BENJI

I was fortunate enough to grow up with the birth of the Internet. I built my first website in 1999 at 11 years old. Because of this, technology is always at the core of whatever I’m doing and creating. My background is in software and visual arts so it’s a wide job description. I spent the first 25 years of my life living in nature in Australia though–– this nurtured an appreciation for our planet inside me and showed me how connected we really are to everything. 

Creative output is what pulls me out of bed in the morning. If I’m excited about something I’m working on, life is in flow. My mornings go as follows–– I get up, hydrate, and immediately play music. I’ll then stretch and do some box breathing to get my body and mind ready. I do physical exercise for 30 minutes, followed by more hydration and a stack of supplements. I then do a hot to cold shower, and put on Ritual Serum after. That’s followed by meditation. All of this before any wifi and then I’ll kill the day. I let myself be lazy on the weekends.

I feel most alive when I’m connecting with people, nature or myself. Right now I’m focusing on discipline. I’m naturally pretty lazy, so I have to constantly check-in and hold myself accountable. In five years, I want to be the most authentic version of myself possible. Everything else is secondary. 

Aside from naming specific artists or idols, the one person who has shaped me the most is my mother. Her unconditional love and guidance is at the core of every major decision I make and l'll hopefully pass that wisdom down for many more generations. Every memory for me has a vivid soundtrack. From my mom spinning records as a kid, to my own musical creative output— music is at the core of everything for me and is just as important as anything visual or technical.

My suitcase is the object that best defines me. Matte black, well travelled, and always ready to go. Favorite place I’ve traveled to is New York City. It’s now home, but it’s pushed my mind so far beyond its comfort zone. Comfort zone expansion equals growth. 

I hope that humans can begin to have a more open conversation, and that eventually technological advancements will influence personal growth, enlightenment and connection. Every human being is beautiful and surviving the best way they know how. Accept people inclusive of their faults. More importantly, accept yourself and your own faults.

The best advice I have is to tune yourself every day. Surround yourself with the right people. Don’t compromise your integrity. Express who you are spiritually and let go of trying to control everything. And cuddle a tree. It’s the simplest way to make yourself feel good. My mom taught me this trick. It’s the simplest, most grounding, and appreciation-inducing thing you can do.

Find Benji's work here; photography by Chloé Horseman.