Bien

Bien-Aimé Alusa Baraza, popularly known as Bien born on 28 December 1987.is a celebrated Kenyan musician, songwriter, and music executive. He rose to prominence as a lead vocalist of Sauti Sol, one of Africa’s most successful Afropop bands. Born and raised in Nairobi, Bien attended Upper Hill School, where he met his future bandmates. A turning point in his life occurred in 2007 when he was involved in a car accident — a life-altering event that led Sauti Sol to commit to pursuing music professionally. As part of Sauti Sol, Bien gained continental and global recognition for his rich vocals, songwriting skills, and dynamic stage presence. In 2021, he also signed as a solo artist under Sol Generation Records, marking the beginning of his individual musical journey. That same year, he released his debut EP, Bald Men Love Better, in collaboration with renowned jazz pianist Aaron Rimbui. The six-track project featured hits like Bald Men Anthem, Stamina, Coming Home, and Mbwe Mbwe, all co-produced by the duo. Bien’s solo career flourished with standout singles such as Dimension, Inauma, and Mbwembwe, with Inauma becoming the most streamed Kenyan song on Spotify in 2023. That year, he also became the most followed Kenyan artist on Spotify and released his critically acclaimed debut solo album, Alusa Why Are You Topless?. The 16-track album featured collaborations with major artists including Ayra Starr, Ms. Banks, and Scar Mkadinali, showcasing Bien’s genre-blending versatility. His artistic excellence gained international recognition when he became the fourth Kenyan artist to perform on COLORSxSTUDIOS with a moving rendition of True Love. In 2024, Bien embarked on a successful European tour and released a deluxe version of his debut album. The expanded project included five new tracks, notably Ma Cherie (Remix) featuring Fally Ipupa and Wahala featuring Adekunle Gold. Bien's achievements are not limited to commercial success. He won a Grammy Award for his songwriting contribution to Burna Boy’s album Twice As Tall, which clinched the award for Best Global Music Album. In 2025, he was honored with a Trace Award for Best Artist in Eastern Africa, cementing his legacy as a leading figure in the African music scene. Following the 2023 announcement that Sauti Sol would perform together for the last time at Sol Fest in Nairobi, Bien has continued to shine as a solo artist, pushing creative boundaries and raising the global profile of East African music.