RJ Benjamin

I cannot believe 2009 is over. I still remember everybody using lines like ‘2000 & mine’ & ‘make it shine in 2009′, now we’ll have to find some new clever lines for a massive year in our countries history! I like looking back at my years. Usually it’s just thought & wondering if what I did will have significance in the whole scheme of my life. So, my ‘09… here goes.

I started the year preparing for the 1st batch of high school students coming to my music school known as TIME (The Institute of Music Excellence) at what was to be SA’s private sports & arts academy, Academy college or SAX (Sports & Arts Xchange). Along with my longtime friend & songwriting partner, Sheldon Leal, we had setup a great curriculum. Sadly as potential goes, it’s just that & the support & responsibility needed from people at the top was, as usual, lacking. I grew frustrated with the money talk. It’s education, let’s educate! I built some great bonds with the young students who all had their gifts & talents & may remember me using ignorant a lot. I can’t help it, it’s reflex when it comes to music.

Up until this year I’ve managed to balance my teaching/lecturing & the career. Many late lights & early mornings but all worth it in my mind. This year was different. Change The World had brought me more mass appeal & demanded my ‘time’. I was working 20-hour days and sometimes (regretfully), not giving my all to either my students or fans. I had to make a decision. Prioritize a fulltime career as an artist, or prioritize teaching. It’s a no-brainer as an artist. It’s what we all dream of. Halfway through the year after much consideration, I left TIME. If any of the students read this, I wish you all the greatest success in the world. No doubt many of you will become stars in your own right. For more info check out this link: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28807231705

Backtrack a little, to the months preceding our elections. I’m asked to pen an election song. After having success with songs like 1stly, Dreamer, a song I featured on with Skwatta Kamp member Slikour & produced by Stethiscope & Change The World, I was approached probably due to my “We Are The World” style of writing. It got me thinking that maybe part of my job in life may be to inspire others & as the words would say, change worlds. The track was produced by a young music producer named Zethu & featured who in my opinion is the real talent in GOA, Bongo Riot. Unlike many artists rallying people to vote by using their celeb status, I thought I could make more of an impact by doing what I do best, writing & singing. Here’s a peek of the song if you haven’t heard it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAjBVC69Yng

I also got to meet Puff Johnson & work with her. I remember the 1st day playing her some of my songs on the piano & wondering in my head what this woman who’s worked with some of the all time greats would think of the little white dude from SA. She seemed to like my stuff, generously saying I was like Eric Benet but with more soul & my piano playing reminded her of Walter Afanasieff. If I could have half the careers those 2 men have had I would be grateful! Listening to her singing one of my songs in the vocal booth was surreal. She has that classic R&B vocal style & her ideas certainly added a specialness to my melodies! In a way, working with Puff sparked some inspiration in me to write again. So to Puff I say: hope you are healthy & strong & may 2010 be the year we see your true star shine! If you’re not a fan, pls join her page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Puff-Johnson/118435138340


A lot of my year was dedicated to finishing what became a pet project of mine – Pebble’s follow-up to her debut album. It was a long process largely due to the fact that Pebz & I were both working fulltime for the 1st half of the year. I remember meeting her at 7pm after leaving Pretoria at 6pm, arriving at the studio after battling through the traffic as many of us have to do & feeling like the only inspiration I could offer was in my dreams. Luckily most nights Pebz was as tired as I was & we were constantly making excuses & canceling sessions. Once I was a non-fulltime man, my 1st mission was finishing off her album. We came out with a great unique sound. Pebbles writing which is one of the best I have seen & heard, the various producers whose music I was sensitive to, in what I changed & added & my perspective of recording vocals in studio which have always given me a distinct advantage being a vocal coach. No doubt in my mind Pebbles will be having a magic 2010!
Check out some of the new songs she’s added on reverb nation: http://www.reverbnation.com/pebblesplayfulsoul


If any fans are wondering what other features I’ve done this year, I urge you to go check out Zubz’ album Cochlea. My particular favourite is a song I recorded with Zubz called Oh no, Private Show produced by a super talented Cape Town boy named Ameen whose list of hit tracks is growing by the day: http://www.facebook.com/people/Ameen-Harron/659627030 I think Private Show should be a single. It fits well with Zubz’ 1st single Part Time Lover, Full Time Freak. Hint hint… J great album as far as I’m concerned!


