With the Custom Keys Challenge submissions now closed, Rhodes invited all ten finalists to share how the Rhodes sound has impacted their musical background, their approach to composition, and what winning the contest would mean to them.
As the competition enters its final stages, it’s important to recognise the astonishing quality of all entries. It was evident how much care, time and attention went into each soundtrack, and for that, our heartfelt thanks go out to the talented Rhodes community for making the Custom Keys Challenge such a great success.
Meet Rhodes Custom Keys Challenge Finalist, Gaël Benyamin.
Gaëll Benyamin, known as Geyster, is a French singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and producer based in Paris.
Gaël has a distinctive talent for synthesising a vintage West Coast yacht music feel, celebrated for its rich melodies and lush harmonies. Having collaborated with artists such as Joachim Garraud, Ed Motta, Laurie Darmon, and Laura Mayne, he is now preparing to release a wealth of new music in the near future.
Watch Gaël’s Custom Keys finalist track:
What does the Rhodes sound mean to you?
Gaël: It’s a sound I heard throughout my childhood on so many records, without knowing what it actually was, and it largely contributed to my decision to become a musician. I would say there are two main reasons why I chose to become a recording artist today: The Beatles, and the Rhodes!
How did you approach your composition for the Custom Keys Challenge?
Gaël: I had this rhythmic gimmick and a chord change in mind for quite a while. What I love about the Rhodes in general is the percussive element in its sound. I play the Rhodes in a totally different way than I play the piano. I have a very physical connection to the Rhodes – it really hits me in the stomach. There’s a kind of trance-like, hypnotic feeling when I play a Rhodes, almost like a voodoo possession. When I watched the video, I instantly thought of this “voodoo” idea and started from there. And since I often write music for TV documentaries, I’ve learned how to sync music to image, which is exactly what I did here.
What Rhodes sounds did you use in your composition, and how did you find this process?
Gaël: Being a Rhodes addict, in addition to my real 1976 Fender Rhodes Mk1, I own pretty much every Rhodes plugin available on the market. On this particular track, I used my Mk1 but only for the main rhythmic gimmick. Then I used the UAD Electra 88 for the other Rhodes sounds, which I use all the time by the way. To be perfectly honest, I haven’t used the real thing in my mixes for quite a while now… but that would definitely change if I were to win the MK8!
What would winning mean to you and your musical journey?
Gaël: I was one of the five lucky finalists in your previous contest [Missing Keys], and I remember being extremely disappointed not to win. This is a brand-new chance for me, and winning would mean owning the ultimate musical instrument. The Rhodes means everything to me musically. I don’t think there’s a single track in my catalogue without a Rhodes on it! I’m completely obsessed with it – Rhodes is my way of life. Winning this instrument would truly be a dream come true.
If you were to win a Rhodes MK8, how would you use it?
Gaël: I would mainly use it in my studio. I’d honestly be too scared to take it on stage – it would be like owning a highly sought-after Mustang. A single scratch would drive me crazy! I would also have it equipped with MIDI, so it would become my master keyboard as well.
How would you design your own MK8? Would you go for a Custom Shop model? If so, which?
Gaël: I don’t want to think about that just yet – I only know that the American Classic looks absolutely stunning!
Find out more about Gaël and his music: https://linktr.ee/geyster
If you would like to vote for Gaël’s soundtrack, follow the link below, and ‘like’ his video: https://youtu.be/FsTqZqto4VI?si=i7c46hRxyWJcBlGj
