Crimson Apple

4 sisters might sound like a band of witches but 4 sisters with a band called Crimson Apple is even witchy(er). The rock goddesses reside in LA and their debut album Hello caused a whirlwind of fandom from coast to coast. They completed a successful run on the High School Nation Tour this past fall, and are returning for an additional run later this month.


Today we premiere the rock solidified “Somebody”, that will make you feel like you own your skin.


The girls say about the song, “Somebody” is a song about the raw human emotion of longing to find your place in the world, even if it’s just for a moment. The song was co-written and produced with the esteemed Japanese producer, Satoru Hiraide, creating a unique blend of American-pop and Japanese rock-influenced sounds. The song was initially inspired by our dream to pursue music together, so the “Somebody” music video really captures the essence of our bond, both as sisters and as artists.” - LADYGUNN

LOS ANGELES, CA- When I heard Crimson Apple’s new single “Can’t Get Out Of Bed”, I found myself bobbing my head to the song’s catchy chorus. It was so catchy, I had to rewind the playlist and listen to it again. With its sleek production and hypnotic vocal arrangement, I thought to myself, “This is a veritable pop banger.”

I decided to see Crimson Apple perform at The Mint to gauge whether or not the live performance matched up to the studio recording. It did. And then some.

Crimson Apple is a quartet of four sisters: Colby Benson (lead vocals); Shelby Benson (guitar); Carthi Benson (bass); and Faith Benson (drums). Formed in 2012, and releasing their debut album Hello in 2015, they collectively decided to leave their home in Hawaii to pursue music in Los Angeles. Having signed a management and recording deal with the Japanese entertainment powerhouse Amuse Group USA, Inc. (ONE OK ROCK, BABYMETAL, Perfume), it would seem like moving to Los Angeles was definitely the right choice.

While I was only really familiar with “Can’t Get Out Of Bed”, I found myself completely entertained throughout the entirety of their set. All of the music they performed was executed expertly, and if you closed your eyes, you probably could have been fooled that you were actually listening to a studio recording. Colby’s vocal technique while she was dancing around on stage had me presupposing that she has definitely been honing her skills with professionals. Her breath support was impressive. Even more impressive than Colby’s voice was Faith bashing her drum kit. I only had a few years of orchestral drum lessons back in high school, but that girl knows how to work that kit. Plus, when she notices you pointing a camera at her, she mugs to the camera like a pro.

With fantastic charisma and solid music, these young ladies have some terrific potential. If their new music follows the “Can’t Get Out Of Bed” trajectory, I have a feeling that people will be waking their butts up to learn more about them and their music.

Follow Crimson Apple on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. - Blurred Culture

"Can’t Get Out Of Bed" is an upbeat song with a surprisingly dark message. The video is an explosion of bright colors, as the four members of Crimson Apple struggle to escape the confines of an elegant house. If it feels like they’re trapped in paradise, that’s the point.
Crimson Apple is made up of four sisters, Colby (lead vocals), Shelby (guitar), Faith (drums), and Carthi (bass), who all left the real-life paradise of Hawaii to find success in the music industry. In 2015, following the release their first album, Hello, the whole family moved to Los Angeles. But this was far from their first collaboration — the Benson sisters have been making music together since they were children. They first decided to collaborate in 2012; the two youngest sisters, Faith and Carthi, had only a few months to learn their instruments before the band's first live performance.


Welcome to The Drop, Refinery29's new home for exclusive music video premieres. We want to shine the spotlight on women artists whose music inspires, excites, and (literally) moves us. This is where we'll champion their voices.
"Can’t Get Out Of Bed" is an upbeat song with a surprisingly dark message. The video is an explosion of bright colors, as the four members of Crimson Apple struggle to escape the confines of an elegant house. If it feels like they’re trapped in paradise, that’s the point.
Crimson Apple is made up of four sisters, Colby (lead vocals), Shelby (guitar), Faith (drums), and Carthi (bass), who all left the real-life paradise of Hawaii to find success in the music industry. In 2015, following the release their first album, Hello, the whole family moved to Los Angeles. But this was far from their first collaboration — the Benson sisters have been making music together since they were children. They first decided to collaborate in 2012; the two youngest sisters, Faith and Carthi, had only a few months to learn their instruments before the band's first live performance.

As the sisters grew up, so did their musical style. "Can’t Get Out of Bed" is darker and more haunting than Hello. The girls cite Panic! at The Disco and Paramore as major influences, though they draw inspiration from everything from J-Pop to alternative rock.
Now, Crimson Apple is on their High School Nation Tour, and working on a new EP for next year. The four sisters are seemingly inseparable, and their vision for the band is strikingly clear. Below, the four tell Refinery29 about the making of their first music video, their move to Los Angeles, and how the band has affected their family.
But first, check out the exclusive video premiere of "Can't Get Out Of Bed."

Refinery29: What was the concept for this video? What was it like doing your first music video?
Colby Benson: "We came up with this image with all four of us in red, and we really liked that contrast. That concept was a metaphor for our family and blood. The room was a metaphor for paradise."
Shelby Benson: "We never released a music video with that first album because we really wanted our first video to be something impactful. At that time we were really DIY and we didn’t want to release an image that we weren’t happy with. Working on the video for this new song, we knew we were gonna come out with such a great product. It all happened in a blur. We filmed the whole thing in a day, but it was one of the most amazing experiences we’ve ever had."

