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RJ Benjamin changes the music world

TALENTED: RJ Benjamin. Pic. Unknown. RJ Benjamin - Singer, songwriter
TALENTED: RJ Benjamin. Pic. Unknown. RJ Benjamin - Singer, songwriter

RJ BENJAMIN wants to change the world. And he seems to have succeeded because house music fanatics just love his song Change the World.

RJ BENJAMIN wants to change the world. And he seems to have succeeded because house music fanatics just love his song Change the World.

Benjamin is no stranger to the world of house music, even though his preferred genre is neo-soul.

"Change the World was not the first house track I recorded. I have worked with DJ Cleo on his album Eskhaleni Ext 4. My first album, Who I am, was neo-soul," he says.

It was his father's obsession with soul music that got him writing his first lyrics at the age of eight.

Michael Jackson was another huge influence. "I always knew I loved music. Even in class at school all I did was writing lyrics."

Many of his peers were shocked when at 16 he showed his talent with a public piano performance.

He met DJ Cleo at Allenby Campus, where he was studying sound engineering. After graduation, he was called back to teach music.

He has written, produced and featured on some of the country's top musos' albums such as Lira, Danny K, Tumi, Pebbles, Gift Gwe and Slikour.

R&B has a smaller portion of the market, and he believes there is strength in numbers. That's why he is teaming up with artists like Nothende, Puff Johnson and Pebbles. "Kwaito artists are always teaming up. The same goes for house and hip-hop. We are also trying to do the same thing to increase our following."

His 2008 album Swimming in the Soul of Music collected a Metro FM award for Best R&B Album. "This album reflected a time in my life. It signifies growth."

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