Released at the very end of 2025, Otto Benson’s Peanut is already one of our most-played albums of the year.

I first came across Otto Benson back in 2023 at a showcase that Nina Protocol was putting on at Union Pool. It was a bit of a scene at the Brooklyn venue with plenty of artists, DJ’s, and industry heads around — many who were there specifically to catch Benson’s set. Opening for Ana Roxanne and DJ Python’s Natural Wonder Beauty Concept, Benson was listed on the bill as “Pudding Club” and performed “solo” supported by a pair of machines that he had engineered to play along with his heavily tremolo’d and phased-out guitar. Loosely in the realm of instrumental guitar music, the sounds were familiar, yet strangely disorienting in a satisfying, almost calming way.

Digging online, it was clear that a world of music existed here from the young New York native. Benson has been releasing music since 2015, and was once signed to Vegyn’s label Plz Make It Ruins. Many of his early songs as “Memo Boy” have populated heavily across TikTok and SoundCloud in various forms. Somewhere between bedroom indie rock, electronica, lo-fi, and IDM, the music has been described as the “soundtrack of troubled youth,” and sounds a lot like early Aphex Twin records. Since going by his given name in 2021, Benson has taken his music in a decidedly softer and acoustic direction, though introversion remain a key part of his sound.

In a recent interview with Eli Enis, Benson shared, “A lot of it is introversion and loneliness, as far as I’m concerned. We’re all on our phones too much. I made Songs Before Bed in response to this, because I was like, ‘we need to just, get off the phone, breathe, go to sleep, and then have a new day tomorrow.'”

Now based in Los Angeles, Benson has released his first vocally-driven album Peanut. Released physically via Palto Flats (who were responsible for those Midori Takada, Yasuaki Shimizu, and Woo reissues), the album is a beautiful collection of ear-worm melodies, delicate songwriting, and subtly otherworldly production. “Red and Neon” recounts a hazy night at the disco, likely inspired by New York’s vibrant club scene, while “Raisin” is the cutest song about a food item that I’ve heard in a while, and reminds me of Michael Franks’ songwriting (see “Eggplant” and “When the Cookie Jar is Empty”). Highly recommended for fans of Scott Gilmore, Jessica Pratt, and Suzanne Kraft, Peanut is a record you put on and just let take you away into Benson’s strangely comforting world.

Catch Otto Benson on tour with another In Sheep’s Clothing favorite Westerman in March and April! See dates here.