Name: Benjamin Ankomah
DOB: 25 january 1998
Place of birth: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Occupation: Multi-Instrumentalist, Music Producer, Composer

REFERENC: Benjamin, when people listen to your music, is there a detail or choice you hope they notice?

Benjamin: I hope people notice the space I leave in the music. As much as I can, I try to create moments where everything seems to breathe. Those choices are intentional, because that’s where the emotion lives for me.

REFERENC: Is there a detail in your music that traces back to how you grew up?

Benjamin: Oh, definitely. The blend of rhythm and spirituality in my music comes straight from my upbringing. Music was a big part of the house I grew up in. It was about both expression and grounding, and that still shapes everything I make today.

["I HOPE PEOPLE NOTICE THE SPACE I LEAVE IN THE MUSIC. THAT’S WHERE THE EMOTION LIVES FOR ME."]

REFERENC: Is there a specific moment or memory you often return to when you’re creating?

Benjamin: I often return to the feeling of being a kid, sitting in a church hall full of sound. In that state, I don’t overthink anything, I just absorb. That feeling hits me every time, and it fuels me to create freely.

REFERENC: Before you get to that state, is there a habit or personal ritual you go through?

Benjamin: Yes, always. I need stillness. Just a short moment to myself to focus and get into the zone. I turn off my phone, look for quiet, and breathe easy. It helps me tune into whatever wants to come through.

Before shows, I pray with the band. It helps loosen our minds, and asking God for guidance gives me confidence.

REFERENC: What’s a reference from your life outside of music that keeps finding its way into your work?

Benjamin: Architecture! I’m fascinated by how space can create a feeling. It doesn’t matter if it’s a room, a street, or just a short moment somewhere. That sense of structure, and the flow I experience because of it, often becomes musical in my head.

REFERENC: What are you growing towards?

Benjamin: Freedom, above all. Trusting my instinct. Creating a world of music that reflects me in every note. I imagine a future version of myself that creates without hesitation - no shrinking, just expanding - and invites others into that space as well.

This portrait was captured during the 2025 edition of Super Sonic Jazz Festival in Amsterdam. Special thanks to BNNYHUNNA and the festival team for welcoming us into that moment. Words by Jan-Willem Wesselingh. Photography by Laurent Stevens. Styling in collaboration with Calico Club.