Why did you decide to move to LA? What was that transition like?
Shelby: "We come from Hawaii and there is a music scene there, but it’s very small. We got to the point where we felt we had done everything that we could do there. We knew that we had to move to a bigger city to really make it in music. All of the sudden, in just a few months we were in Los Angeles. There was one point where we were driving home together as a family, a week or two after we moved, and my mom started laughing out of nowhere. She was like, “I can’t believe we just up and moved to Los Angeles.” We were all laughing, because it was funny but it was so crazy. It was that step that felt like it was meant to be."

Early in the video you have that shot of apples on the bed which felt like a reference to the band's name. Where did that name come from?
Colby: "So our name actually stems from a lyric in one of the songs we used to cover. The lyric is “Who shot that arrow in your throat, who missed that crimson apple?” and it’s from a song called "Wine Red" by The Hush Sound. It was our favorite song to play at the time."

Your concert aesthetic was described as “going into battle,” where did that come from?
Shelby: "Music has always been this exciting adventure. When we go onstage we feel like this is our purpose in life. So when we go up there every day, [that is] the way we want to present ourselves. We are going into battle, and we’re going out there and living out our dream."

What is the dynamic of the band? How is it working with your sisters?
Shelby: "It’s interesting because we’re all super different. It feels like we’re complimenting each other. Colby is the strong leader frontwoman, and Faith is the bubbly happy fun type, and Carthi is the mysterious shy type. I guess I’m the passionate one. We just mesh well together. It makes it easy working together [because] we’re all going through the same things at the same time. One person will say one thing and the next one will finish their sentence. We’re lucky that we’re sisters because we have that instinct."

"Can’t Get Out Of Bed" is a very emotional song. Do you feel working on songs like that has brought you closer together?
Colby: "Definitely. The song is based on my personal experience with depression and that was something I never really talked to my family about before. I had a hard time expressing it. So this song was my way of explaining it to them. I feel like it definitely brought us closer together. When we were going to write the song it was like, “Yeah I feel that too.”"

R29: So right now, you’re on the High School Nation Tour. What’s next for you?
Colby: "We’re finishing up the tour, we’ll be done in November. We’re working on a lot of music, we’re writing, trying to get things together and come up with our new sound. We’re really excited about releasing this new EP."

This interview has been condensed for style and clarity. - Refinery29

Crimson Apple is a Hawaiian-bred, Los Angeles-based pop group composed four sisters; Colby Benson as the lead vocalist, Shelby Benson on the guitar, Carthi Benson on the bass, and Faith Benson playing the drums. In 2015, the sisters took the leap across the pond from Hawaii to LA to pursue their dream of music. The girls have been hard at work releasing new music and touring. Crimson Apple’s latest track “Somebody” is full of beautiful soaring vocals, drums, and a production that fuses together pop and electronic elements.

I had the chance to chat with the band about their new music, what it’s like being in a family band, and what we can expect from them this year.

To people unfamiliar with you and your music, how would you describe Crimson Apple to them?

Crimson Apple: Crimson Apple is a pop-alt band of four sisters from Hawaii, now based in Los Angeles. We would describe our sound as a cinematic, dark-pop.

Where do you draw inspiration for your music? Who are some of your musical influences?

We draw inspiration from a wide variety of genres. Some of our favorite artists include Twenty One Pilots, Halsey, Taylor Swift, Imagine Dragons, and The Neighborhood. We’re also really inspired by Japanese Rock and K-Pop music. We tend to write about issues or emotions that are important to the band.

Last year you released your track ‘Can’t Get Out Of Bed’ and it’s definitely a banger. Can you tell us more about this song and the inspiration behind it?

Can’t Get Out of Bed was inspired by our lead vocalist’s experience with depression. The song is about struggling with depression and having a hard time explaining it to the important people in your life.

How do you approach creating music? Is it the same process each time or does it vary depending on the situation?

It definitely varies depending on the situation. Sometimes the band will start jamming something together in rehearsal, but other times an individual member will have an idea and bring it to the group to finish. Often times, we start with either catchy melodies or musical hooks or lyrical ideas.

What is the best part and worst part of being a family band?

The best part would be that it’s brought us so much closer together as sisters and as best friends. There’s also a certain chemistry that comes along with being siblings that allows us to create music very openly with each other. Not sure if there’s really a “worst” part of being in a family band, but we do have the occasional sibling squabble. We’re family though, so we always resolve things pretty quickly.

Mental health is something that is really important to us at Femme Riot and we love hearing about how others maintain balance in their lives. As busy musicians, what practices do you implement to ensure your health and well-being are taken care of?

Finding balance is definitely really important and something that we’re trying to focus on more recently. As a family band, it’s definitely hard to find that balance sometimes because it often feels like we live in our work. Over time, we’re learning how to separate work time from our home life. Also, we find that physical health contributes to mental health, so we make sure we’re staying physically active and taking care of ourselves.

