Benjamin Traudes

Although Benjamin, 32, now has a clear vision that he is realizing, his musical journey started somewhat differently. Despite not coming from a creative environment, he developed his passion for music at a young age. For instance, at the age of eleven, he won his school’s singing competition, and his early interest in hip-hop led him to experiment with rap music, after which he discovered that his heart lay in singing.

Today, Benjamin’s broad musical interest can also be heard in the music he has released. On his debut EP, Donkerblauw, he focused mainly on calmer and more narrative music with themes such as love and vulnerability. While his love for rap is not immediately apparent to the listener in this EP, true connoisseurs understand that Benjamin still hints at this passion in the lyrics he writes. He uses rhyme schemes rooted in this genre, allowing him to still incorporate his interest into his current sound.

At the Conservatorium, he took his musical career seriously. This resulted in him becoming the frontman of an English-language band, receiving recognition as a 3FM Talent, and signing a record deal with Sony Music. However, the pandemic brought an unexpected twist, leading Benjamin to continue making music solo. This brought him closer to his own sound, and he decided to focus entirely on it. He returned to creating Dutch-language songs, becoming more layered, narrative, and personal in the music he released. In 2020, his TikTok videos, in which he shared his music from home with the world, reached a large audience, and he signed with the record label Noah’s Ark. In his lyrics, he beautifully balances poetry, technique, and relatability, effortlessly enchanting his audience with a unique sound that is both timeless and contemporary.

What distinguishes Benjamin as an artist is that he is also a songwriter for other artists, including Bente and Idaly. By writing not only for himself but also for others, Benjamin can fully unleash his creativity. Growing up in a household where both parents work as psychologists, it is not unusual for Benjamin to empathize with others. This enables him to express the stories and emotions he hears around him well. With introspective music and giving a voice to stories that are not always heard in our society, Benjamin creates timeless music that not only sounds good but also resonates.