Willis Chimano, the former Sauti Sol vocalist known for his deep vocals and daring individuality, has made a heartfelt public plea to longtime bandmate Bien-Aimé Baraza—asking him to simply pick up the phone.
In a deeply personal interview released on August 5, Chimano looked straight into the camera and said:
“Bien, call me… We were bandmates, and we’ve been together for years. Just call me… I thought we were brothers.”
He didn’t explain the silence between them, but his voice wavered with the weight of unspoken emotion—a mix of longing, confusion, and vulnerability that pierced the screen.
Since Sauti Sol’s indefinite hiatus in December 2023, Chimano has largely withdrawn from the spotlight. Unlike Bien, whose solo career has exploded with hit after hit, Chimano chose stillness. He stepped back to regroup, reflect, and heal—both emotionally and artistically.
“I needed to find myself outside the group. I was exhausted. I was burned out,” he has previously shared.
That break turned into a transformative journey: therapy, self-discovery, and a return to artistry on his own terms. His debut solo EP, Heavy is the Crown (2022), was an introspective masterpiece—exploring identity, queerness, and freedom with haunting honesty. The one-man show of the same name earned critical acclaim abroad, with performances in Australia and the UK.
Still, a part of him clearly yearns for the bond that once defined his career and life. His open call to Bien isn’t just about a missed phone call—it’s about a fractured brotherhood, a lingering silence between artists who once harmonized not just in music, but in spirit.
The moment has struck a nerve online.
“You can tell he’s not just singing—he’s healing,” one fan posted on X.
“Brotherhood deserves a call back,” another added.
It’s a reminder that breakups aren’t always romantic. Sometimes, it’s the creative ones that hurt the most. And even as Chimano’s solo voice rises, it’s the echo of a familiar one he’s still listening for.