Chicago-based artist-producer Benya Vya (pronounced BEN-yuh VEE-yuh) explores a musical style that sits along the four corners of hiphop, pop, soul, and funk.

Benya (whose real name is Ryan Lehrman) grew up playing the drums in bands with his older brother Alec Lehrman (guitarist for Sabrina Claudio and Kanye West). He went on to perform in hiphop collectives and jazz ensembles while attending UW-Madison, where he studied under bass legend Richard Davis (Miles Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Bruce Springsteen).

In a freak accident while traveling in Florence, Italy, Benya almost drowned in the Arno River. As he was waiting for the paramedics to arrive, he picked up two stones and began banging them on the ground, making beats. It was then he realized he had to go for it—and downloaded his first DAW (Digital Audio Workstation AKA music production software) when he returned home.

Now Benya Vya is based in Chicago where he produces, engineers, song-writes, and drums with number of artists and musicians.

He cites Kanye West, Just Blaze, J Dilla, and Monte Booker as the biggest influences on his production style.

As a drummer, he continues to learn from Chris Dave, Carter Beauford, Terreon Gully, Nate Smith, Clyde Stubblefield, Jimmy Cobb, and Steve Jordan.

“Mountains (feat. Dee Wilson)" is Benya's debut single.