Have you faced any challenges being women in the music industry? If so how did you overcome the adversity and do you have any tips for other women going through similar issues?

Being an all-female band in the music industry, we have definitely had our struggles. A lot of people have a certain perception of what a female band is and have placed us in a box before listening to us. We’ve always felt like we have to strive to work twice as hard as other bands to be taken seriously. We feel like we’ve overcome this adversity by continuing to work hard and not let any negativity stop us from our dreams. For other women, we would say to keep at it, stay true to yourself and don’t listen to the noise.

What are your plans for the rest of the year?

We will be releasing a brand new single and EP this year that we’re super excited about! We’re also going to be rejoining the High School Nation Tour this spring.

What songs are currently listening to?

We’re constantly listening to music, but to name a few: We’ve recently been jamming out to Sucker by the Jonas Brothers, the entire Trench album by Twenty One Pilots, and anything My Chemical Romance (since The Umbrella Academy just came out on Netflix).

Anything we haven’t asked that you want to add?

Thanks so much for interviewing us! We’d also like to thank everyone who took the time to read this interview, and if you’d like to know any more about us, please find us on our social media! - FEMME RIOT

Born and raised in Hawaii, the Benson sisters, Colby (lead vocals), Shelby (guitar), Carthi (bass), and Faith (Drums), have been working to make their dreams happen since they were just kids. After independently releasing their debut album Hello in 2015, Crimson Apple made the move from the islands to Los Angeles where they are now working with AMUSE Group (Perfume, BABYMETAL) to turn those dreams into reality. Drawing from influences as wide ranging as Ariana Grande, j-pop, and dark-indie bands like The Neighbourhood, Crimson Apple have no intention of being anything less than unpredictable. Their latest single “Can’t Get Out Of Bed,” just dropped last month with an accompanying music video that is both visually captivating and personally meaningful to the band.

Just finishing up their run on the High School Nation Tour, Crimson Apple are back in the studio preparing new material to release in the new year. We got to catch up with the sisters on what they are working on now. Check out our full interview below.

TYF: Thanks for taking the time to speak with me today! You guys are just coming off of the High School Nation Tour, how was that? What are you up to now?

Shelby: Tour was amazing! We got to play at different places everyday. The crew set up this festival style set up and we got to let the kids experience what a live concert was like. It was incredible, some of the students would come up and say “this was my first concert, this was so amazing!” It was really cool that we were able to bring that to the students and it was just a really positive experience. We’re really glad we were a part of it and maybe we’ll be part of it again.

We have a home studio where we’re working on our new music for our EP that’s going to be released in March. Right now we’re doing a lot of writing, a lot of demo work, and trying to figure out what music we really want to represent us on this new EP.

TYF: The video for “Can’t Get Out Of Bed” was your first music video and it’s stunning, how did you know that this was the song you wanted to make your first video for?

Shelby: When we were writing the song we just kind of felt a really strong connection to it from the beginning. The message of the song really spoke to us and the more we were writing the song the better feeling we were having about it. As we were writing the song, these images of what the music video was going to look like was already kind of popping into our heads just as we were writing the lyrics and arranging the music. When it came time to decide what single we were going to release and what music video, we instantly said “Can’t Get Out Of Bed.”

TYF: I read that “Can’t Get Out Of Bed” is about Colby’s personal experience with depression, can you tell me about what it was like putting such a personal subject on paper and then bringing that to your sisters as a song that you will all be a part of?

Colby: It was definitely very difficult because I had never really talked about it. I think my family might have suspected I was going through something but I had never been able to actually verbalize it to them. The moment I started thinking about “Can’t Get Out Of Bed” and the lyrics for it, it was a moment where I was so frustrated with not being able to speak about it that I just sat down and thought “this is the only way I can do it.” So I wrote some of the lyrics of the song and brought it to my sisters and said “hey, this is kind of what I’m going through.” I was kind of nervous but they loved the concept and the idea and were like “we’ll help you write this.” It was really comforting that they accepted it and they understood it. It was great that I had the support to actually talk about it.

TYF: As sisters as well as a band, is it weird to let other people in to your creative process after working as a group for so long?

Shelby: It’s definitely been an adjustment. Every producer works differently and for, I would say, 5 years we were working only between ourselves as sisters so we’re always on the same page and it was really easy so then working with different producers you’re learning a whole new person and I think getting over that hurdle of figuring out how it is to work with another person was a little bit difficult but as we started working with these people we were getting really excited about the music because they had this production aspect that we’ve always wanted. We’ve been paired with a lot of really amazing producers and we’ve had such a good time. Just being able to hear another person’s perspective on the music and just get their professional expertise into the songs was really amazing for us and we’re actually seeing our music being transformed into what we always wanted it to sound like.

TYF: “Can’t Get Out Of Bed” is more electronic sounding than your previous album, is this a hint to what your next studio project will sound like?

Shelby: “Can’t Get Out Of Bed” is probably as electronic as our music is going to go. It’s probably our most “pop” song. The rest of the album is a variation between that and more of the rock side so we have a wide variety of music on the EP, but it definitely all falls in the same vein and follows the same theme. There is definitely a unified sound, despite the different elements that we’ve been putting into each song.

