Jonathan Benjamin, popularly known by his stage name Guccibenx, was born on January 24, 1998. Deeply moved by his depressed and lonely childhood lifestyle, with no friends and filled with anxieties, he began writing sad musical lyrics to ease his pain on how the world lives and how the people live with the world. Bestowed with so much talent, Guccibenx decided to go musical by making digital instrumentals and vocally recorded lyrics independently. His debut album “Awoken Asylum” expresses his depressed lyrics and sad vocals accompanied by heartbroken feels together with hood lifestyle. Guccibenx voiced out during an interview saying he’s here to cure depression with his good music.
- Tell us something about your youth and how you got started making music?
Guccibenx: I started music by writing lyrics when I was young, along the line I stopped writing because I felt I don’t need it which is proven wrong at the moment. I always sing along great rappers and singers anytime I do listen to their song, and that helps me build my music skills a lot. I began learning how to make instrumentals with the help of great producer showing their skills online. After watching my progress in beats making, I say to myself to whom will I wait to promote my beat making with? And I say to myself, nobody but me. So I started flowing on my own beats and it awesome.
- Who were your first and strongest musical influences that you can remember?
Guccibenx: lil Wayne, Bruno Mars, Rihanna and Dr Dre.
- For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style?
Guccibenx: I just started making music lol, but I don’t think there will be a specific pattern of making music for me, I will do anything that brings joy. For originality, I believe you should keep it 100 from day 1, if you want to create your own originality, then you have to be original from onset. But I see nothing bad in picking another artist style, provided it’s what you and the audience like.
- What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners?
Guccibenx: Passion, melodies and fascinating story line. Every time I make music, I try so hard to make sure my melodies are good and the lyrics too.
- What do you think mainly separates you from the massive crowd of artists emerging right now on platforms all over the web?
Guccibenx: Firstly, I make my instrumentals so my music is purely me. And my style is distinctive as well because am mixing the trap style with the Afro style, so it’s a new thing.
- Do you write your own lyrics, and if so, where do you mostly draw your inspiration from?
Guccibenx: I do write my lyrics and I get my inspiration from almost anything that inspires me, it can be another artist or something antique, unique and different.
- What is your process when making beats, recording and producing your music? Do you collaborate with others or outsource any of these tasks?
Guccibenx: Not really, 100% me. But am looking forward to see myself work with great people…music is togetherness
- What key ingredients do you always try and infuse into your performances?
Guccibenx: Sadness in my heart due to how the world operates
- What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your career or life so far, and how did you overcome the event?
Guccibenx: The most difficult thing I’ve faced in music production would be beat making, how to make the mix sound good, and also I have faced the problem of finding legit promoters and that I’ve not truly overcome.
- What would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your career so far?
Guccibenx: Billboard. I will be so proud to see my song in the billboard chart.
- If you had the opportunity to change one thing about how the music business works right now, what would that be?
Guccibenx: I can’t say much about this. I haven’t encounter any real big problem with the music business. I but I would say how up and coming artist are treated and how record label extort artist.
- How do you handle criticism and/or haters in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
Guccibenx: I don’t even know who’s a hater, I just ignore.
- Which aspects of being an independent artist excites you most and which aspects discourages you most?
Guccibenx: The part of independency that interest me the most is you keeping everything to yourself and doing anything you want at your time. But what discourage me the most is the connection. You won’t even look like an artist until you’re famous. Independent artist don’t have connection to the bigger promoters and artist branding as well. So it’s a hard decision to make as both tends to tend on something.
- What is your relationship with visual media? Do you think videos are important for your music, and have you, or will you be producing any video clips?
Guccibenx: Sure videos are very important, as it shows your audience what you really are and also it gives vivid explanations to your music. Am looking forward in making lots and lots of videos for my music.
- In general, do you consider Internet and all the social media websites as fundamental in building a career in music today, and what is your personal relationship with the new technology at hand?
Guccibenx: I consider Social media and social media marketing as a great tool, as a matter of fact I will say a great startup tool. Am also putting lots of efforts in making my socials look better as well.
- If someone has never heard your music, which keywords would you personally use to describe your overall sound and style?
Guccibenx: Dark sad trap
- Could you tell us something about the making of your latest release?
Guccibenx: My latest release “Cops Moment”. Seeing plenty of artist been taking to prison, with most of them doing literally nothing to be given the prison sentence. I felt so bad and I was having a string slow beats, which I flow on and I like the track. Y’all will as well.
- Do you have any favorite track in your catalog that has a specific backstory and/or message and meaning very dear to you?
Guccibenx: “Cops Moment” because of Nigga’s unlawfully taken to jail. “Heartbroken Flirt and Bitches snitch too” are the melodious.
- Do you only create and work in a studio environment, or do you also find time to perform live? And which of these two do you ultimately prefer and why?
Guccibenx: I will love to do both, but I love working in studio.
- What do you find most rewarding about what you do? And do you have a specific vision or goal that you would like to achieve in the near future with this project?
Guccibenx: Rewarding? Everything little thing I do or add to my music career is rewarding to me. Am looking to be known with my present project on ground. I want to be known and respected as an artist too.
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Thumbs up, Good sound
Great lyrics