You may have heard them, better yet you've seen them live. Vocalist and pianist Benza Maman and harpist Will Barrett make up the local duo group Noisywaters. With a unique musical style, incorporating classical instruments with pop and electronic foundations, the band is bringing fresh sounds to Bellingham.
According to Maman, the band has seen a rise in local popularity since the release of their debut album VERANO on Spotify this July.
“A wave started once we released that thing, more than anything people know us now around town,” Barrett said. “It feels like Noisywaters has a place in Bellingham now.”
This newfound sense of belonging could be due to the fact Noisywaters has now headlined a show at the Wild Buffalo, one of Bellingham’s most well-loved music venues. Or, most recently, being asked to play as the sole live music act at the large-scale event Paint B’ham Blue for WWU on Sept. 27.
Barrett said him and Maman have been excited since first being approached to play this show and, as they have found out more about the event, their excitement continues to grow.
Before VERANO’s release, the group had gained a following in the community from performances as Schweinhaus Biergarten’s resident Saturday night act throughout the summer.
“I love their atmosphere, just their stage setup alone is fantastic. It’s very different,” Tyler Mead, an audience member and Western Junior, said. “They’ve got a very specific vibe.”