TYF: Does the new EP follow a theme lyrically?

Colby: The Concept of the EP is really surrounding the idea of us moving from Hawaii to California. How we left our paradise to pursue our great dream and along the way we’ve had struggles, we’ve had heartbreak, we’ve met amazing people, we’ve met people who have betrayed us. All of our lyrics are about what we went through and trying to find our place in the music business and kind of in the world.

TYF: Naturally, as artists your influences and tastes are going to change as you grow up. How do you think your inspirations for songwriting both lyrically and sonically have shifted since your last album, Hello?

Shelby: When we released Hello, we always viewed that music as our growth period from when we first started as musicians to when we released that album. It represents us learning how to be a band and how to write music. Since then we’ve moved to California, we’ve been working a lot on our music. We’ve been changing a lot musically, our last album was very rock and we’re into more of indie-rock, like Paramore and those types of bands. But now that we’ve moved to California we’ve had new experiences and we’ve grown up, we’re all just inputting our different influences. Faith is really into K-Pop and really pop music like Ariana Grande, Carthi really likes Japanese rock and dark indie like The Neighbourhood, and Colby’s just into like everything. I still have that rock side to me so I think that now that we’ve grown up we’ve matured and we all listen to a lot of different music, we all bring that to each other. That’s really been an influence in our music.

TYF: What has the learning curve been like moving from Hawaii to Los Angeles?

Shelby: When we found out we were moving, it was pretty sudden. Within a couple of weeks we pretty much packed up and ended up in California. Since then, it’s just kind of been a whirlwind. California is way more fast paced than Hawaii, there’s much more to do here, so many more opportunities. When we first got here it was kind of like starting over. We didn’t know where to play, we didn’t know anyone so we would go online, find open mics, and we would literally just play anywhere and everywhere we could and eventually that led to us being able to book venues and eventually that led to being able to play at Disney and getting signed and the whole experience has just been a learning curve. It’s definitely forced us to mature a lot and we have had a lot of struggles along the way but it’s been really good for us. In Hawaii we were very protected and very sheltered and so being able to come to California and experience life more, we’ve definitely grown up.

TYF: What was the transition into having a working relationship with your sisters like?

Shelby: The whole formation of Crimson Apple just happened, it was really a natural progression. Colby and I were in a different band that we were with for like a year and a half and while we were doing that Faith and both got really interested in their respective instruments. Mine and Colby’s previous band had members that weren’t as committed and had other priorities and there came a point where we realized, “hey, we all make up a band, why don’t we just do this together. This sounds like an amazing idea.” And it really just transitioned straight into that. Looking back it seems kind of crazy that we all paired ourselves together and just started playing music but it felt really natural and as soon as we started we just knew that this was what we were meant to do so it wasn’t a hard transition. It actually brought us way closer together so, even though we’re working together and we have to have that business side— it really made our relationship that much better.

TYF: What is something you want to accomplish before the end of 2018?

Shelby: Right now we’re finishing up the EP and finishing up the writing so I guess our goal would be to keep writing the best songs that we can and to always stay true to ourselves and hopefully people will relate to that.

TYF: What were some of your favorite releases of the year?

Shelby: Mine has to be Trench by Twenty One Pilots, that album is amazing.

Carthi: Hard To Imagine by The Neighbourhood, that’s also a really good album.

Faith: Let’s all just talk about “Thank U, Next” please?

Colby: So good, I think those are all of our favorites probably…and Sweetener, we’re loving Ariana Grande right now!

TYF: What do you guys have in mind after the EP drops? Are you planning on going on tour?

Colby: The definite plan would be to go on tour, we’re probably going to do an EP release type of event. We’re not sure of the details right now but we’re talking about it and we’re really excited about what we’re coming up with. We’re just going to go out and promote and hopefully tour all of America this time around, that would be amazing.

TYF: Do you have anything that you would like readers to know before we wrap up?

Shelby: Thanks for reading and welcome to Crimson Apple! - The Young Folks

f you read the about page on pop-alt band Crimson Apple’s website, they focus on the dreamers in them and how their dreams churn out motivation. More than that, it’s also about authenticity and remaining true to yourself even when someone/something tries to take that away from you.

Made up of Colby (lead vocals, keys, and key-tar), Shelby (lead guitar and vocals), Carthi (bass and vocals), and Faith (drums) Benson, the group has seen the forbidden fruit and refuse to take that bite–instead they’re looking to offer an alternative.

Named after “Wine Red” by The Hush Sound (one of the first songs they used to cover when starting out), calling themselves Crimson Apple is not only a way to establish their sisterhood and familial commitment but also their power and strength, “It’s always been our goal to create music that is cinematic and powerful, and we needed a color to match that.”

“When we started Crimson Apple, it was important for us to have a unified image as a group, as well as a clean and powerful look.” They note the colors of black, white, and red to be their key colors and how it stems from their band’s name. “Since moving to California and being surrounded by so much fashion, our style has really elevated over the last couple of years. Each of us has always had different interests and styles growing up, so it’s really natural for us to choose our own personal take of each look we wear.”

