Discography
Releases
About
Los Angeles-based electronic producer Ben Benecke, otherwise known as Next To Blue, creates music to capture the hearts and minds of those looking for something outside and beyond the mainstream. Originally from Colorado Springs, NTB began producing at the age of 13 after stumbling upon a comment on a favorite dubstep track which mentioned Fruity Loops software. The now Ableton user’s musical influences are heavily drawn from the post-dubstep era of the late 2000s, in particular Synkro, Sorrow, 123mrk, and James Blake, as well as shoegaze and rock music. With the creation of his artist project, Next To Blue began producing future garage music but has always experimented across genres. In 2021, Next To Blue released his album “Apollyon” on Good Society, and has collaborated as Next To Blue and side project Tank Parade with the likes of canary yellow, Player Dave, clearcast, Crosstalk, Emilia Ali, Rome In Silver, Bro Safari, Tisoki, Virginia Palms, and Christina Munsey. Next To Blue stands out as an artist because of his ability to design a deep sonic experience for his listeners. His music invites you into a very immersive environment, allowing listeners to create their own interpretations of the deeper meanings and emotions. Throughout 2023, Next To Blue finely honed his sound, focusing on creating genuine and heartfelt music that reflects his own unique style and vision. After gaining traction on TikTok, “Audio 002” took off on DSPs without any editorial support. The sound now has over 200,000 UGCs and over 50 million streams across DSPs. His tracks have been celebrated by tastemakers and artists including Lane 8, TOKiMONSTA, Player Dave, Bicep, Jacques Greene, and Tycho. 2025 saw NTB remix TOKiMONSTA’s “For You (feat. Kaelin Ellis)”, from her latest album Eternal Reverie, followed by the 2026 release of his Audio Collection 001 ambient album.