Meet Joanz and B3E: Alternative Soul’s Next Hit Duo

Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Kenzell Jones (Joanz) and Evan “Bee” Bendel (B3E)  met while they were still solo artists. The duo recently signed a contract with Double XXposure Media Relations in Fort Lee, which has worked with stars like Dionne Warwick, Robert Kool Bell, and Michael Jackson.

After years of struggling to find a way to express his lyrics, B3E (Evan “Bee” Bendel) was ready to give up on music and move on to law enforcement. However, he had been passionate about his music since he was six, and, with the encouragement of his friends and family, he continued to hone his skills as a vocalist.

Joanz shared B3E’s passion, having grown up a poet before learning to use instruments to turn his words into music. In what seemed like fate, a mutual friend introduced the artists to each other. They quickly realized they caught lightning in a bottle when they decided to do a joint project. 

“We got in the studio, and we [started to] build on each other, and once we got that first song out and I realized how refreshing that was and how good I felt after it, I knew it was going to be an addiction for me,” said Joanz.

And just like that, a new musical pair was born.

With Joanz’s lyrics and B3E’s vocals, the duo broke out onto the music scene with their unique blend of soul, rap, pop, hip-hop, and R&B. They have even integrated Latin tunes in their 2023 single, “Umdeso.”

Their distinctive style, which they describe as “alternative soul,” is best captured in their latest single, “Well Known,” in which Joanz and B3E express how they’re ready for their time in the spotlight. With the main lyric, “I ain’t really with the handouts, and I don’t wanna fit in, I’d rather stand out,” audiences can hear them pouring all their artistic struggles into this song. They’ve made it clear, that they are committed to expressing themselves with their music rather than just profiting off it.

“We pride ourselves on being an ‘alternative soul’ group,” Joanz stated. “And the one thing that we try to make sure that we do, and it’s something that we feel like is missing in today’s music… is timeless music. I really feel like we’re getting away from making things timeless, and we’re jumping into making everything for the time.”

Joanz and B3E gained their inspiration from multiple sources, from classic artists like Al Green, Michael Jackson, and Sam Cooke to modern masters like OutKast, Kendrick Lamar, and Lil Wayne. Despite this, they both found their unique voice by drawing inspiration from their own lives. “We go through a lot on the daily, on the regular, and… one thing I used to say early on in our career is, ‘for everything you go through, there’s a story to tell,’” said Joanz. 

Joanz and B3E have taken all their lessons and inspirations to forge something extraordinary and appealing to many audiences. The pair’s music has garnered close to two million views on YouTube, and they have signed themselves to the independent label All In Entertainment Music Group to record their new album. 

With fame on the rise, Joanz and B3E began their meet-and-greet tour of radio/media stations in the Spring, particularly in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. Now that they have a music video for “Well Known” and a new tequila line on the way, the two artists continue to see the fruits of their labor paying off.

“Being on the other side of the tunnel, it’s just a breath of fresh air,” said B3E. “It’s refreshing to know that people are really noticing us and understanding that we’re storytellers and we’re here for the better and bigger purpose of things.”

Joanz and B3E have proven their passion to succeed as artists, and their partnership has helped both men persevere in the face of adversity and find their strength together. “The ups and downs that we’ve come through… It’s definitely been a process, while at the same time, the process is what molds us and makes us better artists and individuals, so it teaches us not only to stay firm and strong when it comes to faith. But we know that everything is a lesson,” said B3E.

Joanz and B3E may still be new to the music industry, they have achieved success as seasoned performances with a lot to share with fans and aspiring artists. “Don’t be afraid to be different,” Joanz urged. “Don’t be afraid to be the one that goes against the crowd because right now, we’re in a time where we need originality. We need individuality.”