Never the Wiser is the recording moniker of New York City-based filmmaker Emil Benjamin, who has released “Saint Valentine” after a year of solo singles in 2026. Benjamin grew up a ’90s kid on ’60s and ’70s vinyl, steeped in Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young harmonies, Joni Mitchell’s open tunings, and Nick Drake’s influence. In college he studied Tallest Man on Earth’s discography to learn the Travis fingerpicking technique and to develop his indie folk songwriting approach, then explored bossa nova and samba before settling on guitar. For years he hosted a weekly Harlem open mic where a supportive community encouraged him to enter a studio. Earlier 2026 releases include “Ravenswood,” released January 26, and “Better Than Ever,” a collaboration with Brooklyn singer Melissa Kaitlyn Carter released March 20.
Never the Wiser has framed “Saint Valentine” around contributions from Michael Hunter, who performs violin, viola, and cello, and Mathais Højgaard Jensen on double bass. The song shifts midway through via a change in articulation, beginning with Benjamin’s nylon-string guitar playing a jumpy progression of straight-eights and describing an angel that “crashed through my window pane/ Warned me not to get on that plane.” On the other side of the song’s change Benjamin sings “Cause your eyes don’t look right to me,” supported by string arrangements and harmony vocals. The single follows Benjamin’s year of distinct artwork for each release, which resembles either a recreation or actual woodcut ink transfers, and continues his output through 2026.
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