MP3 Rhian Benson - Gold Coast

As the guitar softly sweeps itâs 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.

14 MP3 Songs
URBAN/R&B: Soul, URBAN/R&B: R&B Pop Crossover



Details:
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 heartâs 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 âGold Coastâ 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, DâAngelo). The albums sound was a striking collection of moving songs, beautiful and passionate melodies and rich production, all fused together underneath Rhianâs velvety and captivating voice. In 2004, Gold Coast was released to phenomenal international support and great critical acclaim.

Rhianâs self-penned debut single âSay How I Feelâ 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 Baseâs #1 Most Played video.

Rhian was invited by BET in the US to host her own TV show series aptly entitled âGold Coastâ- 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!

Rhianâs 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 âBest Jazz Actâ in 2005, âBest New Soul Actâ - Urban Music Awards in 2005, âBest Pop Actâ - Welsh Music Awards in 2005 and âGhana Entertainer of the Yearâ - 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 UKâs finest including Ivor Novello Award-winning writers Michelle Escoffrey and European production team Cutfather & Joe (DesâRee, Jamelia), Rhian has begun diligently and lovingly cooking up the ingredients for her sophomore album title âHands Cleanâ to be released this year. The sound she carefully drapes her voice across is more uptempo and reminiscent in places of late 80âs early 90âs 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.

âOne of todayâs brightest new talents: mould-breaking music straight from the soulâ - USA TODAY
âA breath of fresh airâ â BILLBOARD MAGAZINE
âA genuine contenderâ â Q MAGAZINE
âSexy and soulfulâ- THE EVENING STANDARD
âThe smart money is on Rhian Benson becoming a global starâ - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
âHer dusky voice and lyrics are the perfect instrumentsâ- VARIETY
âSimply celestialâ - OPRAH MAGAZINE