Being a group of four sisters, they were born and raised in Hawaii where they first found their love for music. “There are definitely differences between the two music scenes. In Hawaii, the scene is a little more family oriented. It was a very nurturing environment and the perfect place for us to hone our craft,” they explain. California, on the other hand, offers a more competitive environment–a challenge that they enjoy taking on.

“We love both environments as they’ve both helped shape us as musicians. Our sound has definitely changed a lot since moving to LA,” Crimson Apple reflects. “We’ve been exposed to a wider variety of music here than ever before and that has definitely inspired the music we write today.”

Starting out, Colby and Shelby took the reigns with additional members before Faith and Carthi joined. “When Faith and Carthi joined the band, everything just clicked immediately. Even though the two just picked up their instruments when we started the band, we had such a great chemistry together and everything definitely felt so natural,” they talk about turning the band into a family affair.

“Being in a band has definitely brought us a lot closer as sisters. We connect on a really deep level because not only do we get to work and create together, we are always going through the same struggles at the same time,” they reflect on how being a band and being sisters have taught them about each other. “It’s been a blessing being able to lean on each other throughout our careers.”

It’s a blessing being able to lean on each other throughout our careers.
The band’s latest single is titled “Can’t Get Out of Bed.” With upbeat instrumentals and harmonies that compel you to dance, the girls sing about the opposite. “The song is inspired by our lead singers struggles with depression and how it was hard for her to tell the people in her life about it,” they explain. “We always wanted the song to be something people can relate to and find solace in.”

They mention that from the beginning, the song would have a clear contrast between what it was saying and how it sounded, “This in itself was meant to be a metaphor for how even though someone seems happy and simple on the outside, there could be a darker struggle that resides within them that people can’t see.”

“When writing ‘Can’t Get Out of Bed,’ we started to envision us in red in the middle of a beautiful white room. Building off of this image, we created a world within the music video that represents both the meaning of the song and our concept as a band,” they continue when we discuss the accompanying music video.

In it, we see lead vocalist Colby singing about struggling not only to get out of bed but also breaking out as her sisters stand by and support her in various ways. “Throughout the story of the music video, you see us in this beautiful room, but we’re still trying to escape,” they further explain. “In the first metaphor, the house represents the mind and depression as a ‘cage’ we’re trying to escape from. “And at the same time, we wanted to express that as beautiful as it may seem on the outside, you never know what someone’s going through on the inside.”

The symbolism in the video doesn’t end there. the overall setting being a white house also represents paradise which brings them back to their roots. “It parallels the story of us growing up in the paradise of Hawaii, but aspiring for more and leaving our home behind,” the band shares.

“In general, our fashion choices within the video reflect emotions we wanted to portray.” Maybe it’s expected that the girls would wear red given their name. The group explains that the meaning of the color in the video does have some parallel to what it means to them collectively as a band.

One parallel is the use of red representing their family, or ‘blood,’ ties to each other as sisters including the strength of their commitment to each other. “…the street fashion look represents our rebellious side or the side that wanted to escape, and the full band look represents our destiny and future,” they explain the meaning behind the style.

“One thing that we’re constantly realizing every time we sit down to write is how similarly we view the world and our experiences, although the four of us have quite different personalities.” In terms of writing together, this is what surprises them the most. “It’s helped us to bond and connect on a deeper level than we think normal siblings experience. There are literally no boundaries between us.”

And at the same time, we wanted to express that as beautiful as it may seem on the outisde, you never know what someone’s going through on the inside.
In terms of their upcoming music, Crimson Apple shares excitement for their upcoming EP releasing early this year. Giving hints for what we can expect, they let me know that the project manages to be a collection of songs they’re very proud of and also an anxious departure from the last body of work. “We’d say the EP will include a range of songs that fall on different spectrums between both our pop and rock influences,” the band adds that the project is also a lot more produced than previous work and they’re excited to share their more elevated sound.

“As a band, we tend to take our music very seriously, which can sometimes add a lot of pressure on us,” the four start about a concept they want to explore in the future. “The band constantly talks about doing a project, where anything and everything goes, no matter how weird it may seem. We always think this concept would be an interesting experiment for the band that would allow us to create without the pressures and expectations we put on ourselves.”

A couple of months ago, the band participated in the High School Nation tour–a project dedicated to helping public schools advance the arts and other recreational activities. “The High School Nation tour was absolutely incredible! It’s such a unique experience getting to go into these high schools across the nation to put on a music festival for the students,” they point out the excitement that came with seeing students engaging with and enjoying their music, being inspired by the event, and getting to know the other artists.

“We definitely made a lot of memories and friendships on the tour that we’ll always hold dear to us. All of the artists and crew on tour were incredibly hardworking and kind, which made HSN such a positive experience for the band,” the girls reminisce.

We really want to be a positive force in the world.
Unfortunately, the girls share that this accepting and affirming experience isn’t always what they’re met with despite proving both their talent and work ethic. “…When people find out we’re an all-girl band, they don’t have very high expectations of us,” they admit. “This has been a constant struggle throughout our careers, but ultimately has made us work even harder to prove ourselves.”

But, they do show their optimism as well, “We see a lot of incredible all-female bands working the scene right now, and we hope together we can change this perception people have about female musicians.”

