“The Melody Always Leads The Way.”- Eric Benét
Eric Benét is back with “The Co-Star “— a duet-driven masterpiece featuring some of R&B’s finest. Plus, our host Qyiana (Q) has an exclusive conversation with Benét.
Eric Benét’s new album, “The Co-Star,” feels like an intimate conversation disguised as a lush, 13-track symphony. The Co-Star isn’t just a duet album—it’s a genre-blending feast where bossa nova rhythms and Spanish guitar licks sit comfortably alongside lush R&B balladry. Available now worldwide via Benet’s JBR Creative Group label.
From the first notes of “Gaslight” (featuring Ari Lennox), where Lennox declares, “Try me—talking ’bout being a side piece? Not gonna happen…someone else, not her,” to the tender reverie of “Remember Love” with Alex Isley—this project is a masterclass in relationships lost and rediscovered. “Remember no taking back what’s gone, but I still remember love,” Benét and Isley croon in perfect harmony, reminding us that some flames never truly die.
Highlights keep coming: “Can’t Wait” with Keri Hilson pulses with urgent desire (“I can’t wait to feel you near”), while “Must Be Love” featuring India Arie tests whether that spark truly means forever—“If it smells like love, walks like love, tastes like love, and sounds like love…must be love.” And who could skip “Fly Away” with Corinne Bailey Rae? Their voices weave through a carefree soundscape that sounds like sunshine itself. After the breezy “Fly Away,” Benét brings the heat on “Something We Can Make Love To,” a chart-topper featuring Tamar Braxton whose sultry vocals ignite every lyric.
Jordin Sparks and r&b riser Autme Paige join Benet on “Change” a reminder to stay true to who we are. Ms. Chante’ Moore Nobody does it better—her vocals light up “So Distracted,” trading flirty lines with Eric Benét on this infectious, feel-good groove. They’re so caught up in each other, nothing else even matters.
“Southern Pride” began as Benét’s dream to collaborate with Chaka Khan, but it was Judith Hill who breathed life into this ode to his Mobile, Alabama roots and the Great Migration—its soul-stirring vibe is a homage to history and hometown grit. Then there’s “More of the Same” with Goapele and “Me & Mine” with Melanie Fiona, two tracks that showcase Benét’s signature falsetto soaring over intimate, organic arrangements.
For pure bossa nova charm, spin “Too Soon,” where the all-female trio SalDoce lays down irresistible grooves. And on “Eres Mi Vida,” ft. Pia Poscano Spanish guitars and gentle percussion take center stage, crafting a warm, tropical escape that feels both romantic and timeless.
During our exclusive interview, Benét reflected on growing up in Mobile, Alabama, and how the Great Migration inspired “Southern Pride”—a collaboration with Judith Hill that materialized only after Chaka Khan urged him to write “something that comes from your soul.”
He also shared how touring with Musiq Soulchild and Joe developed into a bromance between them and challenged Benet’ to hit the soaring notes on “Sometimes I Cry,” and how navigating an era without auto-tune sharpened his craft. He praises his JBR label partner Alice Ball and producer DJ Camper for infusing the album with bossa nova touches and fresh perspectives. As Benét put it, “For those around creative people, it’s about the destination—just appreciate that journey.”
“The Co-Star” isn’t just a collection of collaborations—it’s a bold, genre-bending statement about love, resilience, and artistic evolution. With each collaboration—be it a classic slow jam or a sun-kissed bossa moment—Eric Benét proves The Co-Star is his most adventurous, multi-textured, and perhaps one of he best projects yet. Stream it now and let these 13 tracks be the soundtrack to your summer.
Watch our full interview below, Download, purchase, steam Eric Benet’s “The Costar” on repeat now.
