# Zild Benitez

Daniel Zildjian Garon Benitez (born April 23, 1997), popularly known through the mononym Zild, is a Filipino musician, producer, and singer-songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist, pianist/keyboardist, and bassist of funk rock band IV of Spades. As a solo artist, Benitez released his first album, Homework Machine, in 2020, and has since recorded three more albums. His latest album, Superpower, was released on August 9, 2024.

## Personal life

Zild Benitez is the son of Frank Benitez, the former drummer of Hungry Young Poets and Barbie's Cradle. He graduated at De La Salle-College of St. Benilde in 2018 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Production.
During his childhood and teenage years, he became a commercial model for various brands in the Philippines, including Lucky Me! Pancit Canton, Coca-Cola, and Nido. He also had a cameo role in one of ABS-CBN's primetime like "Got to Believe".

## Career
### IV of Spades

In June 2014, Allan Mitchell Silonga decided to form a band for his son Blaster, who would become the band's lead guitarist. The Silongas were able to recruit drummer Badjao de Castro and bassist Zildjian "Zild" Benitez, who are the sons of Allan's friends. Unique Salonga, Benitez's churchmate who was already writing his own music, was later recruited to become the band's lead singer.
The band later signed to Warner Music Philippines and released their first single "Ilaw sa Daan".
On 2018, IV of Spades won the New Artist of the Year and the MYX Bandarito Performance of the Year and Nominated as Group the Year at the annual Myx Music Awards. The band also won the Dreams Come True with Air Asia, the airline's search for the most promising acts in the region. The band performed with David Foster as part of their prize. They also won the Favorite New Group award at the 30th annual Awit Awards.
Before their dissolution, Benitez handled the responsibility of lead vocals after their former lead vocalist Unique Salonga who left to pursue "personal endeavors". Months later, the band released their debut studio album, ClapClapClap!, on January 18, 2019.

### Manila Magic

Benitez is also a member of electronic pop duo Manila Magic, with Tim Marquez of One Click Straight.

### Solo career

On August 13, 2016, Benitez joined a music competition named "Music Hero" in the noontime show Eat Bulaga!. He originally won the "Bass Hero" title, but due to IV of Spades' rise to fandom, he and his bandmate, Blaster Silonga, who also won the "Electric Guitar Hero" title, left their titles and gave it up.
On June 12, 2020, Benitez released the music video of "Sinungaling" on YouTube. Few weeks later, he also released "Dila", along with its music video on July 9, 2020. On August 6, 2020, he released his debut solo album titled "Homework Machine". It features "Sinungaling" and "Dila" which were released beforehand. In the same year, Benitez signed an artist management contract with Rico Blanco's management label Balcony Entertainment.
On February 10, 2021, Benitez released the music video for his song "Kyusi" on YouTube. Weeks later, he released "Apat" on February 25, he also revealed that "Kyusi" and "Apat" would be part of his upcoming album titled "Huminga", which was released on April 8, 2021. That same year he featured with Ben&Ben and juan karlos on the track "Lunod"
In August 2022, Benitez officially signed with UMG Philippines through its division Island Records Philippines. That same month, he released his first single for his third album Medisina, "Isang Anghel", which was followed by "Duwag" in September. The following month, Medisina was released alongside its third single, "Duda". In 2023, he featured with juan karlos on the track "Gabi" on the former's album, Sad Songs And Bullshit Part 1.
In June 2024, a fourth album was announced, followed shortly by the release of its first single, "Segurista". Its second single, "Lia", was released on July 9, 2024. The album, "Superpower", was released on August 9, 2024.

