Benji Stiles
Benji Stiles is in his senior year as a commercial music major at Anderson University. His primary instrument focus is electric and upright bass, and he also performs on drumset and orchestral percussion in multiple Anderson University ensembles. Benji works with sound engineering and audio technology as well and was employed as a Studio Technician at Anderson University from 2022-2024. His responsibilities as a studio tech included mixing projects and livestream audio, running recording sessions, and tutoring students taking the Intro to Studio Technology course. He’s the technical co-director for AUthenticity, the premiere scholarship band at Anderson University, as well as the student musical director for The Audacity, another AU commercial music ensemble. Additionally, Benji co-hosted a radio show at the local radio station in Clemson, South Carolina for a few years. In the annual City of Anderson Soiree festival, he has performed on drums, electric bass, and worked as a live sound engineer for multiple performances. Benji also has been a member of the audition-only Anderson Symphony Orchestra for several seasons, along with the Anderson University Wind Ensemble. He’s performed many concerts with each ensemble, including orchestra showcases in the 2022 and 2023 President’s Gala at Anderson University. As a musician, Benji pulls influences from a variety of styles. Some notable influences and inspirations include Meshuggah, Mick Gordon, J Dilla, Colin Stetson, Jaco Pastorious, Pharoah Sanders, Thundercat, Hozier and Clown Core. He’s spent time chasing ideas grown from the styles of avant-garde performers such as Mick Gordon, Colin Stetson, and Pharoah Sanders. Because of this, he has knowledge regarding the world of synthesis, including modular, FM, granular, and wavetable; especially within the context of ambient soundscaping/scoring. Most recently, some notable achievements include being selected for the AU Jazz Combo and being selected as a music director for The Audacity. Over the summer, he performed a jazz showcase for Fine Arts Day and taught a percussion clinic at Riverside Middle School in Pendleton SC. In September of 2023, he went on a short tour with the band Further Seems Forever as a merch manager, working various concerts in the northeast along with Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama. After graduating Anderson University, Benji plans to work as a studio engineer, compose for film, and tour/perform in his spare time. He is also considering different master’s programs. Regardless, Benji plans to continue in the music industry and is excited to continually develop his skills as a performer, engineer, and composer.
