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Burna Boy inspired my album name ‘Sincerely, Benson’ – BNXN
Nigerian Afro-fusion artist Daniel Benson, known professionally as Bnxn and formerly known as Buju, recently had a conversation with Apple Music Africa Now Radio, shedding light on his latest album, ‘Sincerely, Benson,’ which made its debut on October 5, 2023.
During the interview with Nandy Madiba, BNXN shared the intriguing backstory behind his album’s title. He disclosed that the name ‘Sincerely, Benson‘ was inspired by none other than the Nigerian Grammy-winning superstar, Burna Boy. Burna had advised BNXN to find a way to incorporate his new moniker, BNXN (short for Benson), into the album’s title after he made the name change from Buju to BNXN.
“I went out with Burna Boy. We were talking – this is around the period where I’d just changed the name – and he’s like ‘yo, now you need to personalise that name, you need to make an emphasis on that name. This name? That has to be your album name. It has to be part of your album itself, you need to sell it with you.’
He told me that and it stuck to me so bad, but it was crazy because months after that he drops ‘Love, Damini’. You know, his real name! I was like ‘Ahhh my guy, I feel you!’… so yeah, that was one of the reasons that really inspired the name, the need to personalise and make an emphasis on the name, so people really identify me for what it is.”
BNXN stands out as one of the Nigerian artists whose music is deeply rooted in his emotions. In the interview, he revealed that his inaugural LP, ‘Sincerely, Benson,’ drew its inspiration from a personal heartbreak that he went through.
“True story: I was in love when I was in this project. I was so heartbroken when I made this project because I had just left a relationship. I know that I was the one that really caused it, [that] made that happen, but it’s like… how do you really tell someone you’re sorry if you can’t own up to it and accept it? That was one of the themes that inspired the project.”
BNXN explained that the content within the album was meticulously crafted to provide a diverse range of songs, each designed to resonate with the unique sensitivities of various listeners.
“This album itself encompasses so much emotion, especially if you can relate or you understand. Also in there, there is still a need for you to feel good and dance and vibe. It’s why songs like ‘GWAGWALADA’, ‘Mukulu’, and ‘Right Energy’ are on there. It kind of gives you this sense where yeah, we’re about to sink into a project full of emotions, but I also want you people to feel good, you know? I feel like this is such a perfect project, it has everything.”
BNXN is getting ready to embark on his North American tour, where he will be performing songs from his recently released album.