David MylesWhen it comes to dedication and being devoted to their craft, multi-awarding winning British R&B/Soul singer and songwriter Leyton Benta, ticks all the boxes. His illustrious vocal ability captures listeners in an instant, but his choice of subject matter wins their hearts, leaving an everlasting experience of tranquillity.
In the past, the artist has been approached by 6 major record labels during his musical career. Two of those record deal offers were presented to Leyton while he was still a teenager, while the remaining offers were all before the British singer reached his mid-twenties. The heartfelt singer continues to renounce anything that he believes will impede his agency to be authentically Leyton Benta.
At the onset of August, Leyton released his latest brand-new studio album Speak On Out. The album title certainly personifies his commitment to vociferously tackling topics that many artists may shy away from. During a recent interview exclusively with Nu Origins, Leyton said: ‘’This album is all of me and showcases a variety of different issues that are going on in the world that have been hidden for a long time. I feel that when it comes to the entertainment industry, along with the government they pretty much orchestrate a lot of propaganda. They don’t really showcase what is going on, what the truth is and what the real issues are. They hide that away from the public’’.
Just under a week before the official album launch of Speak On Out, Leyton hosted a special pre-release private listening session for a meticulously hand-picked audience in East London’s community art venue, Rich Mix. The 2 hour and half-hour invitation-only event was designed to be intimate and as a result, no more than 16 people were in the audience. Attendees described the new album as ‘’very in-depth’’, ‘’very bold’’ and ‘’brave’’. The audience was bestowed with signed copies of the new album and were given print-outs of the lyrics to each song from the album to enable them to follow verbatim every word of each song by Leyton on the evening.
Recognizing the importance of stage presence, Leyton can come across as a perfectionist. His high standards and the reciprocal expectations that he has for everyone he does business with or has interactions with are evident. With that said, it should be no revelation that one of his most used words is ‘‘authentic’’. Leyton’s new album even has a song called Fully Authentic. Enriching the sentiments of a sonically unfeigned sound, all tracks on the new album are composed with a live band.
The music producer for Speak On Out is Anton “Nutty P” Flanders who Leyton has previously worked with on the album Find Yourself, where Flanders was tasked with offering his engineering expertise on the record. ‘’I am grateful to him [Nutty P” Flanders] because I am always very selective with who gets on board. He was very enthusiastic about the work. It brought out the best in him as a producer, because he has not done this kind of work with an artist and diving in with his own uncomfortability as a creative. He explored new things about his own talents and gifts. We brought out the best in each other’’ stated Leyton.
Leyton’s latest album Speak On Out is perhaps his most diverse release. Although, consisting of just seven tracks, the listener is left confident that he has painstakingly poured his heart into the songs, which have no filters, or uninspiring songs just to ensure the album has 14 or 15 songs. In fact, Leyton is following his own prototype. His past material have no more than 8 tracks on each record. The musician insists that ‘’It is better to have seven strong heart-felt tracks that are really something to sit with people and they are able to absorb it in the ways that they truly need to absorb it.”
Speak On Out addresses topics such as child trafficking and exploitation, ulterior motives, dispositions of power and as a musician defiantly remaining authentic against societal pressures to be the opposite of himself. Despite the candidness and seriousness of the content, the album has an optimism that shines through the unsavoury realities which denote many of the songs. Speak On Out aims to give hope to listeners while daring to touch on what Leyton describes as ‘’controversial issues’’.
That is why I have always kept my journey independent. When you have planted all the necessary seeds, this project will always live on for as long as I am here or when I am not here
For Leyton, it is not enough to be devoted to music. There is a yearning to use music as a vehicle to precipitate change like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Randy Crawford who are just a handful of his key influencers in the past. Leyton, who is also an actor, model and entrepreneur said: ‘’My journey has always been more than just music. This is about really healing the motherland.”
