Kenyan singer-songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Bensoul has released ‘Flight 420 ‘, a 13-track album that reflects on his growth as an artist by blending reggae-inspired sounds with the Afrosoul and Afropop influences that have shaped his identity.

The release comes after a listening party held in Nairobi on 27 October.

The album is an exercise in documenting life as it happens according to Bensoul.  Across 13 tracks, he draws from the experiences, relationships and changing emotions that have shaped his personal and creative journey, exploring what it means to grow, find joy in the present and pursue the things that make life meaningful.

He approaches the project as a reflection of where he is now, acknowledging that growth is as much about appreciating the present as it is about working towards the future.

“I’m at a stage in my life where I’ve come to appreciate the simple things in life,” Bensoul said. “This album wasn’t about hits, or creating what is supposed to trend; it was about encapsulating the feelings I have on a day-to-day basis, knowing that I’m not the only one.”

Although reggae provides a central influence on the project, Bensoul is not interested in recreating a sound that already exists.

His approach reflects a longstanding curiosity about music across genres and cultures, and a belief that those influences become most meaningful when filtered through an artist’s own experiences and identity.

“Kenyan music has a beautiful way of taking what we love and mixing it with who we are to make it ours,” he explains. “Over the years, I’ve experimented with music that inspires me and found that what works for me isn’t trying to copy others but fuse my style to what inspires me.”

And in this, Bensoul is just one among many Kenyan and African artists who continue to draw from global sounds while developing distinctive musical identities rooted in their own environments.

For Bensoul, reggae-inspired rhythms offer another way to explore the emotional storytelling that has long defined his songwriting, while allowing him to move beyond the expectations attached to any one genre.

The album is built around three interconnected themes: life, joy and passion. Together, they form a framework through which Bensoul examines the contradictions of being human, from the uncertainty of personal growth to the exhilaration of love, friendship and pursuing a meaningful life.

  • Life, represented by the colour green in the project’s conceptual framework, explores the idea that growth is rarely linear.

Bensoul draws a parallel between human development and the growth of a tree, which requires the right conditions but must also adapt to changes beyond its control.

Through the songs “NYR,” “Robin Hood” and “Cassanova,” he reflects on the importance of allowing difficult experiences and perceived imperfections to become part of one’s story rather than reasons to stop moving forward.

  • Joy is approached not as a reward waiting at the end of a difficult journey, but as something to be experienced along the way.

Time spent with friends, the satisfaction of achieving a long-held goal and the quiet pleasure of watching a sunset all become reminders that life is happening in the present.

“NaEnjoy” speaks to this perspective, encouraging listeners to make room for enjoyment even while navigating the responsibilities and uncertainties of everyday life.

  • Passion explores the intensity that comes with pursuing what matters. For Bensoul, stepping beyond familiar boundaries can be uncomfortable, but it can also create experiences that reshape our understanding of ourselves and the world.

The theme reflects his own willingness to keep experimenting as an artist, even when the direction is unfamiliar or difficult to predict.

“I want them to think of the songs as they do this thing we call life and know that even if they can’t always put their feelings down in words, the music is a reminder that as long as you’re breathing and got the chance to wake up today, it’s not over and you’re not alone,” Bensoul said. “Sudah Nation is a place where you can be you, come as you are.”

While ‘Flight 420’ is deeply personal in its subject matter, its creation reflects Bensoul’s belief that music is best developed through collaboration.

His journey has taken him from his early work with H_art the Band to becoming the first artist signed to Sauti Sol’s Sol Generation Records, before establishing his independent creative direction through Sudah Nation.

Throughout these chapters, working with other musicians has remained central to his process.

For this album, Bensoul brought together a group of trusted collaborators for a writing camp in February, using the sessions to translate his ideas and experiences into a cohesive musical project.

Producers Hendrick Sam, Wuodomollo and Jaz Beatz helped shape the production, while longtime collaborator Trevor Magak recorded the instrumental elements.

Backing vocalists Lisa Odour, Jojo Ocholla and Lexxie Waweru add depth to the arrangements, making particularly significant contributions to “Cassanova” and “Thank You.”

Hornsphere, musicians Bensoul has known since the early stages of his career, bring horn arrangements to selected songs, while Ywaya Tajiri contributes to a creative partnership built on songwriting, harmonies and an easy exchange of ideas.

The process required a team capable of understanding Bensoul’s vision while bringing their own strengths to the music.

Some of the arrangements presented challenges that other collaborators might have avoided, but the musicians embraced the opportunity to explore unfamiliar territory.

This balance between a clear artistic vision and collective creativity is essential. Independence has given him greater responsibility for his career, but it has not diminished the value he places on the people who help bring his ideas to life.

A toast to growth and evolution

Bensoul’s career has been defined by a willingness to evolve. Born Benson Mutua Muia, he established himself as a distinctive voice in Kenya’s contemporary music scene through expressive vocals, melodic songwriting and an ability to move between Afrosoul, Afropop, R&B and other influences.

His early work with H_art the Band helped introduce his sound to a wider audience, before his signing to Sol Generation in 2019 brought further recognition.

His songwriting has also reached beyond his own catalogue. Bensoul co-wrote “Time Flies,” featured on Burna Boy’s Grammy-winning album ‘Twice as Tall’, demonstrating the contribution Kenyan songwriters can make to projects with international reach.

Following his departure from Sol Generation, he began building his independent operation, a transition that brought new responsibilities alongside greater creative control.

His earlier albums, ‘The Lion of Sudah’ and ‘The Party & The After Party ‘, documented different stages of his development, from establishing his identity to exploring celebration and the emotions that follow it.

With ‘Flight 420’, the emphasis shifts towards perspective. Bensoul reflects on the lessons that have come with running his own label, navigating setbacks, celebrating successes and learning to recognise progress beyond the music itself.

“When I listen to the songs from earlier on in my career, I get transported back to that place and the place I was in during that time,” he said. “When I listen to this album, I can’t help but smile because we’ve grown, and not just production-wise. We’ve loved, we’ve lost people we care about, we’ve fought and we’ve enjoyed.”

Ultimately, Bensoul hopes the album will help listeners feel understood, whatever stage of life they find themselves in. He does not want to dictate what people should take from the songs, but to offer music they can return to as their own experiences change.

“I can’t be put in a box,” he says. “The only guiding force that can tell me what to do is God. But with everything I put out, I know that someone out there will listen to it and feel connected.”