## Discography
### Albums

As a solo artist
List of Studio Albums with Selected Details :
| Title | Album Details |
| Homework Machine | Released: August 6, 2020 Label: Warner Music Philippines Format: Digital download, streaming media |
| Huminga | Released: April 8, 2021 Label: Warner Music Philippines Format: Digital download, streaming media, 12", vinyl |
| Medisina | Released: October 28, 2022 Label: Island Records Philippines UMG Philippines Format: Digital download, streaming media, 12", vinyl |
| Superpower | Released: August 9, 2024 Label: Island Records Philippines UMG Philippines Format: Digital download, streaming media, 12", vinyl |
with IV of Spades
| Title | Album Details | Ref. |
| CLAPCLAPCLAP! | Released: January 18, 2019 Label: Warner Music Philippines Format: Digital download, streaming media, 12" | |

### Singles

as a solo artist
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
| Title | Year | PHL | Album |
| "Sinungaling" | 2020 | — | Homework Machine |
| "Dila" | 2020 | — | Homework Machine |
| "Habulan" | 2020 | — | Homework Machine |
| "Alalahanin" | 2020 | — | Homework Machine |
| "Takbo Ng Panahon" | 2020 | — | Homework Machine |
| "Ibang Planeta" | 2020 | — | Himig Handog 2020 |
| "Luha ng Lupa" | 2020 | — | Non-album single |
| "Kyusi" | 2021 | — | Huminga |
| "Apat" | 2021 | — | Huminga |
| "Bungantulog" | 2021 | — | Huminga |
| "Huminga" | 2021 | — | Huminga |
| "Hele" | 2021 | — | Huminga |
| "CRAB" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Dekada '70" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Isang Anghel" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Lumang Kanta" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Bahala Ka Na" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Duwag" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Duda" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Medisina" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Dasal/Kasal" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "15" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Oh Lunes Nanaman" | 2022 | — | Medisina |
| "Segurista" | 2024 | TBA | Superpower |
| "Lia" | 2024 | TBA | Superpower |
| "Ewan kO !!!" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "Matalino Street" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "I.N.A.S" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "Huwag Nang Ipilit" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "Dilim" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "Kahit Saan" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "Kaibigan 2023" | 2024 | | Superpower |
| "Superpower" | 2024 | | Superpower |
as a Featured Artist
| Title | Year | Albu | Reference |
| Lunod (with Ben&Ben and juan karlos) | 2021 | Pebble House, Vol. 1: Kuwaderno | |
| Gabi (with juan karlos) | 2023 | Sad Songs and Bullshit Part 1 | |
with Manila Magic
| Title | Year | Album |
| In The Night | 2016 | Non-album singles |
| I Feel Like Dancing | 2016 | Non-album singles |
with IV of Spades

## Music videos

List of music videos, album, showing year released and directors :
| Title | Album | Year | Director(s) |
| As lead artist |||||
| "Sinungaling" | Homework Machine | 2020 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Dila" | Homework Machine | 2020 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Habulan" | Homework Machine | 2020 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Alalahanin" | Homework Machine | 2020 | Kevin Dayrit |
| "Takbo Ng Panahon" | Homework Machine | 2020 | Shaira Luna |
| "Luha Ng Lupa" | Non-album single | 2020 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Ibang Planeta" | Himig Handog 2020 | 2021 | Shaira Luna |
| "Kyusi" | Huminga | 2021 | Simon Te |
| "Apat" | Huminga | 2021 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Bungantulog" | Huminga | 2021 | Raymond Dacones and Trina Razon |
| "Huminga" | Huminga | 2021 | Shaira Luna |
| "Hele" | Huminga | 2021 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Isang Anghel" | Medisina | 2022 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Duwag" | Medisina | 2022 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Duda" | Medisina | 2022 | Daniel Aguilar |
| "Medisina" | Medisina | 2022 | Daniel Aguilar |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
| 2021 | 6th Wish Music Awards | Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year | "Sinungaling" | Nominated |
| 2021 | 6th Wish Music Awards | Wish Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Zild | Won |
| 2021 | 16th MYX Music Awards | Rock Video of the Year | "Dila" | Nominated |
| 2022 | 7th Wish Music Awards | Wish Song Collaboration of the Year | "Lunod" (shared with Ben&Ben and Juan Karlos Labajo) | Won |
| 2025 | 10th Wish Music Awards | Wish Rock/Alternative Song of the Year | "Segurista" | Nominated |
| 2025 | 10th Wish Music Awards | Wishclusive Rock/Alternative Performance of the Year | "Medisina" | Nominated |