doesn't matter
I know it doesn't matter
None of this even matters
I know it doesn't matter
I know it doesn't matter
None of this even matters
You say
"Why are you thinking these things?" (These things)
How do I even explain? (Explain)
"You're scared of almost everything" (everything)
I know and it's really a drain (a drain)
Hide under a pillow (pillow)
Something's at the window (window)
I'm too scared to check though
Now I'm crossing my fingers
Flicking off the switches
Is my house filled with witches?
What is my mind?
What is it like
To unwind?
What's it like?
In "Doesn't Matter," Benee reflects on the anxieties that consume her mind, wondering what it would be like to not have to think about them. The chorus emphasizes her realization that many of her worries are insignificant in the grand scheme of things, yet they still have a heavy impact on her mental health. She questions whether medication could alleviate her suffering, but also acknowledges that the root of her issues lies in her own mind.
The verses detail some of the specific fears that occupy her thoughts every day, such as checking the oven obsessively and being afraid to look out the window. She acknowledges that these concerns may seem trivial to others, but to her they are consuming and draining. Still, she can't help but wonder what it would be like to be able to unwind and not be weighed down by her own thoughts.
At its core, "Doesn't Matter" is a vulnerable exploration of the impact that mental health issues can have on one's daily life, as well as the difficulty of explaining these issues to others. Despite the paradoxical nature of her worries - being both insignificant and all-consuming - Benee's lyrics showcase a deep empathy for those who struggle with anxiety or other mental health challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Mm, what's it like
What is the experience like?
To not have to think about it?
To not have to worry about something?
It seems nice
It seems pleasant.
Not a care, so quiet
Without any worries, peaceful.
Maybe I'm consumed by my mental
Perhaps I'm overwhelmed by my thoughts.
Does it hurt me? Maybe, oh, well
Does it cause discomfort? Perhaps, but never mind.
If I medicate, would it help me?
Would taking medication improve my condition?
'Cause I'm hurting, I feel unwell
I'm in pain and feeling sick.
You know how I feel
You understand my emotions.
You've told me before
You've informed me previously.
Although my fears are real
Even though my fears are genuine.
The things I fear are not
However, what I fear is irrational.
I know it doesn't matter
I understand that it's not significant.
None of this even matters
None of this is important.
Check that
Verify that.
Have to check that the oven is off
Need to ensure that the stove isn't on.
This happens every night
This occurrence is common every evening.
Sometimes you tell me off
On occasion, you reprimand me.
You say
"Why are you thinking these things?" (These things)
How do I even explain? (Explain)
"You're scared of almost everything" (everything)
I know and it's really a drain (a drain)
Hide under a pillow (pillow)
Something's at the window (window)
I'm too scared to check though
Now I'm crossing my fingers
Flicking off the switches
Is my house filled with witches?
You ask why I worry about everything and how can I describe it. You point out that I'm scared of virtually everything, which I admit is draining. I hide under a pillow when I'm frightened and can hear something outside the window, but I'm too afraid to check. Now I'm crossing my fingers and turning off the lights as if there are witches in my home.
What is my mind?
What kind of thoughts are in my head?
What is it like
To unwind?
What is it like to relax?
What's it like?
What does it feel like?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Stella Bennett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jarwomosaic
"...my fears are real, the things I fear are not." daamn, I love this song!
@1plus1equalsfun30
She sings what's in my mind that I could never put into words.
@coccoaccoccoa6852
Hey
@1plus1equalsfun30
@@coccoaccoccoa6852 hii
@respuestoferbes.4399
Benee inspires me always
@jarquesinclair280
Literally 💯💯💯
@juanabeeditor089
Say it again
@paulisthelegend
So mellow. Perfect for a late night drive
@User-bp5wp
But tells about very bad things, depression and fear. this is not mellow. its about very sad woman
@phoenixthefawkes
0:28 "Maybe I'm consumed by my mental, does it hurt me, maybe, oh well..." 0:38 "If I medicate would it help me? Cause I'm hurting, I feel unwell." These words are not mellow when they are the truth. The song may be slow but that doesn't make it mellow. Don't get me wrong I love the song, it just could be triggering for some when she sings these words.