Check out our exclusive interview with Ben Hedibi & uMaNg. We discuss their new album, Stray Dogs and much more so check it out. Links for the album are below.
Download & Streaming Links
Bandcamp
I2G is here with Ben Hedibi and uMaNg how’s it going?
We’re doing great, yourself? It’s an amazing feeling to finally have this music out in the world, and we’re just excited to talk about it.
Doing great, thanks for taking time to talk with us. You just dropped your new album, Stray Dogs, tell me a little bit about the album and how it came together for you.
And it was a true labor of love. We really wanted to create something cohesive but versatile with many moving parts being displayed. The rollout was highly strategic depending on where you listen, because the standard album on Spotify, iTunes etc. features 19 tracks, but if you grab it directly from our Bandcamp page, it expands into the full 24-track experience we intended, including all the skits that tie the concept together.
Any moments or tracks that stand out to you both in making the album?
The early response to the lead singles, “Help Less” & “Sunset II” has been incredible from DJs & supporters all-around as far as moments go. Putting together the skits for the expanded version was also a massive highlight, as it allowed us to build a literal narrative framework around the music that tied it altogether. We’d also say some of the very first recordings for this album such as “Crash & Burn”, “Last Day In Jersey”, were really a testament to the standard & bar we set for the rest of the project that we wanted to maintain.
Do you have any other albums, mixtapes or EPs in the works?
Right now, as a duo our entire focus is on letting Stray Dogs breathe. We put so much energy and so many tracks into this release that we want fans to fully digest it before we dive headfirst into the next full-length project. That being said, the creative process never completely stops.
Do you have any more upcoming videos or singles?
Yes, absolutely. Now that the full album is live, we are actively planning visual components for a few of the early fan-favorite tracks. Keep an eye out on our video channels over the next few weeks.
What are your current thoughts on the music industry in 2026?
For independent artists like us It’s becoming very hard to make any shade of career making what we love. Good news is, still in 2026 it is all about direct fan connection. Platforms like Bandcamp allow independent artists to deliver raw, unfiltered, and complete visions, like our 24-track album directly to the listeners without major label filters. It’s a challenging landscape to navigate for sure.
What is currently playing on your playlist musically outside of your album?
We try to keep our palates diverse to pull inspiration from unexpected places, as was the case for Stray Dogs.
Do you have any shows or tour dates?
We are currently finalizing dates to support the album release. Details regarding live sets and streaming performances will be announced very soon.
What is your website information?
Check our music out at: soundcloud/ben-hedibi, umang.bandcamp.com, & you can find Stray Dogs on pretty much all the DSPs including Spotify, iTunes, Amazon etc. etc..
Appreciate the interview, any last words or shout outs?
Huge shout out to everyone who pre-ordered the record, shared the singles, or copped the full version. Your support keeps independent music alive, & we look forward to more engagement from the people. Go stream Stray Dogs if you haven’t already, and let us know your favorite track/s! Big shout out to Goon Promotions as well for putting us on the radar. Peace, everyone!