Ben&Ben and animated realms

Indie folk-pop band Ben&Ben takes their artistry into new heights with the release of their third studio album The Traveller Across Dimensions, on Friday, 29 November.

The album, which features the first-ever animated storytelling of the band, follows the journey of Liwanag, an animated character, who travels through three symbolic realms: light, energy and feel.

“Instead of just a set of songs, we crafted a narrative because we want the story of the visuals to convey an overarching flow, where all of the songs’ visuals are also interconnected,” singer Miguel Benjamin said.

Divided into three parts, the 13-track album tells the story of how Liwanag confronts trials along the way as she navigates her way through Duyan, the last realm symbolizing inner peace.

The album introduces several key characters who play integral roles in the narrative like Gabay, a wise traveller, Puhon, Liwanag’s loyal pet and Mahiwaga, another traveler who crossed paths with Liwanag in the Feel dimension.

While the band’s storytelling medium has embraced a new concept, they emphasized that the message and purpose behind their songs remain unchanged.

The album continues to convey profound reflections of life and love that the band has since mastered over the years, extending it through every beat and melody.

“Sometimes, the only way to navigate life’s difficulties is letting go of control. Because when we try to control things too much, we’ll find it a lot more difficult,” Miguel said, referring to the album’s message.

Ben&Ben described the album as a “full circle” experience, with their music influencing the narrative, while the unfolding story added depth and completeness to their songs.

Their long-time fascination with visual storytelling brought Liwanag’s story to life as they wanted to explore a new medium to further push their creative boundaries.

“Seeing our sketches evolve into a full animation was a powerful experience — one that accurately reflected the story we wanted to tell,” the band said. 

The Traveller Across Dimensions blends creativity with heartfelt emotion, offering a fresh and exciting sound that takes Ben&Ben’s music to another level.

The chaotic, intense moments are matched by powerful energetic arrangements, while the quieter, more reflective parts shine with gentle and serene instruments.

The album includes previously released tracks “Autumn,” “Could Be Something,” “Triumph” and “Comets.”

Ben&Ben is set to bring the world of The Traveller Across Dimensions to life on stage with their first-ever arena concert on 14 December at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The concert promises to be an innovative, multi-dimensional experience, blending live music with state-of-the-art multimedia elements inspired by the album.