Rhian Benson
Gold Coast
© 2004 Icarus Music Ltd (882967100722)
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As the guitar softly sweeps it’s rhythm across her music, the horns play and her exquisite voice dances through your ears, the influence of her homeland Ghana and classic soul and jazz greats of yesteryear comes to mind when you hear Rhian Benson sing.
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Born in Accra, and raised in Wales, Ghana and India and the UK where she is now settled, Rhian grew up in a very musical environment. Her Welsh mother was an accomplished singer, and her father, an Ashanti naval officer, is a gifted guitarist. Rhian started playing piano at the age of nine and picked up guitar soon after and before long, a budding singer songwriter.
Behind the warm and honeyed voice is a sharp mind, Rhian gained an economics degree at the London School of Economics and worked in banking in the City for a time, a somewhat stark contrast to her own desires for a life in music. Her studies continued at Harvard in America, until her mother fell ill and Rhian returned home to care for her ailing mother. With time to think she found healing and release in music and decided to chase her singing dreams, feeling as though it was a risk worth taking in order to dance her heart’s dreams into life.
Numerous open mic nights and various club slots in London followed and she found her voice often compared to Sade and Lauryn Hill. One night after a show Rhian was offered a deal by an executive from Los Angeles based label, DKG, and relocated to America to write and record her debut album ‘Gold Coast’ a title which beautifully reflects her childhood home of Ghana.
Under the Californian sun the gifted songstress, musician and writer co-produced the album with Grammy Award-winning producers Bob Power (Chaka Khan, A Tribe Called Quest) and James Poyser (Lauryn Hill, D’Angelo). The albums sound was a striking collection of moving songs, beautiful and passionate melodies and rich production, all fused together underneath Rhian’s velvety and captivating voice. In 2004, Gold Coast was released to phenomenal international support and great critical acclaim.
Rhian’s self-penned debut single ‘Say How I Feel’ was a Top 10 R&B hit in the US and Top 30 in the UK national charts. The video for the single featuring the model Tyson Beckford and an iconic looking Rhian instantly became MTV Base’s #1 Most Played video.
Rhian was invited by BET in the US to host her own TV show series aptly entitled ‘Gold Coast’- a first for a brand new British artist, it took her back to her home in Ghana and also saw her interview a wide range of celebrities from LL Cool J and Musiq Soulchild to Clint Eastwood!
Rhian’s first US national tour followed in 2003 when she supported R&B legend Brian McKnight; she then headlined her own shows and performed alongside artists ranging from Angie Stone, Raphael Saadiq, Anthony Hamilton to Macy Gray and Angela Bofill. Rhian took great pleasure in joining British soul star Lemar on her first UK tour in 2005.
Her journey and passion have come with rewards like the MOBO Award for ‘Best Jazz Act’ in 2005, ‘Best New Soul Act’ - Urban Music Awards in 2005, ‘Best Pop Act’ - Welsh Music Awards in 2005 and ‘Ghana Entertainer of the Year’ - Ghana Professional Awards in 2004. Six magazine covers including Metro, Pride and Blues & Soul topped off an exceptional couple of years and allowed Rhian to realise many dreams which she otherwise might have tucked in a drawer in a 9-5 job, had her economics path continued.
With the help of the UK’s finest including Ivor Novello Award-winning writers Michelle Escoffrey and European production team Cutfather & Joe (Des’Ree, Jamelia), Rhian has begun diligently and lovingly cooking up the ingredients for her sophomore album title ‘Hands Clean’ to be released this year. The sound she carefully drapes her voice across is more uptempo and reminiscent in places of late 80’s early 90’s pop R&B combined with a very honest collection of love songs and confessions. Rhian has been nurturing her expressive style and is looking forward to showing the world more of her exquisite soulful sound.
It is clear from the first note, that there are only bigger things ahead for the exceptional Ms Benson.
‘One of today’s brightest new talents: mould-breaking music straight from the soul’ - USA TODAY
“A breath of fresh air” – BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
‘A genuine contender’ – Q MAGAZINE
‘Sexy and soulful’- THE EVENING STANDARD
‘The smart money is on Rhian Benson becoming a global star’ - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
‘Her dusky voice and lyrics are the perfect instruments’- VARIETY
‘Simply celestial’ - OPRAH MAGAZINE