Bien: ‘Nishike’ inspired ‘Alusa why are you Topless’ album
Sauti Sol’s Bien-Aimé Baraza has opened up about the transformation of his aspirations as an artist over the past two decades.
When he embarked on his musical journey, Bien told TV47 that his initial hopes were straightforward – to gain fame and hear his music played on the radio.
However, as time progressed, his perspective evolved.
“In the beginning, my hope was just to be played on radio and come for interviews. Right now, my hopes and dreams are to see that my music will inspire people and guide them in their lives,” shared Bien.
He emphasized the shift from seeking fame to wanting his music to serve a higher purpose, encouraging listeners to love more deeply and engage in positive actions.
“There was a time I used to sing for fame, but after I got it, I got bored, and sometimes it is a pain having fame. I just want people to be happy,” he explained.
Beyond the public image of the artist, Bien emphasized his role as a husband, son, and brother in his day-to-day life.
He highlighted his relatable routines, such as walking to the gym every morning and consistently enjoying his favorite meals from a local ‘kibanda’ for the past 10 years.
“What people see is Bien but in my day today life, I am a husband, a son a brother and I still walk to the gym every morning and I still eat fruits from a certain Kibanda for the last 10 years. I eat Mayai pasua everyday. I do not have bouncers around,” he said.
Addressing his musical choices, Bien clarified his deliberate decision not to follow popular trends like Amapiano, stating:
“I do what works for me. I love such music, but I do not want to experiment and look like I am trying too hard. Not to say I will never do, I will at the right time. I want to be authentic and be true to what is currently happening in people’s lives.”
Currently promoting his new album, ‘Alusa why Are you Topless,’ Bien explained the inspiration behind the title.
He said it stems from the song ‘Nishike,’ which faced controversy and bans.
The phrase “Alusa why are you topless?” was a question posed by his mother, encapsulating both the challenges and successes the band experienced during that period.
He said it symbolizes the boldness required to navigate the complexities of the music industry.
“The inspiration behind the title of thus album is from the song ‘Nishike’ that we did years back and it was banned. My mother called me and asked me, ‘Alusa why are you topless?” the topless also means what we lost then because of that song. We lost gigs, shows and even corporate cancelled us for like two months. On the other end, Nishike was also our first song that was played internationally. We started going for international shows. It represents the boldness of doing things.”
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