Benedict October, real name Martjin Smits, is an Amsterdam, Netherlands-based artist who has featured on this blog a few times now. We’ve recently been sharing some singles of his written in the wake of losing his father.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by Bibian Bingen

Insomnia was the first dedication we shared in October last year and that was followed by Lovestuck on which Martin mused on how his parents met. Lust For Life has a broader range of topics in play, including love, loss and finding happiness even in the depths of depression.

Musically, it’s suitably alive with rich textures and a sense of the timeless about it. Martin never fails to capture my attention with his unique compositions and his latest is no exception. As ever, his vocals are the stand out. They’re beautifully expressive as they croon poetic lyrics.

Lust For Life will feature on Benedict October’s upcoming second album And then the ocean. You can give the track a listen below.