“Our influences include Paramore, Imagine Dragons, Twenty-One Pilots, Halsey, and Taylor Swift just to name a few. Growing up listening to these artists and seeing them in action, really inspired us to reach for our dreams.” The four continue on their reflection, “We are so grateful for their music and the impact they’ve had on our lives. Honestly, as a band, we hope that we can do the same for the generation of musicians that come after us.”

Finally, the girls close out with the definitive statement that was already evident in their music and the way they carry themselves, but still is exciting to hear: “We really want to be a positive force in the world.”

~~~

Crimson Apple’s Mini-Playlist for Readers [Listen Here]:

Compass by the Neighbourhood
Nico and the Niners by Twenty One Pilots
Roman Holiday by Halsey
Did Something Bad by Taylor Swift
I Don’t Know Why by Imagine Dragons
Cool by Troye Sivan
Half Love by Elohim
Whistle by Blackpink - TEENPLICITY

Comprised of sisters Colby, Shelby, Carthi, and Faith Benson, and family friend Rachel Look, the all-female rock outfit Crimson Apple has consistently showcased a brand of melody-driven pop rock island-wide since the group’s inception in 2012. Along with a significant subscriber base on YouTube, these Mililani girls have played countless venues and continue to generate buzz both on and off the web.

While it’s been common in the past for all-girl groups to feel like they’ve got something to prove (particularly in rock ‘n’ roll), Crimson Apple falls far from such a tree (though, as winners of the Star 101.9 Battle of the Bands back in October of 2014, the proof is in the pie, as it were).

“As a band, we look forward to competitions because we see it as an opportunity to push ourselves and meet new musicians as passionate about music as we are. When we compete, our goal is to come out of the competition a better band than we were before, whether or not we win or lose. We were so humbled and happy to have won the Star 101.9 Battle of the Bands and so grateful for all that we learned from the experience,” says rhythm guitarist and band manager Shelby Benson.

“We weren’t planning on putting together an all-girl band; it just so happened to work out that way,” she says. “Sometimes it’s difficult because people don’t always take us seriously. On the other hand, we do find a lot of people who are excited about the fact that we are an all-girl band. Luckily for us, we have found a very supportive scene for our style of music. It’s been amazing meeting and working with so many other wonderful musicians and people in the local music scene.”

Overflowing with one-hit-wonders, slumping sophomores, and pitfalls as common as pitch-fails, the music biz is tough. With such competition at every turn, what is a young band to do? Crimson Apple has found a way to not only beat the competition, but turn that competitive spirit into camaraderie. And when you’ve got four sisters and a family friend on the roster, it’s easy to see just how they do it.

“Being in a family band is very different from being in a band with friends,” says Benson. “For us, the band has been a great way to connect and become closer together as sisters. As siblings, collaboration is very easy because we almost always know what we’re each thinking. We also get a lot of extra practice time because we live in the same house.”

That creative energy sometimes erupts in spurts of creativity, as with their new song, “One Time,” which is one of our favorites by the band.

“I came up with a couple verses to “One Time” about a year ago, but never got around to finishing it,” says Benson. “When we made it to the final round of the Star 101.9 Battle of the Bands, we decided that we wanted to bring in some of our new music to compete with, and this song was last on the list because it was the least finished. One night, a week before the final, we randomly jammed it, and were so excited that we finished writing the song in an hour. So far, people seem to be as excited about the song as we are. It’s awesome seeing people in the audience singing along to it already.”

When they’re not busy putting the finishing touches on their debut full-length album and opening for acts like Will Champlain (The Voice) at Doris Duke Theatre on January 31, the girls like to relax and enjoy Hawaii. At its core, Crimson Apple is a group of girls that want to have fun while pursuing their passion for music. By the look of things, they’re well on their way. - Evan Morgan (INh Mag)

CRIMSON APPLE
"HELLO"

Not long ago I stumbled across one of the most beautiful voices I've heard in quite some time. Naturally when you hear something incredible, you seek it out, and at the end of my search I found a group of five remarkably talented young ladies. Four of these girls are sisters and the other, a friend that is so close, she's considered family.

Together these girls make up "Crimson Apple". Their new album, entitled "Hello", was released on September 18, 2015. This is one of their favorite songs and their introduction as a band to the world. After watching them perform live at their CD Release Party, I am certain that the band's Pop Alternative sound will become an unstoppable entity in the mainstream music industry.

Though you'd never know it by the way these girls are so in sync with one another, their band is only three years old. Colby Benson and Rachel Look met at Brown Bags to Stardom, a Hawai'i Talent Competition, when they were in high school. At the age of 15, Colby Benson auditioned for American Idol, but was cut during Hollywood week because she was too shy. They suggested that she put a band together and perform in front of live audiences in order to gain experience as a musician, and that's exactly what she did!

She started the Colby Benson Band with Rachel Look (lead guitar), her older sister Shelby Benson (guitar), and her father, David Benson on the drums. After a few years of performing with that group, Colby's two younger sisters joined the band. Carthi Benson became their bass player, and Faith Benson transitioned into the band as the new drummer. Thus Crimson Apple was born.

