Macao musician Benjamim Soares has spent years flying under the radar. That’s by choice, more than anything – he’s never been one to seek the spotlight. But the 28-year-old was too talented to avoid it forever. At local broadcaster TDM’s Best of the Pop awards in July, Soares’ “Tired of Running” secured the prize for Best Composition and was also one of several to snag a Favourite Song Award.
Executed with Soares’ signature folk-rock sound (a blend of Jack Johnson and the Counting Crows) the song’s lyrics speak to bruised feet and aching lungs. “I think people often run away from what they feel is the most authentic version of themselves because it’s also the most scary,” Soares shares, acknowledging his own familiarity with this brand of exhaustion.
“Tired of Running” is about realising it’s time to make changes in your life. As Soares puts it, he wrote the song asking himself this question: “What if you stopped running away from the person you know you want to become, or the path you want to take?” For Soares, the safe option would be to focus fully on his career as a videographer and photographer. Lately, however, he’s felt pulled to more seriously pursue his potential as a professional musician. Soares says that his feeling of vocation has only intensified since Best of the Pop.
‘There’s a lot of vulnerability involved’
Soares was raised between Macao, the mainland city of Zhuhai and Kenya. He believes his multicultural upbringing shaped his interest in story telling – be it through music, photography or video.
“I think being in many unfamiliar environments gave me the impetus to be self-reflective in an effort to make sense of the world, people, myself and the things that I saw,” he says. “Maybe that’s why I like to tell vivid stories and explore topics about the ‘human experience’ in my songs.”
The gift of a guitar set a 10-year-old Soares off on his musical journey – and he’s also learnt to play the piano. But despite his long relationship with music, Soares says he sometimes experiences an “internal resistance” when it comes to introducing his songs to the public. “Music is scary and there’s a lot of vulnerability involved,” he says.
That hasn’t stopped him from participating in musical events and competitions around Macao, and lending his skills to local bands. In 2021, he and his bandmates performed an original set-list at a Hac Sa Beach concert, and he has released two solo singles to date.
While Soares is constantly writing new material, he admits that he tends to keep his musical endeavours rather private. A tight inner circle of friends are his preferred audience, though he does enjoy performing live around Macao.
Success at Best of the Pop could be a turning point for the musician. Crucially, it’s given him a much-needed boost in confidence. “It feels great to get recognition for music that I’ve put a lot of heart and work into,” Soares says. “Through this competition, my music got to reach new ears. People told me that the song and message resonate with them, so that’s really motivating – and I’m grateful to TDM for that opportunity.”
Music that resonates
While Soares’ music is introspective and personal, its reflective themes strike a chord with listeners. He taps into universal experiences and emotions: struggles with inertia, self-doubt and trepidation. “I think people can relate to [these things] in many different aspects of life,” he says.
The artist’s musical influences are diverse, though his roots lie in early 2000s alternative rock bands. “I listen to new artists every week and find inspiration from all the different genres, from metal to country and EDM, to synth pop, rock, et cetera,” he notes. His eclectic tastes infuse his own music with a rich, multifaceted quality.
Soares is currently putting the finishing touches on a new single, “Elation with Sadness”, and describes the project as a significant step forward in his musical evolution. “It’s a big song for me, in terms of its sound, and I’ve been working on it for a while,” he says.
‘Embrace the fact that it won’t always be easy’
While Soares says Macao provides him with plenty of creative inspiration, the city’s compact size comes with understandable limitations. “Growing as an artist to the level where one can do music full time is a bit difficult here,” he admits. On the plus side, Macao is increasingly well connected with both Hong Kong and mainland. “These are big markets with a lot of talent and things happening, so they’re definitely places to consider,” he says. Soares says he’d love to collaborate more with neighbouring artists and producers who share his artistic vision.
He’s also optimistic about Macao’s own burgeoning music scene. Soares envisions a future where the city regularly hosts an even wider variety of bands and musical genres, attracting audiences from around the region. Fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, Soares is perhaps uniquely positioned to thrive in the multicultural musical milieu he dreams of.
“I am hoping the industry develops to a point where local artists have more places to showcase their music and can be supported in connecting to bigger markets,” he says. Of course, Macao is already home to a number of well-regarded music festivals, like the hush! Beach Concerts series and the Lusofonia Festival – which Soares will be taking part in later this month.
With Soares poised to play a more prominent role in Macao’s music industry, he has some advice for the city’s aspiring musicians. “Embrace the fact that it won’t always be easy to be an artist, just keep trying to make great music,” he urges. “It doesn’t have to be perfect, you just have to authentically share your own feelings, perspectives and your experiences [because] that’s how people will connect with your music and with you.”
