Album Review: Bnnyhunna Shares a Wholesome Multi-layered Debut ECHOES OF PRAYER

Bnnyhunna is a Ghanaian-Dutch multi-instrumentalist, producer, singer and lyricist. Benjamin is a beam of light in the current contemporary global groove scene, blending elements of jazz, soul, Afrobeats, hip hop, and r&b. All of these influences are channeled through the prism of his upbringing and the days spent in church while growing up in Amsterdam.

In all the years of featuring new music, I've always found a special energy in people who honed their craft while playing in church bands. That same energy radients from the music created by Bnnyhunna as well. That upbringing combined with his West-African heritage and his love for artists like Quincy Jones (RIP, legend), Fela Kuti, Pharrel Williams and Herbie Hancock are the perfect premise for creating an artist that is bound to take over the world. Benjamin's journey and his presence in the contemporary jazz scene led him to making a name for himself as a valued session musician, collaborating with artists like José James, Rimon, Gaidaa, and Hare Squead and performing at North Sea Jazz and Montreux Jazz Festival.

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I feel that all of this is a prelude for a significant step in his journey - the release of his debut album last month. A record that feels like a breath of fresh wind (something he refers to in recent CLASH interview). There's one thing I want to highligh before I dig and travel through the 12 stops in the journey called ECHOES OF PRAYER. Start the whole experience with an open mind, soul and no expectations. That would be allow you to completely immerse in the rich and diverse art created by Bnnyhunna.

For the title of his debut album, ECHOES OF PRAYER, he wanted something that reflected a deep, personal connection to faith—a theme he felt was often underrepresented in music. A profoundly prayerful person, he found himself embedding prayers within the concept of each track, allowing his spirituality to shape the album’s narrative. A reference to that is album's artwork as well, depitcing him with a cross chain on his back.

Album's opener "Prayer" and the intro organ feel like a reference to his church roots. Something that can be heard in other tracks as well (like "You Got Me", for example). The song, which features Scottish singer/saxophonist Tallulah Rose and Dutch-Surinamese producer/guitarist QUANZA is a statement on its own. A statement that Bnnyhunna abides by no rules and will be unaplogetic in the way he curates his debut journey.

The intense hip-hop vibe of "Prayer" stands in striking contrast to the soulful, soothing, and romantic sonic universes of tracks like "Calm Waters" and "Silent Chaos" which give me a strong Sampha / Frank Ocean vibe, especially on the high notes in latter's chorus.

Tracks like "You Got Me?" and "Communicate" show Bnnyhunna's appreciation for 70s funk era, afro beats and in general are injected with infectious groove that will quickly move your body. Teaming up with Berlin-based afro-jazz 7-piece band Jembaa Groove (founded by Ghanian percussion legend and singer Eric Owusu) and Lagos brother duo The Cavemen. is homage to Benjamin's herritage and adds a colourful scent to the overall record experience. As I mentioned before, ECHOES OF PRAYER is a multi-layered album experience. While it maintains cohesive production throughout, its structure is anything but linear. That's what I love about it.

Besides a talented musician, Bnnyhunna's creativity spans beyond the realm of music. Interested in poetry and using it as a way to express himself, "The Heart" featuring poet and artist Sydney Lowell feels like Benjamin's most intimate piece on the album. The dialogue, set against a warm and lively trumpet, acts as an interlude that seamlessly unfolds into the expertly crafted synth-heavy future beats gem "Sonder". That combination was one of my favourite moments in ECHOES OF PRAYER.

The album continues in it's late jazz / soulful r&b stage and it would be impossible to pick a favourite from any of the 3 follow-up tunes - "SHOULD'VE BEEN YOU" with Tallulah Rose, "Sum Love", and "One Day",. I do appreciate the dynamic high note the ECHOES OF PRAYER concludes with "Laminar Flow", thanks to the drums progression towards the end of the tune. One last reference to his Ghanian roots thanks to a short monologue that breaks the tune in two.

I find ECHOES OF PRAYER one of the strongest debut albums in 2024 and I appreciate the way Bnnyhunna invites listeners on this intimate soulful journey, aiming to forge deep connections through the universal language of music.