"Regardless of the obstacles we face, we work very hard and we persevere. We want to encourage other musicians to do the same. You can do it, just keep moving forward!"
~ Crimson Apple

GET TO KNOW THE CRIMSON APPLE BEAUTIES

Say "Hello" to Shelby, 23 year old, big sister, guitarist, back-up vocals, and Manager of Crimson Apple. She loves ramen and all things Japanese! Her favorite ice cream is mint chocolate chip & if she could be a superhero she'd be Iron Man because of his funny, yet sarcastic personality. "I'm definitely the sarcastic one in the group, so Iron Man would suit me well," Shelby said laughing.

This doe-eyed beauty is the band's talented vocalist and pianist, Colby Benson, 21. Don't let her quiet demeanor fool you, her voice and vocal range make her a force to be reckoned with on-stage! "If we have to choose one word to describe Colby, it'd be un-huggable," they joked. Their mischievous undertones and hushed giggles gave the impression that there is a funny story behind that description, but that's their little secret. Who wants ice cream when you can have fries? That's right, Colby would take fries over ice cream, and plain popcorn over a main course any day. Her superhero choice is Captain America, simply because, "he is AWESOME!"

"If I could be a superhero, I'd be Night Crawler because I'm always late for things, so it'd be great to be on-time for a change!" This funny blue haired bombshell on lead guitar who also plays the flute and sings back-up vocals with Crimson Apple is 21 year old, Rachel Look. Rachel's favorite ice cream flavor is Cookies 'n' Cream and her favorite fruit is a Mango! Her down-to-earth persona and relaxed behavior is why Rachel is known as "the cool one" in the band.

There is always that one person who tends to linger in the background, and in this group, that person is none-other than the 17 year old bass player, Carthi Benson. Carthi's love of rock has greatly influenced the band's over all sound, and has also earned her the title, "the dark one" amongst the group. Besides her hot pink hair; Carthi also loves hot pancakes, then likes to cool it down with some rocky road ice cream.

15 year old Faith Benson, a.k.a. Spunky, is known as the "organized" one in the band. Faith's bubbly personality and unbelievable skills on the drums make her a double threat. Faith lo-o-o-ves chocolate ice cream. Rather than choose a favorite meal, she chose her favorite side dish, rice, because, as she says, "It goes with all of my favorite foods!" "If I were a superhero I'd be Batman because Carthi loves Batman and she also loves me!" says Faith.

"HELLO" WE ARE CRIMSON APPLE!

"MUSIC HAS DEFINITELY BEEN A WAY FOR US TO EXPRESS OURSELVES. SURPRISINGLY, THE MAJORITY OF THE BAND IS ACTUALLY PRETTY SHY, SO IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST WAYS WE CAN COMMUNICATE."
~COLBY BENSON

Despite their superstar potential, I found the girls of Crimson Apple to be very humble. They invest a lot of their time into honing their craft and perfection their skills. "We practice everyday except Wednesdays. That's our chance to relax and hang out with friends."

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE AS A BAND? AND HOW HAVE YOU OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES?

"Up until now, our biggest challenge has really been transitioning from performing other artist's songs to playing our original music. Since we started as a cover band, we had to be careful about how we introduced our music, while also gauging the audience's reaction to our songs. We were really afraid that people wouldn't like our sound, but we were fortunate to find a community of people in the music industry who support original music, like the Hard Rock Cafe, Anna O'Brien's, Hawaiian Brian's and the Republik."

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HOPE TO START OR JOIN A BAND IN THE FUTURE?

"One of the biggest things that helped us, especially Faith [drums] and Carthi [bass], was practicing with the metronome so we could learn proper timing. Doing this really helped us to play in sync with each other and to tighten up our sound. You should definitely practice this way on your own, and as a group. Individual practices are just as important as band practices because you can bring more to the table. When we're playing together as a band, we use all the skills training we've learned individually to contribute to the band's overall sound."

IF YOU COULD OPEN UP FOR ANY BAND WHO WOULD IT BE?

"ONE OK ROCK!!! Opening up for them is our biggest goal in life right now."
There was nothing but shy giggles and extreme excitement when they shouted this answer in unison. This Japanese Rock Band is Crimson Apple's major influence right now.

IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO SAY TO YOUR FANS?

"Thank you all so much for your support. It means the world to us that there are people out there who want to listen to our music!"

CRIMSON APPLE WANTS TO GIVE A SPECIAL THANKS…

"We just want to say a very special thank you to Brandon Apeles who has been helping us out. You play such a big role in our musical endeavors! Thank you Barry Flanagan of Hapa, [a local band from Hawai'i], for all of your support. Thank you Steve Jones for helping us to produce our album and for all the bass lessons!
And last, but certainly not least, we are SO GRATEFUL to our AMAZING parents. We honestly don't know where we'd be without them. A lot of parents out there don't see music as a career, but ours are so supportive!

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT AND FOLLOW CRIMSON APPLE ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA SITES!!!

Website: www.crimsonappleband.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CrimsonAppleBand
Instagram: www.instagram.com/crimsonapple
Twitter: www.twitter.com/crimsonapplexo
Youtube: www.youtube.com/CrimsonAppleBand - FAME Magazine (Author: Rachel Thorpe)

