BNZA’s Sublime New Single “U”
BNZA is back — with a new single each month till the end of the year.
The Canadian musician BNZA’s electric debut, “Soul Tree”, ranks among some of the best pop albums by an independent artist of this decade. Intimately personal and often deeply touching, “Soul Tree '' is a masterful album that introduced BNZA as one of Toronto’s greatest undiscovered talents. “Everything is independent,” he told me in March when I remarked how shocked I was that he did this on his own. “It’s just me and my small team trying to make it work.
But together, BNZA and his team M6K have created some incredible work.
Though he’s remained independent in the three years since the release of “Soul Tree”, BNZA has continued to push himself to new heights as a singer-songwriter. After launching the brilliant pop single “Selfish” this past spring, BNZA returns to the tension of loneliness and desire, two topics he excels in writing about. On his transcendent new single “U”, released this Friday, the singer makes a toast to the OGs then tells his girl, “It’s you that I need. Don’t leave me alone.”
“U” is a dreamy collaboration between BNZA and the producer Young Jin, whose swelling production allows BNZA’s falsetto vocals to reach skyrocketing heights in the chorus. As the song builds, so does BNZA’s delivery. This makes for a lush listening experience because BNZA’s voice has never sounded as gorgeous as it does on “U”.
This week, BNZA announced that “U” will be the first single in a series of new songs that will be released each month through the end of the year. “Sorry for making yall wait so long,” he wrote on his Instagram stories when he announced the new music after months of teasing projects in the studio.
Toronto readers will have the chance to hear “U” and a sample of these songs live before anyone else this weekend. BNZA will open for viral hitmakers CLUB BOYBND on August 4th at the Drake Hotel, where BNZA played his first solo show in April – and sold out the venue. Tickets for this weekend’s show are also extremely limited, and will likely sell out. For fans looking for indie artists on the verge of a breakthrough, this is a must-see concert.
But for all of his talents, BNZA’s goals for his music are earnest. “I just want my music to touch people, whether it be the lyrics, melody or production,” BNZA told me in our first interview. “I just want my listeners to feel something. As long as I give something to the listeners and they feel something, that’s what matters.”
The musician’s vivid songwriting often describes mad love or bends bad boy machismo imagery, and these things are partly what makes him such a compelling artist. Whether he’s seducing a girl on “Big Trouble” or working to win that girl back on the lithe track “Us”, BNZA’s compassion and charm always grounds his work. “You’re the one for me, girl,” he encourages his lover on “Us”. “Nothing better in this world/ Just believe in me like I believe in you.”
On “U”, BNZA circles back to these moments, admitting that he’s spent time “thinking about the old me” before hitting the realization that his ex is the one he needs around him. “It’s always you and me,” he reminds her. “You’re my only dream.” Listen just once to this sublime single – and you’ll believe him.
