How Beyoncé’s 2018 Coachella Performance Was A Major Inspiration To BTS
On June 13, BTS surprised fans with “PROOF Live,” which featured a performance of “Born Singer,” “Yet to Come,” and “For Youth” with special guest Anderson .Paak.
For their performance, they sought the creative mind of the accomplished musician, composer, orchestrator, and arranger Duane Benjamin.
Duane Benjamin has worked with legendary musicians such as Diana Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, and The Temptations. He’s also worked as an orchestrator for the popular television shows, American Idol and The Voice.
Duane Benjamin currently teaches in the Global Jazz Studies inter-departmental program at UCLA, where he was recently interviewed about his latest collaboration with BTS.
Benjamin has worked with the group before, and co-produced the group’s 2020 Billboard Music Awards performance of their hit song, “Dynamite.”
The first time the music industry legend worked with BTS; he first collaborated with the group for their tracks “ON” and “Ego” in 2018. Both songs feature a live band that was brought together by Benjamin.
I was able to hook BTS up with the Global Jazz Studies faculty and the UCLA Marching Band
— Benjamin
As for how their working relationship began, Benjamin revealed that Beyoncé’s Coachella performance actually inspired the connection.
BIGHIT MUSIC had seen Beyoncé’s legendary performance at Coachella in 2018 and was inspired by the high-quality production. BIGHIT MUSIC began to look for a collaborator to bring that kind of high-caliber performance to life for BTS and was connected to Benjamin.
Benjamin’s relationship with BTS and BIGHIT MUSIC continues. Most recently, he was the music director of BTS’s “PROOF Live” performance. During the performance, the group was backed by a live band and backup singers, adding even more impact and power to BTS’s performance.
Benjamin shared that he now works with BIG HIT MUSIC on a regular basis, and with more of their artists.
Check out BTS’s “PROOF Live” below!
