Benny Blanco Reveals His Unconventional Sleeping Arrangements During His Early DJ Days in NYC

Published: June 4, 2025

Benny Blanco, the story of how he used to sleep in train stations, parks, and even McDonald's restaurants after his DJ gigs in the early days of his career. The 37-year-old music producer shared his humble beginnings in an interview with InStyle, published on Wednesday, June 4.

From Virginia to NYC

Blanco skipped high school to pursue his passion for music, but he didn't have a laptop. He and his friends would travel several hours from Virginia to NYC with his massive iMac G5 monitor in tow.

After the gigs, Blanco and his friends would find unconventional places to rest their heads. "We would sleep in the train station, a park, or even the McDonald's in Times Square," Blanco recalled.

Blanco's Parents Were Not Aware of His Questionable Overnight Accommodations

Blanco's parents were not aware of his sleeping arrangements, and he knew they wouldn't approve. "Are you kidding me? My mom would have lost her mind if she knew I was sleeping on a park bench!" he said.

Collaborating with Big Names

Blanco also shared his experience working with big names in the music industry, including Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and his fiancée, Selena Gomez. He recalled telling his mom about collaborating with Spears on the 2008 song "Circus." "She was like, 'No, you're not.' And I was like, 'I swear, I am!'" Blanco said.

Blanco's producing credits include "TiK ToK" by Kesha, "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry, "Moves Like Jagger" as well as "Payphone" by Maroon 5, "Diamonds" by Rihanna, and "Dynamite" by Taio Cruz. In March, he and Gomez released their collaborative album "I Said I Love You First."