Tatler explores the influences behind Benjamin Kheng’s artistry, the journey that has shaped him, and more
A luminary and a household name in the vibrant Singaporean entertainment scene, Benjamin Kheng is a multi-talented artist whose name resonates with creativity and innovation. The Gen.T honouree’s artistic journey spans across various domains, showcasing his versatility as a musician, actor, and all-around performer.
Known for being a founding member of the popular Singaporean band The Sam Willows, his soulful voice and songwriting prowess, and dynamic stage presence, Kheng has left an indelible mark on the music landscape.
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Beyond his musical endeavours, Kheng has ventured into the realm of acting, captivating audiences with his on-screen charisma. His foray into acting includes notable roles in television and film productions, demonstrating his ability to transition between different facets of the entertainment industry seamlessly.
But today, the 33-year-old talks to Tatler about his biggest influences, what a The Sam Willows reunion performance would look like, the solo (artist) life, and his new album.
Tell us how you’ve been.
I've been really good. I had a fun bunch of weeks overseas for work and now I’m back home. It has been a good period.
You’ve been very musical since young. Who or what are some of your biggest influences?
I grew up in a pretty musical household—my parents loved music. It was always music at home and we would always jam. My dad would be on the guitar, we’d all be singing—it was a nice environment. My dad was a big music role model growing up and we used to have all the Bee Gees in the house, ABBA, the classics. I grew up with a lot of musical theatre as well, so a lot of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sondheim, and Jason Robert Brown. Those were my musical influences when I was young.
Throughout your musical journey, which experiences do you think forced you to grow up and mature?
With The Sam Willows, finding commercial success at a young age forced us to grow up a little bit faster than we planned. We went from indie to doing pop music and that whole experience from that sort of... very independent mindset into more commercial music, that was a big leap for us. Some of us are still adjusting today, 10 years later, but it was fun.