During our interview, there is a discernible frustration in Leyton’s voice about the paradox of his predicament. On the one hand, since childhood, he has had record labels briskly tempting him with luring contracts, but this is often at the expense of attempting to mute or neutralize his message. ‘’I feel there is just a strong duty to doing the godly and the righteous work. It won’t be accepted into the mainstream world because it is very controversial’’ says Leyton. ‘’And not only that. When they notice that you are exposing the agenda they’re here to indoctrinate people with; they will not accept it, nor will they have it on board. That is why I have always kept my journey independent. When you have planted all the necessary seeds, this project will always live on for as long as I am here or when I am not here’’ adds the singer.
Leyton who is still only 30 years old himself said: ‘’At least when younger generations come into this world, they are able to feed on something substantial for the minds and hearts and spirits. At least they will know that there is someone is actually telling the truth and speaking out on things that you are not going to see a lot of these famous people do’’.
‘’This album [Speak On Out] is for everyone to be more encouraged to be vocal. To lead from your heart. I mean if you haven’t got that and we are not challenging that then we’re just allowing ourselves to be used and abused in different forms of ways by others’’ the singer asserts.
In recent months, Leyton has been hosting community talks on Instagram. With the advent of his new album Speak On Out, he has been hosting weekly sessions on Thursdays discussing the album and the wider content of the material which relates to worldly affairs. This has now led to TikTok videos. ‘’People have gravitated to this journey dramatically. They’re actually grateful for the fact that I am speaking out and I have been getting nothing, but positive feedback and more people have been drawn to the journey in deeper ways’’ affirms Leyton.
Since Nu Origins last interviewed Leyton in 2022, he has been decorated with 3 more awards. Last year, Leyton won ‘Best Original Song’ at the 2023 Prague’s International Music Video Awards that he attended in person at the ceremony in the capital city of Czech Republic. This year, the British singer was also elated to win Best Male Creative Songwriter and Artiste for the 2024 International LMA Magazine and Awards based in Azaba, Nigeria. Due to other commitments, Leyton was unable to accept the award in person in Nigeria but hopes to visit the country for the first time in the near future. Leyton is also the recipient of the 2024 Best Male Music Artist of the Year Award at The Multinational Celebrity Awards which was presented by Ceejay Bold Global Entertainment.
Speaking about the International LMA Magazine and Award, Leyton said: ‘’They have been following my work. They awarded me because they have been observing all the work and the community stuff that I have been doing.”
Despite not being present at the LMA awards, he was endorsed, and video clips were played illustrating Leyton’s work in the community which is being recognised globally. Such commendable community work includes creating a sanctuary where he has facilitated and mentored people from various backgrounds aiding them to freely express their emotions on a 1:1 basis with Mighty Men of Valor. In the past, the compassionate musician has also music and drama sessions with popular West London youth organisations, Youth Street Beats (YSB) and Descendants, inspiring generations of children and young people and was a familiar face at Ealing Hospital where he elevated the spirits of elderly people.
In the past, Leyton has stated that his music transcends all ages. Accessibility remains at the forefront of his work. ‘’As a young artist, I always had the old school blood in me and never followed any trends’’. Perhaps this may explain why he continues to make his music available on CDs, which he revealed still generates a good proportion of how his music is consumed in the global market.
Leyton Benta’s new album, Speak On It will soon be available on vinyl and there are plans to release his catalogue of music on vinyl for consumers in mind. Listeners can also stream and purchase Leyton’s music through platforms such as Amazon Music, Apple Music, iTunes and Tidal.
Reluctant to reveal too much information, Leyton declared that the first music video for the new album will be Save The Children. Production for the video is expected to commence in early 2025.
Leyton Benta:
Buy/Stream New Album ‘Speak On Out’
www.leytonbenta.com/music
Speak On Out – Promo Video
https://youtu.be/uYwgJ6Pml_Y?si=btcIkTw4-0sGRuE7
For All Shows/Booking Inquiries –
www.leytonbenta.com/contact
Purchase His Life Documentary –
www.leytonbenta.com/documentary