Back to my year’s mission of changing the world, I agreed to take part in a project called the Hope Project. The brainchild of a young man named Andile Masuku, a great singer & songwriter in his own right. I saw the word ‘hope’ & I was in. That & the chance to let my hair down & sing some gospel songs. I really did let loose as anyone who was their will tell you. There is something quite special connecting with a higher power! I hope The Hope Project continues, check out this link for more info: http://thehopeprojectsa.wordpress.com/


Some vocal production sessions came for Danny K later this year for his next studio project. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised to hear what he & his longtime producer/partner Pete ‘Boxta’ Martin had come up with this time. Very different & very cool. As far as I’m concerned the right move. I won’t give too much away. Danny & I work well together & I truly respect his work ethic not to mention his great talent of coming up with extremely catchy melodies. Over the years it’s become more & more apparent that Danny is just a good dude, a good guy with a big heart. I know he’s had some tough times of late but no doubt in my mind his new album will be his greatest answer to anyone wondering what’s been on his mind. Best of luck DK!

My final World Changing project came as the year started winding down. I produced & wrote a song for Child Welfare’s 100th anniversary called ‘The Song For Hope’. Jodi Gold, an up-&-coming local house diva assisted me with the lyrics. For as many rude local artists as their were (I won’t mention names but all I will say is… karma’s a bitch), there were stars ready to assist on the song. I am grateful to each & every one of them for adding their touch of magic on the track. Unusual for me, but the song has a Rock feel to it. When something works you don’t stop it.

I think the song will go down one day as one of the best charity ever to come out of this country. Some people to thank whom without there would be no song, Heather Mernell at Soul Candi, Carly Ritz at Child Welfare, Thabz at Pyramid Rox studios, Paul Mclver at Toneworks studios & Rogan Kelsey at Lapdust. Let us all hope it changes the lives of many of our country’s children. Check it out on my fanpage: http://www.facebook.com/RJBenjamin

My year’s been House music mad, other great tracks blazing local stations were Goodbye Baby produced by 37MPH & Nutty Nys’ remix of my track Say Yeah. You can listen to these songs on my fan page: http://www.facebook.com/RJBenjamin
More house & more soul to come. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

Have a wonderful New Years everybody.

Keep it Soulful.

RJ Benjamin

In our World filled with so much media we have not had much choice in
the matter. After hearing the same songs on constant rotation it is
hard to assess whether you like something simply because in your heart
of hearts you actually like it or because its been drummed in your
head so much, the recognition outweighs the personal opinion.

I am in an interesting position. As an artist, I appeal to a largely
mixed audience, often times performing to the black masses. I also,
from working with artists as a producer & recently playing piano on
occasion with Louise Carver have seen the other side of the spectrum.
1) Obviously people love the popular songs, that’s natural. 2) People
completely blank out when something they don’t know is playing. Not
for a second is there a glimmer of hope for the song they don’t
recognize. Its that that concerns me the most.

I think part of the reason we are seeing “The Death of the Album” is
due to this mentality. I think sometimes I am in the same position.
Yes, a hit can have a catchy melody or words that just stick in your
head but I certainly think we are hearing non-hits that take a while &
many plays on radio until we supposedly like it. I love the feeling of
buying a new album & finding songs that would never play on radio that
touch me. Just recently, I got into the band Coldplay. I’m a
Neo-Soulja but I needed some new inspiration & as I listened through
their albums I found gems that were certainly not the big radio hits
like “Clocks” or “Viva La Vida” but lesser known songs like “Warning
Sign” & “Death & all His Friends”.

It’s a great question to ask yourself because you wouldn’t really know
if you had been brainwashed. So, next time you’re watching a music vid
on TV or listening to the radio, think about about it…do you really
enjoy what’s being served to you or would you like another look at the
menu?

I’ve often thought about this question, particularly as a vocal coach that has trained in many different singing styles. As a vocalist trying to find my place in the SA music industry, I started by performing in various groups, choirs & cover bands covering songs from genres spanning several centuries.

No doubt the majority of wanna-be singers who have come to me for training over the years have wanted to sing songs that are current. With Michael Buble reigniting the Swing tunes from the century before & some of the great timeless musicals of the 1900’s, I would add that to the list of demands of students. Very few students ever ask for operatic training. It seems logical. It is not the music of our era & that is not to take away from it as there are certainly reasons to preserve it but my concern is with teachers out there who have trained operatically trying to justify why a contemporary student should train with them.

