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Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza (born 28 December 1987), known professionally as Bien, is a Kenyan singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is a member of the acclaimed Kenyan Afropop band Sauti Sol.[1]
As a solo artist, Bien has achieved commercial success with his debut album Alusa Why Are You Topless? and is a co-founder of the record label Sol Generation Records. He is also a Grammy-certified songwriter for his contribution to the Burna Boy album Twice as Tall.[2]
Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. He attended Upper Hill School, where he met his future Sauti Sol bandmates, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi. The group was initially an a cappella group called Voices in the Light.[3] The fourth member, guitarist Polycarp Otieno, joined after they graduated.
After high school, Bien enrolled at the United States International University Africa (USIU-Africa), where he graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Media Studies.[4]
As a lead vocalist and primary songwriter for Sauti Sol, Bien was central to the band's rise to become one of Africa's most successful musical groups. Formed in 2005, the band gained international recognition for its unique sound, which blended traditional Kenyan influences with contemporary Afropop and R&B. The band released several critically acclaimed albums, including Mwanzo (2008), Sol Filosofia (2011), Live and Die in Afrika (2015), Afrikan Sauce (2019), and Midnight Train (2020).
In May 2023, Sauti Sol announced they would be taking an "indefinite hiatus" following a final world tour, allowing the members to focus on their individual solo projects.[1]
Bien had been involved in solo projects for several years, but his solo career officially gained momentum in 2021. He signed a deal with Sol Generation Records, a label he co-founded, to release his personal projects.[5]
In November 2021, he released his debut EP, Bald Men Love Better, a collaboration with jazz pianist Aaron Rimbui. The EP was praised for its musicality and introspective lyrics.[6]
In November 2023, Bien released his debut full-length solo album, Alusa Why Are You Topless?. The 16-track album featured collaborations with international artists, including Ayra Starr, Ms Banks, and Scar Mkadinali.[7] That same month, he became the fourth Kenyan artist to be featured on the acclaimed German music platform COLORSxSTUDIOS, where he performed his song "True Love."[8]
He embarked on a European tour in early 2024 to promote the album.[9] In July 2024, he released a deluxe version of the album, featuring new tracks and collaborations with artists like Fally Ipupa and Adekunle Gold.[10] His music has achieved significant commercial success; in 2024, Spotify named him the most-streamed Kenyan artist of the year.[11]
