Axel Storme

Axel Storme (born Shane Neil Benson, 25 September 1977) is an Australian music artist known for his genre-blending sound that incorporates elements of dark pop, electronic, and alternative rock. His music is characterized by emotionally driven lyrics, cinematic soundscapes, and a wide range of stylistic influences. Storme began gaining recognition through his use of AI-driven platforms such as Riffusion and Suno, and his work often explores themes of identity, trauma, faith, and personal growth.

Early life and background

Axel Storme was born Shane Neil Benson on 25 September 1977 at Fairfield District Hospital in Sydney, Australia. He experienced a difficult childhood, growing up in a dysfunctional family environment and spending significant time in foster care and Barnardo’s homes. At the age of eight, he was adopted by a Christian couple, at which point his name was legally changed to Cheyne Matthew Lamont.

His second album, Stories from the Streetlights Vol. 1, draws heavily from his early life before adoption—blending personal memory with imaginative storytelling. Many of the songs on the album reflect the struggles and emotional complexity of those formative years.

Storme has been passionate about music since childhood, with an eclectic taste that ranges from opera to heavy rock. This diversity of influence is reflected in his music as an artist, where classical elements often merge with dark pop, synth, and alternative rock styles.

Career

Axel Storme began experimenting with music production in his youth, using early software like Dance eJay. He later progressed to FL Studio (formerly FruityLoops) and ultimately found Mixcraft to be a more intuitive tool for developing and layering his own beats.

Though music had long been an interest, he only began writing lyrics in 2023, during a challenging period in his marriage. He initially expressed himself by writing romantic letters to his then-wife, later realizing that these could serve as the foundation for songwriting. In 2024, this process evolved into full-fledged lyric writing and song creation.

To organize and refine his writing, Storme began using ChatGPT to structure his lyrics. In a pivotal moment, his eldest son introduced him to the AI music platform Suno, which allowed him to generate instrumental tracks to accompany his original lyrics. While Storme continues to write all his lyrics himself, he now uses Suno for music production and Riffusion for sound design and genre experimentation.

This fusion of traditional lyricism with AI-powered production tools has helped shape his distinctive style and connect with a growing audience.

Musical style and influences

Axel Storme’s music draws from a wide and eclectic range of influences, blending elements of dark pop, synthwave, alternative rock, and cinematic orchestration. His work is known for its emotional intensity, layered vocal performances, and lyrical depth. Storme's sound often combines atmospheric textures with rock-driven energy and theatrical storytelling.

His musical inspirations span both mainstream and theatrical realms. He has cited artists such as P!nk, Sam Smith, Adam Lambert, Imagine Dragons, Nickelback, and composer Lin-Manuel Miranda as key influences. He is also inspired by musicals and theatrical productions including Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Hamilton, and Wicked, all of which have shaped his approach to narrative-driven music.

This blend of pop power, rock grit, and dramatic storytelling is central to Storme's identity as an artist, setting him apart in the independent and experimental music scenes.

Discography

Studio albums

• Boundaries Broken (October 2024) – A transitional album showcasing resilience and personal reinvention.

• Stories from the Streetlights Vol. 1 (2024) – Inspired by Storme’s early childhood, weaving real and imagined memories into lyrical narratives.

• Celestial Christmas (November 2024) – A seasonal album blending traditional holiday themes with Storme’s signature cinematic style.

• Threads of Eternity (30 December 2024) – Influenced by “what if” moments and the emotional weight of The Lion King, this concept album explores legacy, fate, and inner strength.

• Still Worth Fighting For (February 2025) – Written in the hopes of reconciling with his ex-wife, it captures vulnerability, longing, and emotional endurance.

• Grace and Mercy (February 2025) – A spiritual reflection on Storme’s Christian upbringing and the faith he was introduced to at age eight.

• Breaking the Shell (February 2025) – A powerful album confronting the pain of an abusive marriage and reclaiming one’s voice. Although three albums were released in February 2025, many of the songs had been written earlier; the clustered release reflects Storme’s learning curve as he navigates the music industry.

Selected singles

• "36 Places Still Searching" (2024) – featured on Stories from the Streetlights Vol. 1

• "No More Eggshells" (2025) – released as a single and included on Breaking the Shell

• "Loud & Unapologetic" (2025)

• "I Just Want to Be Loved" (2025)

Legacy and impact

Though still in the early stages of his public career, Axel Storme has been recognized for his emotionally honest songwriting and forward-thinking use of AI music technology. His blending of personal narrative with experimental soundscapes has established him as a distinctive voice within the independent music community.

Future

Axel Storme has expressed plans to further evolve as a musician by taking formal vocal lessons to gain greater control over his sound and deliver music more closely aligned with his artistic vision. While he acknowledges the creative benefits of AI-assisted production—particularly in shaping his current body of work—he has stated that his ultimate goal is to capture the raw emotional depth of his lyrics through his own voice.

“AI is a great tool and it’s served me well so far,” Storme has said, “but I really want to bring my music to life with my own voice—the way I hear it in my head.”

In addition to vocal development, Storme plans to return to piano, which he learned as a child, and begin studying violin to enrich his compositions with live instrumentation. While many of his current arrangements feature piano, violin, and cello created through AI, he aims to gradually transition these parts into self-performed components for future recordings and performances.

Looking ahead, Storme has shared a personal goal to be touring and performing live with his own voice and instruments by the time he turns 50.

“I might have started late in my life, but what is age? I always tell my kids to learn as much as they can. Yes, life is short—but it’s what you make out of it that counts. I want to leave a legacy for my kids, to show that even if you start late, you can still get it done. There’s no such thing as ‘too late’—the only time it’s too late is when you give up. And giving up isn’t an option.”

Storme’s future work is expected to continue blending dark pop with cinematic, orchestral, and rock elements, with a stronger emphasis on personal performance and live instrumentation.