Benjamin Amaru

About

" Pop’s modern chameleon, making every day count with styles galore "

“Make everyday count,” instructs Benjamin Amaru on his 2020 EP, ‘Life is a Fcking Adventure’. It’s a rallying cry the Swiss artist lives and dies by. And in an era where every artist seems to be prolific, Amaru almost redefines the term. Instead of resting on his laurels during the pandemic, Amaru released two new EPs, along with an abundance of singles, including the aforementioned, affirmative ‘Life is a Fcking Adventure’, putting most other artists to shame.

Born Benjamin Widmer to Swiss and Iranian parents in St. Gallen, Switzerland, the R&B and pop star released his first EP in 2018, and it wasn’t long until he was named “Best Talent” by Radio SRF 3. His sound quickly developed from that of a lo-fi pop producer to a more versatile and diverse sounding artist over the past couple of years. Such a transition can be seen by comparing, for instance, the cheeky wit of 2019’s ‘U-Ser-Name’, a track glamourising the use of social media, to the beautiful, longing piano ballad of 2021’s ‘Sound of Your Smile’. It’s not just the added maturity and wisdom that has become more ever-present in the artist’s style, but also his ability to switch easily between genres, without changing his artistic identity, or losing any of his charm.

The Swiss singer actually took his new artist persona from Túpac Amaru, the last Inca king in North America. Indeed, like his namesake, he is quickly becoming artistic royalty within his native land. The self-taught instrumentalist started his musical journey at the the age of 14, and is now a regular on the European touring scene. Alongside his producer Yosef Akdil, Amaru pours his soul into his music, writing metaphors through poetry, and releasing it all independently. 

With this freedom and autonomy, he’s been able to craft his own ideology and sound, manifesting his own kingdom of varied music, from the heart-filled indie ballad of ‘Young Man Alive’, to the wistful piano ditty that is ‘September Skies’. With such craft and ability, the world does indeed belong to Amaru, who is still making everyday count.

Photo : Fernsichten