3 May 2021
Every Monday I will be bringing you an interview with an independent band, duo or music artist. This week, I caught up with London artist Benny Bizzie to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I am an R&B/Soul singer and songwriter from London, UK. I began my career as a Grime artist in Tottenham (North London) in a Rap group, trying to make a name for ourselves using every ounce of creativity we could produce whilst navigating street life. I released mixtapes, collaborated with other artists and had my song ‘Angry’ featured on Channel U at the time. Behind the scenes I took to R&B, Gospel, and Soul music, developing my skills as a songwriter and writing for other emerging artists. in 2014 I released my first R&B single ‘Crying’ which aired on Channel U, Flava TV, and gained 2 nominations at the UMA Awards. This led to collaborations with Grime artists Wretch 32, Ghetts, Rapid, and producers Skott Summerz, Cee Figz, and Zdot.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up I listened to Gospel, Soul, and R&B music with melodic textures and emotional depth. I remember being in awe of colourful writers and singers like Joe, Boyz II Men, Brandy, and Whitney Houston. As a Grime artist I was inspired by So Solid Crew, Dizzee Rascal, Boy Better Know, and rappers who had a story to tell.
How would you describe your sound?
I have been told there is a smooth, liquid, airy texture to my vocals. My sound is emotive R&B/Soul with a UK vibe.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My latest single is called ‘Treading Water’ inspired by the recent world events including the Pandemic. I teamed up with Female producer Renae Rain (The Goddess Music) to create a piece that is colourful, soothing, melodic and that could inspire hope as restrictions are lifting.
What’s your local music scene like?
I mean before the pandemic I was doing 3 shows a week in London and I can’t believe I’ve gone a whole year without being out performing. It’s a healthy scene in London as there is always something going on (Pre Covid) and people travel in from all over to have that shared experience.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
There are no guarantees on live performances at the moment but I will surely be finding ways to keep my audience engaged online. I will be promoting ‘Treading Water’ over the next few months with the possibility of one or two new singles.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with Female rapper Lil Simz.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I remember almost shedding one tear on stage when I got lost in the performance and some guys in the audience shouted ‘Don’t Do it, Don’t Do it’ It was funny ; )
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I am an introvert being super confident.
You can find out more about Benny on his website or via Audiomack, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter or YouTube.
You can also read my interviews with Benny about his EPs “E-Motion” and “Chrysalis” and album “Project Human”.
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