'5 Questions With': Benin City
"Even a danceable bop can carry a message. As an intersectional band our sheer existence is political. Our otherness is political."
Photo Credit: Suzi Corker
Meet Benin City - Formed out of Josh Idehen, Tom Leaper and Shanaz Dorsett, trio Benin City formed in 2012 when their passion to create a jazz-funk-dance fusion brought them together. Taking influence from the likes of Christine and The Queens, The 1975, Kelis and Kaytranada, to name but a few, the trio highlights social injustices and personal growth, such as Windrush and cultural appropriation, in their songs. Their remarkab;e storytelling and unique sound has attracted a diverse and ever-growing audience of clubbers, indie fans and pop fans alike.
Just recently they have dropped a brand new single ‘We Belong To Us’, which has already been dubbed as ‘Stranger Things Prom Scene Vibes’, and which accentuates the importance of individuality. We had a chat with them about the track, being a protest band and much more.
Read the full interview below…
EQ: Hey guys. How did you all meet and ultimately decide to form Benin City?
J: We all met at various points, in various parts of the London underground music scene, back in the passing clouds and Madame Jojo days. Tom and I first, then Shanaz later on.
S: I was performing as a lowly solo artist for a while when I met Josh by chance and ended up singing vocals on ‘Bus’. It was so much fun working with these guys from the get go that I gradually wormed my way into a full-time position in the band!
EQ: How did your group name Benin City come about?
J: It’s my hometown back in Nigeria. It was meant to be a placeholder til we thought of something better. I never did.
EQ: Let’s talk about your single ‘We Belong To Us’! I’d love to hear more about the meaning behind it, especially the phrase ‘When do we get a night off survival’?
T: Night off from survival…: the day-to-day struggle really ways you down. The shame we carry. The worry. The fear for your safety as a marginalized person. The feeling of isolation we can experience when we navigate a world as a person that deviates from “the norm”. The struggle to be seen and to be afforded the same respect as everyone else. Safe spaces are somewhere this weight can be shrugged off, where you can take off your amour and be truly authentic and carefree. Without fear.
S: A night off from survival’ came to me while on the bus from my day job at the time, to a session with the band. Sometimes just staying safe, feeding yourself, code-switching, blending in and making ends meet feels like it’s a full-time job itself. We Belong To Us is essentially a call to action to your friends to take off their coats and pause to actually live for a moment. For us, dancing is the way we do that best.
“The day-to-day struggle really ways you down. The shame we carry. The worry. The fear for your safety as a marginalized person. The feeling of isolation we can experience when we navigate a world as a person that deviates from “the norm”.”
- Benin City
EQ: Considering you’re a protest band, what do you want your listeners to take away from your music?
T: Even a danceable bop can carry a message. As an intersectional band our sheer existence is political. Our otherness is political. Telling our stories and sharing our lived experience feels powerful and there much we have learned from each other and solidarity we have found in some of our experiences.
S: I always describe songwriting as ‘helping to make sense of the human condition’. Life can be bloody complex but we can somehow help people make sense of it all via a 3-minute banger. Some folks will leave feeling validated by a lyric and some will just enjoy letting off steam to the beats.
J: We all deserve better. Dance is protest. Hold the ones you love. Eat cake share cake.
EQ: What else are you working on right now?
T: Self-acceptance and churning out danceable pop demos at an alarming rate.
J: Fatherhood and more music, obviously.
Listen to the track ‘We Belong To Us’ below…
Stream ‘We Belong To Us’ HERE
Follow Benin City on socials:
Tik Tok: @wearebenincity
Instagram: @wearebenincity
