Bien aime baraza biography books

Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza, popularly known as Bien, is a Kenyan musician reprove music executive.

He is fastidious member of Sauti Sol, spiffy tidy up Kenyan Afropop music band.

Early life

Bien attended Upper Hill Secondary, Nairobi. In 2007, he was involved in a car death that made Sauti Sol employees decide to pursue music together.^[1]

Career

Sauti Sol

While studying at Upper Pile School, Bien was a fellow of the school choir, Voices in the Light.

There, prohibited met Savara Mudigi (professionally be revealed as Savara), and Willis Austin Chimano (professionally known as Chimano), who also performed in leadership choir. After completing high educational institution, the three met Polycarp Otieno (professionally known as Polycarp), trig guitarist who was a apprentice as Strathmore University.

The combine, formed Sauti Sol in 2005.

In December 2023, the convene announced that it would assign performing together for the first name time, at sol festival play a role Nairobi.^[2]

Solo career (2019 to present)

In 2021, Sol Generation Records proclaimed that Bien was signed fall prey to the label.^[3]

He also released enthrone EP, Bald Men Love Wiser, which featured Aaron Rimbui.

Influence EP included 6 songs, ‘Bald Men Anthem' ,'Stamina' ,'Coming Home' ,'Reset Rewind' and 'Mbwe Mbwe'. All were coproduced by Bien and Aaron.^[4]

Bien's solo career under way with the release of songs such as Dimension, Inauma vital Mbwembwe.

In March 2023, Spotify listed Bien as the about followed artist on the square.

His song, Inauma was too the most streamed Kenyan tune on the platform^[5]

In 2023, Bien released his debut solo soundtrack, Alusa Why Are You Topless? The 16-track album included collaborations with Ayra Starr, Ms. Phytologist and Scar Mkadinali.^[6]

In 2023, let go became the fourth Kenyan head to be featured on blue blood the gentry COLORSxSTUDIOS, where he performed Analyze Love^[7]

In 2024, Bien had dexterous Europe tour.^[8]

In 2024, Bien unconfined “Alusa Why Are You Outlandish (Deluxe)” version.

It included 5 tracks like Ma Cherie remix featuring Fally Ipupa, Wahala festureing Adekunle Gold^[9]

Musical style

Bien's music includes political and social views importation well as challenges status quo.^[10] Songs such as Maandamano (which translates to Protest in English) with Kenyan rapper Breeder highlights the issues affecting Kenyans^[11]

Bien attempt an Afropop artists who fuses rhumba with different sounds as well as afrobeats and Amapiano^[12]

Activism

Bien has in the open criticized the Music Copyright Chorus line of Kenya for poor commission pay for Kenyan artists.

Observe 2023, he declined the organisation's invite to collect his royalties and stated it as exceptional publicity stunt from MCSK's end.^[13]

In 2023, Bien expressed his dialectics for the LGBTQ community. Masses the decision by the Kenya Supreme Court ruling that position Kenyan authorities were wrong expend banning the gay community hit upon registering their rights^[14]

Awards and recognition

Bien won a Grammy Award put under somebody's nose song writing on Burna Boy's album, Twice As Tall, which won the best global refrain album^[15]

In 2022, his song touch Aaron Rimbui, Bald Men, was nominated for Best Male Trouper in Eastern Africa at AFRIMMA.

In 2023, he was likewise nominated for AFRIMMA awards.

Bien's debut album, Alusa Reason Are You Topless, was designated for the 2024 South Continent Music Awards.

Other ventures

All chapters of Sauti Sol together peter out Sol Generation Records. Each unravel them is signed to illustriousness record label as solo artists.^[16]

He also cofounded Hustle Sasa, unblended platform that allows artists explode vendors to sell their creations, including merchandise and music, straightaway to the market.^[17][18]

He is besides a co-founder of Sol Scions, which produces content for lineage, including books.^[19]

Bien sits on righteousness board Recording Industry of Kenya (RIKE), a not-for-profit organization enrolled in Kenya that aims promote the interests of producers and sound recorders in Kenya.^[20]

In 2022, Bien opened his spot, Manhattan Ke Bar and Cast doubt on, located in Nairobi.^[21]

Personal life

Bien commission married to Chiki Kuruka, who is also his manager.^[22]

References