BAD BENA: TRIUMPH THROUGH TRIALS

WORDS GRACEY MAE - SPECIAL THANKS WEPLUGGOODMUSIC

If you look up the word “perseverance”, you’re likely to see Bad Bena’s picture there. The rising star, who fuses Dancehall and Trap, has battled against all odds and come out victorious; triumphing over theft, displacement and homelessness to live her dreams.

Some parts of her inspiring story are shared on her latest release, ‘Holy Triad’. Other parts are unpacked here with F Word. As the London-based, Jamaican singer and songwriter launches her music journey, Bad Bena brings us into her world; expanding on faith, fashion, fame and fortune. 

Gracey Mae: Hi Bad Bena, welcome to F Word. How are you?

Bad Bena: I'm great. Thanks for having me.

GM: Congratulations on your brand new single, ‘Holy Triad’. It's a really fresh sound, talk to us about this single.

BB: It's inspired by my journey from St. Ann, Jamaica. Coming to the UK as a small island immigrant, I didn't have any family or friends to show me the way so it was a culture shock. I came, studied fashion in the university and now, I'm pursuing my dreams of being a recording artist.

GM: I love that you were super transparent on the song. I hear that just before you left your hometown, someone did you dirty. What can you tell us about that situation?

BB: I don't want to get into the details of everything but I can say that I was robbed at the last minute. A lot of people would just give up in situations like this but I was really determined. I decided to take the leap of faith, come to the UK and pursue my dreams anyway. It all worked out for me, I graduated. I'm the first female graduate of Central St. Martin so I'm thankful. 

GM: Your perseverance is really inspiring. Your first two years in the UK involved couch surfing. How did you feel in those moments?

BB: It was so difficult. That whole experience was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life but I'm so grateful because it's these moments in life that really shape who we are as people. I was able to do life, figure out who I am and stay focused on my goals. I got through it in the end.

GM: I love that. In the song, you say things like, “Oh, God”. Are you a spiritual person? Do you feel like faith helped you through any of those darker times?

BB: Definitely. In those moments, as a small island immigrant, I didn't really have anyone to mentor me. I had to woman up and figure things out on my own - teach myself the culture. I held on to my faith because I was raised in a Christian home, like most of us in Jamaica. I also used to be in the choir in church. So coming from a Christian home and nation, I held on to my faith.

GM: Take us back to the moment you discovered that you loved music. Was it when you were singing in the church?

BB: My dad used to play loads of records so I grew up listening to Bob Marley and Reggae. I remember getting a hand-me-down cassette from my dad when I was younger and it was a Madonna album. I was introduced to different genres of music from a young age. My mom had a dance group for children so I was exposed to music from early. I was also sent to instrument classes in school so music has been in my life for a long time. My grandfather, on my dad's side, was a musician. He was Puerto Rican but ran off to Jamaica because he found this Jamaican woman that he fell in love with. I was always around music, visual and performing arts.

GM: I'm sure your household was fun. Dad is Puerto Rican/ Jamaican, and mum is Jamaican. Tell us about a typical Saturday morning in your household.

BB: In my household as a child, my mum would teach dance at  Kaleidoscope of Visual and Performing Arts school on the weekends. Due to the fact that she taught there, we were able to go there for free as her children. We learned dance, music, acting and the likes - we had a good foundation. My dad was an artist, so in terms of the visual arts part, I get that on my dad's side.

GM: So your family have always been super supportive?

BB: Definitely. My parents were always very supportive because they're creative themselves. It's not an easy road as a musician or an artist but it's definitely a fulfilling path.

GM: You've had co-signs from greats like Bounty Killer, what would you say has been your career highlight so far?

BB: Definitely. Working with Bounty Killer was one of them. He discovered me on Instagram. I used to do covers during the pandemic when he discovered me and we ended up doing a feature. I'm really grateful for that. I'm also working with Hot Money. He owns a record studio in London and he's been a mentor to me, and that made me grow so quickly as an artist. Working with these two has been the biggest moments in my career so far. 

GM: What do you feel like the next couple of years have in store for you?

BB: In the next couple of years, I hope to speak my truth in music, inspire and also represent my country.

GM: Knowing that you're from the same hometown as Bob Marley, it seems like there's already greatness here. Where does  your name come from?

BB: My birth name is Abena Gonzalez. I shortened it to Bena. There's a saying in Jamaica, ‘bad like Yaz’. It's a slang used to express that something is really cool. That's where ‘Bad’ Bena comes from.

GM: Abena is a Ghanaian name. Have you done any Ancestry DNA

BB: My parents really love Ghanaian names. It was common among a lot of Jamaicans. We actually have Ghanaian names because our country is mixed with lots of races of people so we don't really see ourselves as a race. We see ourselves more as a nation of people because our whole culture is influenced by lots of different things. We have Africans, Spanish, British, Asians…It's a melting pot of races and culture. 

GM: I'm so inspired by your story. If you were to give a piece of advice to your 18 year old self, what would it be?

BB: Stay positive, no matter what the circumstances are. I think I did pretty well as an 18 year old. I did the best that I could. I'll just say, keep your head up and just press on, going for your goals. 

GM: London is your new home. What has surprised you the most about this city?

BB: I really love how artsy it is. I find that the art, whether it's visual or performing, is really raw. It's something that I really admire about the artistic culture in the UK.

GM: What does Bad Bena do on her day off when she's not making music? 

BB: There's lots of different things that I consider fun for myself. I love going to fashion events. I've been to the Glam Magazine Festival a few times. Every girl likes to get dolled up sometimes. There are also times when I go to the gym, get a workout in. I find that fun as well. Also, meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends or family, that's important to me. 

GM: With your background in fashion, do you see yourself getting into it? 

BB: Yeah, for sure. I really hope to relaunch my Abena Gonzalez Fashion Line sometime in the future. That's something I have in mind. I also want to be an ambassador for makeup or fashion brands. l I love that type of thing. Definitely something I look forward to.

GM: You do it all! Is it true you taught yourself how to record your own vocals?

BB: Yeah - I'm just that type of person. I'm a go-getter and I don't wait around for people to do things for me. If I ask someone to do something and they don't get it done, I do it myself. That's been my mindset for as long as I can remember. During the pandemic, I had a lot more time on my hands so I was able to get equipment and teach myself and finally record, because it's something I had on my mind for a long time.

GM: What does the rest of the year look like for you, and what can we look forward to in 2025? 

BB: I'm really thrilled and excited about dropping a Dancehall project. It's really different from my ‘Bad Like Bena’ EP. This upcoming music is really vulnerable, honest and a side of me that my fans have never seen before. I can't wait for everyone to hear it!

GM Does it have a name or do you want to keep that top secret? 

BB: That's top secret. I can't give everything [laughs]

GM: If you had a final message for your friends, your family, your following, what would you like to leave them with? 

BB: Keep your faith. Believe in yourself, no matter what you're going through.

GM: Let’s end with, what's your favourite "F" Word?

BB: I'm going to say a few. Family, friendship, faith and fabulous!