Yes, certainly the basis of this technique is what I would teach anyone wanting to sing but there many aspects that just do not apply to modern singing. A few hundred years ago, there were no microphones & therefore vocalists had to create a technique that would “self-amplify”. Technology has certainly changed that, meaning singers do not have to create a “false” sound to project over the instrumentation but rather a natural sound that simply is amplified by the system being used. Naturally this started happening. The jazz singers of the last century prove this & thus a new era of singing began. Often not the safest but it certainly did offer a way of expression to singers singing behind multiple musicians.

Another difference has been the vowels we use. Music, whether we like or not has been severely influenced in the modern world by the dominance of America & so the way we sing words has changed. As apposed to the “rounder” sounds, people started using vowels like “ee”, “A” as in “hat”, “uh” as in “luck” etc. We cannot runaway from this but you have to ask yourself, why are operatic trainers still forcing students who are trying to sing in a contemporary fashion to use vowels & place these sounds in a way that simply does not fit in our world?

The human race has evolved, things change, technology changes the world. Do we just stubbornly sit on a high horse & not accept that? Is it a fear that like some languages, a historical musical art form will die & in order to preserve it we must preach that it is the only method in which to sing? Personally, I think that’s just ignorant. What do you think?

Despite what a lot of my new & old fans may think, house music has been an integral part of my life & my career.

I guess it all started in high school. I went into high school, Standard 6 back then (now grade 8), not really knowing anyone. I befriended a crazy little Portuguese dude named Grant de Sousa. Back then we used to rip him about being a Prince fan…all those people are now religious fans…thanks Grant! Anyway, Grant’s older brother was the guy it seemed every guy wanted to be, to us anyway. His name is Craig de Sousa. Way back he was one of the 1st of a new breed of DJs & friends with many of whom are now massive DJs in South Africa. I just remember sleeping over at Grant’s place as a kid & hearing Craig & his buddies at 4, 5am & later coming home & blazing house music…no chance of us sleeping! Every now & then Grant & I would tag along with Craig & his buddies to some of the early raves.

From there it was only inevitable that Grant would take up DJing…Grant & I used to record these crazy tapes of us singing. Once I left school & started taking my music & singing more seriously I would tag along with Grant to various clubs in Johannesburg & test my improvising skills over deep & funky house. From there I decided to go it alone. I’d take my microphone to the local house clubs & randomly ask DJs if I could sing. Initially reluctant, I’d sell it that if they didn’t like it I’d leave knowing they would be impressed & I would score a few bucks out of it. Whoohoo!

I also met a little known but highly driven guy while studying at a little Campus in Bramley. Back then it was known as Allenby Campus – DJ Cleo. He was studying Sound Engineering while I was studying music. He showed me the other side of house music…how the Kasi people party. Quite a learning curve & it was dark but I could swear at one club one of Lebo Mathosa’s male dancers started grinding on me which must have been pretty funny to Cleo & all the other Black peeps at the club that night. Never the less it was Cleo who gave me my 1st opportunity in house music & as a result I recorded a few tracks on his debut album Eskhaleni ext. 4.

As a result of that & recording my 1st album Who I Am at Jazzworx, I met Craig Massive, one of the masterminds behind Tamara’s Dey’s early work & a great house DJ too. He’s now a member of the Flash Republic. Craig & Ryan Dent (a past friend of Craig De Sousa I might add) brought me on to record a track called Good Times which appeared on Ryan’s album Ryan Dent Presents Platform Music, a big hit on White radio stations country wide. I finally got the chance to work the man who made all the noise back in the day, Mr Craig de Sousa on a track that had huge success called Everything. It featured on his album The Deeper Sounds of Craig de Sousa. I followed that with a cover version of Prince’s When Doves Cry which appeared on a local cover album called The Cover, again produced by Massive & the Dentist. That along with Good Times & Everything have been the few songs featuring me on “white” radio stations.

Fast forward to now & Change the World has brought me back into the house scene & now is followed by a new track called Goodbye Baby produced by 37MPH. Check his great new album 37 Energy Levels. I still perform with Grant de Sousa which is kinda fun considering the way we used to mess around as kids & many other performances with various house DJs.

I know people often see me as a soul man & that I truly am BUT when I look back on more than half my life & certainly my music career…it all started with house!