For Benicio, music is a way of making sense of the worlds that shaped him. Growing up between Ghana and the UK, he initially saw his dual cultural identity as something that left him caught between two scenes. It was only while making his debut solo project that he began to recognise that in-betweenness as a creative strength and to embrace the distinct perspective it gives his music.
That perspective comes to life on his latest single “Eve”, a warm, nostalgic meeting point between Ghanaian HipLife, Afroswing and UK rap. Built around a classic Ghanaian sample that takes Benicio back to the music of his childhood, the track pairs that sense of nostalgia with a contemporary story of attraction, while even bringing his girlfriend into the recording for background vocals.
“Eve” offers the first glimpse into A Beautiful Day, a project Benicio describes as a “post coming of age story” about a boy learning how to become a man in a world that doesn’t always teach you how.
Following the release, Benicio spoke to TAGG about finding strength in his dual identity, the Ghanaian sounds that shaped his childhood, the spontaneous beginnings of “Eve”, and the deeply personal story behind A Beautiful Day.
1. You’ve grown up between British and Ghanaian influences, and that duality feels particularly important to your music. When did you first realise that having these two cultural worlds could actually become a strength creatively rather than something you had to choose between?
It was actually quite recently to be honest whilst working on my debut solo mixtape. I remember having an honest conversation with my friend Yasiin about this and telling him I didn’t feel like I quite belong in the UK music scene the same way I felt I didn’t belong in the Ghana music scene as well. He introduced me to a rapper named jev who shares a similar multi ethnic background to me and once I told him how I felt he encouraged me to use it as my super power. Since then I’ve kept telling myself that being different is to my advantage cause it gives my music a different edge that’s unique to me because of my upbringing.
2. “Eve” feels like a very natural meeting point between Ghanaian HipLife, Afroswing and UK rap. Was that blend something you consciously wanted to explore, or did it emerge naturally from the music you’ve grown up listening to?
I would say both. Growing up in Ghana really influenced my taste in music as did spending my childhood in the UK. I feel like it crept into my music due to me wanting to appeal to both demographics. At the same time as I continued to make music I really wanted to incorporate all the sounds of my childhood and adolescent years into my sound and help shape my identity.
3. The song started out as something of a freestyle during a session with SLO before evolving into the finished record. What do you remember about that first moment when you heard the beat, and what made you want to start writing immediately?
I remember just loving the melody and connecting with it right away. He actually made the beat at the request of another artist but he never got around to using it. So I was more than happy to try my hands on it when given the opportunity. I started writing it on the bus on the way home and finished it when I got to the crib.
4. There’s something quite personal about using a classic Ghanaian HipLife sample while telling a contemporary story about attraction and relationships. What does bringing that piece of Ghanaian musical history into your own music mean to you?
It means everything to me. As soon as I heard the sample for the first time I got so nostalgic from hearing it at hall parties as a kid. When I was younger I didn’t appreciate Ghanaian music as much as I do now and I’m grateful that I’ve come to a place where I feel soo connected with the music from there. I feel like anyone who also grew up on Ghanaian music in the 2000s will feel that same feeling I do when hearing this record
5. Your girlfriend even contributes background vocals to “Eve”. What was it like bringing something so personal into the recording, and did having people close to you involved change the atmosphere in the studio?
It definitely did add a special touch to the record. She loves the record soo much and believed in it from the very first moment she heard it. So when I went to the studio with her to add some finishing touches and my engineer suggested she added some background vocals to the chorus it couldn’t have been more fitting. Plus she has an amazing voice too so it just made it sound much better
6. “Eve” is the first real introduction to A Beautiful Day. Without giving too much away, what can listeners expect from the wider project, and what does the title mean to you at this point in your life and career?
A Beautiful Day is like a post-coming-of-age story of a boy trying to turn into a man in a world that doesn’t necessarily teach us how to. It’s not only a love letter to my younger self but a love letter to my love for music, hip-hop and my loved ones. You can expect a variety of songs which perfectly showcase my versatility and allow me to wear my influences on my sleeve.
7. Looking ahead, what do you want people to understand about Benicio after hearing A Beautiful Day that they might not get from a single song like “Eve”?
I want them to get to know me as a person. I want them to feel like they know me even if they’ve never met me. I want this project to serve as the foundation on which I hope to build my discography on. I want people who listen to me in future to come back to this project and realise how far I’ve come from the boy I was when I conceptualised this project at the back of class in boarding school and bringing it into actualisation. Most of all, I just want them to understand me, my motivations and why I do all of this. That’s what I hope they take away from A Beautiful Day.
