Beni

Beni Daniels (born March 30, 1986 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan), is a Japanese pop and R&B singer-songwriter, who debuted in 2004 under the Avex Trax label under the name Beni Arashiro (安良城 紅, Arashiro Beni?). In 2008, Arashiro left Avex Trax and transferred to Universal Music Japan where she started to perform under the mononym, Beni (stylized as BENI).

Born in Okinawa she moved to California and then Yokohama.[1][2][3] Her father is American of White and Amerindian descent, and her mother is Japanese.[4][5] She was influenced by Namie Amuro, Alicia Keys and her father’s favorite singer Janet Jackson.[6] She graduated from Nile C. Kinnick High School in Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. She majored in Sociology at Sophia University.

From a young age she wanted to become a singer and because of her musical parents she took up piano. Because her parents were living overseas she was traveling between Japan and America a lot which exposed her to both Japanese as overseas music. When she was in Japan she participated in the Kokuminteki Bishōjo Contest the largest talent contest. She made it all the way to the finals. This was quite special since she had no formal training. When her demotape was seen by Avex Trax they were so impressed by her clear voice, natural beauty, and English pronunciation that they decided to sign her to the label and prepare her for a debut.[7] She became a member of Bishōjo Club 31. Beni was the first from the group to pursue a solo career while being active as a member of the group.[8] Her first solo single named «Harmony» was released on June 9, 2004. The song «Harmony» was a theme song for the Japanese drama Reikan Bus Guide Jikenbo.