They say that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. But what about several apples falling from the same tree? Often, siblings couldn’t be more different from each other, with disparate interests and strengths.

When it comes to Mililani’s Benson family, the family interest is unanimously music. Sisters Colby (lead vocals/keys/guitar), Shelby (rhythm guitar, lead guitar, vocals), Faith (drums) and Carthi (bass/vocals) Benson, and official “sister” Rachel Look (lead guitar/vocals/flute) took this interest and created an all-girl alternative rock band called Crimson Apple.

I stopped by the Benson house last week to interview the girls and jam with them for an upcoming show where they will be backing me up for a couple of songs.

I was greeted with warm smiles from the crew of rocker girls and a big hug from drummer Faith, who is adorable.

Sitting on their living room floor with the girls gathered around, I got to know them a little better. Colby has always had a strong vocal interest, and has auditioned for “American Idol.” The judges liked her voice, but said she needed to overcome her shyness and get out there and perform. They suggested that she form a band.

She took their advice to heart, and over time as her siblings developed an interest in music, the family band was born.

Certainly, the band has been getting out there, performing and getting in front of audiences; last year they placed second in Star 101.9’s Battle of the Bands, and this year they took the title.

It seems like Colby is a go-getter, a Type A girl who has no problem putting herself out there to meet people and reach goals. That’s my kinda girl – I like someone who hustles, especially in the arts. Aside from the Battle of the Bands title and “American Idol” audition, Colby also won the Grammy Foundation’s And Musicares’ Teens Make Music contest, which afforded her the opportunity to attend the Grammys backstage.

As we chatted, the girls told me about their upcoming album. Their first full-length release, the project initially started out as an EP, but the material kept flowing and they ended up recording a full album.

So what’s the name of the Crimson Apple debut album? “Hello.” Fitting for a band just making their first mark.

After the interview, the Benson girls and I took to the their jam room, a soundproof room off their living room. Set up for full-time practice, the jam space positions the band as though they were onstage, facing the audience. After some of the neighbors had enough rock ‘n’ roll, the Benson girls switched the set up to electronic drums to damper the sound and practice with the volume on low.

I can relate to this – somehow we convinced my parents when I was in high school to have our band’s rehearsals in the Smith house living room, which led to our drummer Mike having his drum kit set up in the middle of our house all the time. I have no idea why my parents said yes to that to this day. But all artsy kids can attest to the immense value of supportive family for your oddball lifestyle.

We quickly figured out that I didn’t need a microphone in their jam room, and we worked out the details of a cover version of Kings of Leon’s “Closer.” This song is one of the two we will be playing together at Crossroads at Anna O’Brien’s on Feb. 7 for music manager and friend Bran Apeles’ birthday.

As we started to take our first run-through of the song, I was impressed with the level of details from the girls’ performance. They had the song down, from the keyboard part to the flipped drumbeat and the slow howl of the guitar. It’s a haunting song, and the tone is like a tumbleweed rolling down a dusty road, right by a man on his knees, lost in dark pained thought and anticipating the worst. This type of feel tends to be understood more readily by people far older than this group of girls, but they got to the root of the song. Lead guitarist Shelby pulled her guitar up to her mouth to howl into the strings, a quirky yet cool technique that re-created the guitar howl of the original song nicely.

Next up for Crimson Apple is a performance at the Doris Duke Theater on Saturday as the opening act for singer Will Champlin from television show “The Voice.” Champlin is also the son of former Chicago member Bill Champlin — another family populated with artists.

After we rehearsed and I met Mr. Benson, the girls asked me to stay for dinner and have lasagna. I couldn’t stay as I had to get home to dinner with my boyfriend. But the familial warmth is something they clearly know how to impart and share. - Erin Smith (Honolulu Pulse)

Rock music has been enriched through the years by all-girl groups that played their own instruments as well as singing — the Runaways, the Go-Gos and the Bangles, to name three.

Can guitar band rockers Crimson Apple follow in their footsteps to stardom on the national pop charts?

The quintet — Rachel Look, Carthi Benson, Colby Benson, Faith Benson and Shelby Benson — is off to a very promising start with their aptly titled debut album. All 12 songs are originals. There’s a lot of talent here.

Pop rock guitar riffs, Colby Benson’s plaintive, ear-catching work on lead vocals, and tight-knit arrangements, make Crimson Apple commercial in the best sense of the word. From the opening notes of “Tell Me That You’re Leaving” — a witty lyric tale of a unfaithful man being called out by a woman who sees through his games — these women rock through a kaleidoscope of emotions.

There’s new love (“Hello”), bad love (“One Mistake”), good love (“Close To Something”) and emotional experiences of other types. Several songs evoke a sense of deja vu, that feeling that we’ve heard something like this before, but none of them set off the album bells that jangle when intellectual property laws are being violated.

The quintet slips into a mellower mode with a song titled “Liar Liar.” The softer arrangement is a good showcase for their harmonies. The group’s vocal capabilities also come to the fore on “One Time,” a poignant power ballad where the voices eventually soar to stratospheric heights. - JOHN BERGER (Honolulu Pulse/Star Advertiser)