There is a different kind of awareness that comes with turning 36. As the “36-45” option sits further down on a list of age options when one identifies their age in an online form, different expectations arise, whether they are self-imposed or imposed by others around them. With a following of nearly a million across TikTok and Instagram combined, Benjamin Kheng, who turns 36 in the Year of the Horse, carries that sort of awareness that draws him closer to his essence.  

Across music-making, acting and content creation, Kheng defies the collectivist notion to be pigeonholed into a single identity so that others could “get” him easily. Having evolved leaps and bounds since being one of the soulful voices behind The Sam Willows, which once tugged on the heartstrings of their millennial crowd, his artistry has since transcended beyond peers who grew up with him. You see it in the range of creative pursuits: the aunties and uncles recognise him as a homegrown hero from his NDP songs; the Gen Zs love him for the brainrot content on TikTok. 

Just like the L’Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition – Assemblage du Cheval, Kheng demonstrates a free-spirited dynamism inspired by his zodiac, the noble Horse. Going against the sentiment that maturing means distilling one’s identity to be single-minded, the multitude he possesses only further enriches the way he connects with his audience. What makes his approach endearing — and far from cringeworthy — is the fact that they all reflect a facet that feels true to himself, much like the bottle’s Baccarat-made decanter. Rather than having to succumb to a reputation, a wild horse is never concerned with how others feel about it.

Photography Jaya Khidir
Styling Manfred Lu
Art Direction Danessa Tong
Story Tuang Lingjie
Grooming Sha Shamsi
Hair Christvian Goh
Photography Assistants Syed Abdullah, Zilhanz Bin Affendi
Styling Assistant Dhani Salbini

Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our February 2026 issue.