“There’s nothing you can’t achieve, as long as you fix your eyes on it and not on your limited ability. Let God handle things for you. And whatever you end up doing, be consistent and don’t let anyone keep you down.” - Webi
Many artists struggle to find an appropriate stage name – not so Benjamin Webi, who laughingly thanks his parents for having the foresight to give him a name he could use on stage. Brought up in a musical family, Webi’s entry into Kenya’s music scene was more or less a certainty. It was how he chose to do it that caught the attention of many.
Traversing uncharted territory, Webi released his first neo-soul single Outside My Window to considerable airplay, despite his being unknown. Because of his genre, many did not even think Webi was Kenyan. When his second single Everlasting Love dropped, followed by a full length English album, there was no looking past him. Webi concedes that this approach was deliberate - neo-soul was still very new on Kenya’s Gospel scene, and almost everyone was singing a mixture of Swahili and slang. He says, “I wanted to do something different, something that would make me stand out.” Besides, he had tried rapping in high school and realized he couldn’t hack that!
For someone who fell in love with music at only four years of age, his success is no surprise. Webi recalls spending hours with his grandfather, listening to him sing and accompanying him on performance tours. His twin-love for acoustic guitar was inherited from his mother, whom he says has been playing daily for as long as he can remember. She also taught him to play the instrument that has become as much a part of Webi’s uniqueness as his voice.
Yet despite surrounding environments, every man must have a moment when his calling becomes clear to him. Webi believes his came in the last year of primary school, when he wrote a song and sang it at a holiday camp. “I knew (then) that this is something I was going to be doing for the rest of my life.” When he got into high school, he promptly joined the choir and took up music. A minor bump put paid to this drive however, as he was soon transferred to a new school. But as soon as high school was done with, he picked up music lessons again at the Joy Music and Creative Arts School, where he now teaches piano and classical guitar.
Webi kicked off his stage appearances with stints in various churches, including the Winner’s chapel in Mombasa, where he was a band member. But it was not until he met producers Ben “Gittx” Gitau and Steve “Steve-O” Ominde that his career got the mainstream jolt it needed. He got to know them as he spent hours at their studios while contemporary Gospel group Votaries (who are his close friends) recorded their first album. Noticing his guitar skill and outstanding vocals, Soulchild Records signed him up and began work on his debut album, Outside My Window. The album features, amongst others The Votaries and Kiki. Webi points out that Gittx and Steve-O have been instrumental in his career, helping him to stretch his limits. “They felt my style. Few producers can do that”, he says.
Webi concedes that breaking out was not easy. In the first place, putting music together was a significant challenge - he had never done it before. Getting performances also came a cropper. Churches were reluctant to allow him the stage, not only because he was new and virtually unknown, but also because of their reluctance to embrace such expression. Today, this is largely a thing of the past as he has performed in major churches across the city, and shared the stage with some of the biggest names in the industry.
However, Webi is just beginning; he is already at work on his sophomore album. Even though he plans to stay true to his style, he hopes it will feature more of his native Swahili. Of his big plans for the future he says, “My goal right now is to penetrate national boundaries and go international. I believe (my music) can be listened to everywhere.” He also plans to make use of his advanced diploma in marketing to set up his own marketing consultancy firm.
Webi - Outside My Window
Like A Child - Download
“And just as a child, looking for an embrace. Reassure me you are there, let me know you care. Human and frail, against you I have failed but I want to make it right, Lord take up the fight…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
Free feat. Holy Dave - Download
“I am therefore free from every burden, He took me and made me a
whole new being. He’s been faithful, He’s been all I’ve had and nothing
could compare to all that He’ll always be there…”
Written By
Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic
Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
Everlasting Love - Download
“He loves with everlasting love, He cares with everlasting care, He will always be there, He doesn’t change with time and He’s reaching out to you. He dwells inside the hearts of everyone who welcomes him inside, friend to the friendless and in His warm embrace, that’s just where I wanna be…”
Written By Webi & Nessy Mwakesi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
The Place - Download
The Place (Acoustic Version) - Download
“So I will run away to the place where God’s children hide, to the place where I’d find shelter, to the place where I’d reside. I will call His name everyday, even when there’s trouble for He will Have mercy on me…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
Never Let You Down - Download
“Too many times we lean to doubting, too many times we just despair. We tend to forget that God has loved us, we even forget He’s always there. Our lives nad our future’s all been paid for, we just need to trust His promises, He will never let us down at all…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
Outside My Window feat. Votaries & Steve Ominde (Original Version) - Download
Outside My Window (Acoustic Version) - Download
“So when I look outside my window or I stare at the sky above, I feel the peace that’s so refreshing and I know you’re a God of love and you’re presence fills the empty space that was causes by the worry inside, when I look Outside my window…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
My World feat. Kiki - Download
“Looking for the right place to begin telling of the joy I’m feeling deep within, washed by the blood forgiven of sin. Over and above all gifts in life, more than anything I’m glad to be alive but most of all I’m glad I’m living in Him…”
Written By Webi and Kiki
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
I Believe - Download
“Now I’m filled with Hope and faith, found me some new strength treading a whole new path. I’m changed, no longer the same, happiness has found a new home in my heart…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
What it takes - Download
“It takes a lot of strength, smiling when you’re struggling hoping when there’s nothing, takes a lot of faith to visualize what you can’t see. It takes a miracle, when you reach the end and there’s nowhere to turn to, takes a helping hand to lift you up when you are down…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
Love & War - Download
“To accomplish what we really must do, you need me I need you, somehow,
overlook all the wars we have. We are human and we all make mistakes, we
have those weaknesses but now, lets join hands to make this happen…”
Written By Webi
Produced By Ben “Gittx” Gitau at SoulChild Records
Acoustic Strings By Webi
http://www.Webimusic.com
All I Can Say - Download
Produced By David “BlackMan” Muthami
Written By Webi
Guitar By Webi and Isaac Mugunda
BlackMan Entertainment
http://www.Webimusic.com
There’s a God - Download
Produced By David “BlackMan” Muthami
Written By Webi
Guitar By Webi and Isaac Mugunda
BlackMan Entertainment
http://www.Webimusic.com
Dance feat. Neema & Rigga - Download
Produced By David “BlackMan” Muthami
Written By Webi
Guitar By Webi and Isaac Mugunda
BlackMan Entertainment
http://www.Webimusic.com
