Bensoul

Kenyan vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Bensoul first built his reputation by supplying material to established acts, later stepping forward with his own affectionate, melodic fusion of soulful R&B and Caribbean grooves. As the inaugural signee to Sol Generation Records—the imprint launched by the soul ensemble Sauti Sol—he issued a series of singles under the banner, followed by the 2020 EP Qwarantunes.

Born Benson Mutua Muia, he composed material throughout his secondary-school years before entering the industry as a professional songwriter and session multi-instrumentalist, contributing tracks to performers including Mercy Masika and Kidum. His profile rose in 2016 after he joined H_art the Band on the recording “Masheesha,” which introduced his expressive vocal style to a wider audience. Building on that momentum, he connected with Sauti Sol and crafted a piece tailored to their high-energy, live-oriented soul sound; the ensemble welcomed him to their newly formed Sol Generation Records in early 2019, issuing “Lucy” as the label’s first release. Additional singles appeared before Bensoul delivered the four-song EP Qwarantunes in 2020, comprising material conceived while isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic.