'Going solo was my second lease on life': Bien says in historic Breakfast Club interview

Kenyan singer Bien-Aimé Baraza, formerly one-fourth of the iconic Sauti Sol boy band, is carving a solo path that’s blazing across the globe, and straight into history books.

Bien became the first East African artist to grace the stage of The Breakfast Club radio show in New York, a feat that boldly stamps his name among the continent's musical elite.

Speaking on the decision to chart his own path away from Sauti Sol after a two-decade journey together, Bien said; “This is my second lease on life. I was in a boy band for 20 years. Now I’m a solo artist. I’ve been solo for two years now and everything’s looking up.”

Currently on a sold-out tour across ten U.S. states, the vocalist is not only giving Americans a taste of East Africa’s finest, but also reintroducing himself — not just as a performer, but as a man reborn in music.

Though Sauti Sol took a pause, Bien made it clear that brotherhood hasn’t skipped a beat.

“We’re all working together. We’re all writing for one another and producing for one another,” he said, laying to rest any rumours of a dramatic band break-up.

The split, he explained, was necessary — a breath of fresh air so each member could explore their own artistic seasons.

On the global stage, Bien was as candid as ever about the state of East African music, boldly pointing out that it often lacks the marketing firepower that fuels Western hits.

“Any music you hear in the West is marketing dollars spent to get that music there,” he stated plainly, as only Bien can.

He also addressed the controversial Kenyan government bid to host the African Grammys — a conversation that stirred public outcry amid harsh economic times. Bien didn’t shy away from acknowledging the public’s frustration.

“The news came out at a very bad time because economically, and even now, we’re not doing so well as a country. So $3.8 million spent on the Grammys feels like an impulse spend to the people,” he said.

But with the heart of a dreamer and the foresight of a mogul, he defended the vision: “Not a lot of people have the insights of the music business to understand the value of the Grammys coming to Kenya…This is a future investment for the artists who are coming. They’re going to thank us one day.”

Music has been Bien’s first love since the tender age of six, when Bob Marley’s ‘Iron Lion Zion’ lit a fire in his young heart.

Since then, he’s been singing for over three decades — long before the stardom, the stages, and the Sauti Sol days.
“I put out my first single with Sauti Sol when I was a freshman, and just like that, my life changed,” he recalled. A Communications degree followed, paid for in part by his music — proof that melody can move both hearts and financial burdens.

Looking to the future, Bien dreams of working with American powerhouses like Beyoncé and Coco Jones, drawn to their artistry and work ethic.

After wrapping up his U.S. run, Bien has set his sights on Europe, extending his solo journey and flying the East African flag even higher.

Bien also confirmed that he is managed by his wife, Chiki Kuruka, proving once again that behind every great man is a woman handling the contracts, the bookings, and probably telling him to drink more water.

From Nairobi to New York and beyond, Bien’s voice is no longer just a national treasure — it’s a global sound, built on grit, grace, and the glorious power of reinvention.