With his debut
Can I Go Again? (2023), American Benét showed that he enjoys playing with musical genres. Make 'em Laugh also showcases a playful collection of musical styles, including indie pop, R&B, funk, dreampop and alt-rock. He also seeks the tension between genuine connection and the desire to please. Benét uses charisma and humor to discuss difficult topics, such as his queerness and mental
… health issues. His music therefore had to be liberating without watering down those important themes. The songs are at times velvety smooth, but here and there abrasive. Self-rejection, longing for recognition and the fear of failure are recurring topics sung in sultry fashion. Actually, on Make 'em Laugh a lot is happening (both lyrically and production-wise) below the surface, which creates a nice field of tension and allows the listener to explore with Benét the emotions and struggles we all might experience as human beings. (JvQ)more
