Reggae artiste Marlon Sansculotte, better known by his stage name Benji Diamond, who for many years has been performing alongside local artiste Gad I Kid is now making plans to go the journey in entertainment as a solo artiste leaning more towards a career in R&B.
The artiste told The Scene in a sit down that he feels he is now ready to take such a step. Benji Diamond who is popular for the song “True Warriors” released his latest single “Let Go” on several media platforms in October last year. He is in the middle of making a video for the R&B song and it is set to be released within the next month, once the Mashramani celebrations are over. The audio version of the song is expected to be released on air during the same time the video is released.
“Let Go” encourages women who have had enough troubles of their own, specifically with men, to let go. The song was penned based on a personal experience the singer had some time ago. Benji collaborated with overseas-based Guyanese rapper Yah Moore on the song while the recording was done at Kaieteur Records which is owned by Glen Miller.
The singer/songwriter who grew up in Ann’s Grove spent the last 20 years residing in Bagotsville. Both these places, he shared would have played an integral role in his upbringing and he will never forget that. A former student of West Demerara Secondary and Charlestown Secondary also, Benji has to date written a few hundred songs, including for several renowned Guyanese artistes like Shelly G, Fojo, Fire Fred, Tennicia DeFreitas and Malcolm Ferreira. The first Soca Monarch Competition saw Benji and Malcolm along with another artiste belonging to Ghetto Voices singing “All She Want Is Rich Man”.
For Benji one of his biggest challenges is that selectors do not play enough local music, nor do artistes have the opportunity to perform at many live events.
“In any country that we’re living in the artistes really are the stars in the country and the selectors are the ones promoting them. In Guyana it’s the other way around,” Benji said. “They actually suppress the artistes in order for them to be the stars. I hear DJs touring, artistes are usually the one touring. DJs getting all the options that artistes are supposed to be getting. I don’t know if they are doing that consciously or not, but whatever they are doing is [stifling] the local artistes. If they should lose us, they won’t receive the kind of followers they usually get. There are those who would try and promote us to some extent, but they are not doing it enough.”
He mentioned also that he would like to see the music industry unite and have a committee that represents all the artistes in Guyana lobbying on their behalf to the government.
Benji said he is excited already about his new venture – going solo – and already has plans to release a Pop song sometime after the release of the “Let Go” video. “I am hoping to sing more soulful music. I am looking to set the trend. That’s what I really want to do. I just want to sing good music,” Benji said.
It has been a number of years since the singer last performed. In fact, the last time he took the stage was the first appearance of Chronixx in Guyana. He has not yet booked any shows and cannot wait to do so.
“Let Go” can be found on YouTube at Benji Diamond. The singer is on Facebook as Marlon Benjidiamond Sans.
