Ben September Blends Afro-R&B, Neo Soul And Bossa Nova Into An Honest And Rhythmically Alive New EP

South African singer-songwriter Ben September steps into his most sonically mature and emotionally complete chapter yet with the release of his new EP, 7 Girls. A seven-track journey moving through Afro-R&B, Neo Soul and Bossa Nova-inspired textures, the project arrives as both a deeply personal reflection and a broader exploration of emotional dynamics, intimacy, anxiety and human connection, told through rhythm, atmosphere and unflinching honesty.

For an artist whose earlier work on WAVES: Vol. 1 and Loose Ends established him within a softer, emotionally attentive R&B lane, 7 Girls represents evolution rather than departure. The new EP stretches outward sonically, embracing warmer percussion, rhythmic movement and richer atmosphere while remaining emotionally grounded at its core.

“I’d describe the sound as a blend of Afro, R&B and Neo Soul with touches of Bossa Nova,” Ben explains. “I wanted it to feel warm, rhythmic and alive, but still emotional underneath everything. Even when the songs feel upbeat, there’s usually something deeper happening lyrically or emotionally.”

7 Girls is not built around a single narrative. Instead, it operates as a collection of emotional encounters and perspectives, each track reflecting a different form of connection and what those moments reveal internally. The title functions symbolically rather than literally, with each song representing a distinct emotional dynamic rather than a specific person.

“The project is really about perspective and experience,” Ben says. “7 Girls isn’t just about seven people literally, it’s about different emotional dynamics, different encounters and what those experiences reveal about me as a person.”

Across the EP, Ben September moves through anxiety, longing, desire, heartbreak and emotional uncertainty with a level of honesty that avoids performance. The songs are less interested in resolution than observation, documenting emotional states in real time and allowing listeners to find themselves within the experience.

“For me, music is usually where I say the things I don’t always know how to say out loud,” he shares. “Across the project, I hope people hear something they recognize in themselves, whether it’s anxiety, desire, loneliness, emotional confusion or wanting connection.”

That emotional openness extends into the songwriting process itself. Rather than approaching the project with rigid conceptual planning, Ben allowed the music to emerge naturally from conversations, lived experience and instinctive emotional reactions, a process that took six to seven months to complete.

“Songwriting usually starts with a feeling or a conversation I’ve had,” he explains. “Once I feel the emotion of the beat, everything else starts coming naturally. I don’t force songs. I let them take shape on their own. I cared more about getting the music right and making sure it felt honest than trying to meet a deadline.”

Among the project’s most defining moments is “Samba,” a rhythmically rich and emotionally vulnerable record blending contemporary R&B with Afro-inspired textures and samba influences. The track explores the difficulty of expressing love clearly and intentionally, particularly when vulnerability itself feels uncomfortable, and features a spoken-word section that stands as one of the EP’s most personal moments.

“Samba was definitely one of the most personal and challenging songs for me to make,” Ben says. “It’s really about intention, effort and the vulnerability that comes with trying to express love properly. Writing parts of it in my mother tongue pushed me creatively too, I wanted it to feel authentic and emotionally accurate.”

Elsewhere, “Anxiety” confronts mental exhaustion and overthinking directly, “All I Hear Is Truth” moves through heartbreak with confessional clarity, and “Desire” leans into bold romantic directness. “Jaja Vibes” featuring Flowa brings multilingual energy across English, Zulu and Sesotho, while “Lala” quietly explores emotional exhaustion and the search for genuine connection. Closing track “You’re So Spoilt” featuring MashBeatz and Prince Kaybee captures the tension and unresolved attachment between two people who care for each other but still struggle to fully communicate.

With 7 Girls, Ben September delivers a project that expands his Afro-R&B foundation while staying rooted in honesty, atmosphere and human complexity, the sound of an artist growing deliberately, building a deeper world around the music, one honest song at a time. While no official tour dates have been confirmed, live performances remain a clear priority for the next phase of the project, particularly within festival environments and intimate R&B-focused spaces that align with the emotional energy of the music. Physical collectibles connected to the EP are also in development, with more details expected soon.

Makes sure to connect with Ben September online for more music news and stream or download 7 Girls today here.

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