Entertainment

Promotion or demotion 2

Admittedly musicians are just like any other brand and so every aspect of their being must be to perfection or at least close to it. This requires a careful retrospection and also analysis of whom your target audience is albeit you want to be a global celebration.

IF BEEF; THEN GET THE HELL OUT OF THE GAME.

John Q: An Unstoppable 1-Man Music Powerhouse of Love

Maccasio finds his beat.

LAPAZ NIGHT MARKET

Published

7 years ago

July 19, 2017

thesavannaonline_admin

We are endowed with a wide array of artistic tools; unique traditional elements like language, music/musical instruments, landscapes & locations, folklore, dances, Griots–to the modern elements that aid in boosting the economic viability of the aforementioned elements. How about exploring these before strangling ourselves with award schemes that seek to elevate egos and not necessarily improve our artistic being and economic standing?

I will not bore you with winding narratives on how we manage to stifle our growth with the numerous award schemes. Admittedly musicians are just like any other brand and so every aspect of their being must be to perfection or at least close to it. This requires a careful retrospection and also analysis of whom your target audience is albeit you want to be a global celebration.

As subjective as defining a good brand can be, we will agree there is a common ground when we seek to compare impactful artistry, and that is where our self entitled attitude could further derail us from the path of glory.

Today’s music business goes beyond the local champion syndrome; so one must seek to get same or similar acclamation wherever they exhibit their artistry. This requires thinking outside the scope of pleasing your townsfolk or people in your immediate region. I’m not in anyway suggesting that using your indigenous language in composing music is defeatist, because language can be as effective as any of the elements one employs in creating a masterpiece. The artistic use of language can actually be the selling point of an artiste.

The onus is largely on the artiste and management to fully understand the nature of what makes good music and not just stick to one element which may get them a small following. One needs to go beyond language, and pay good attention to instrumentation & the quality of production of all musical pieces. The introduction of traditional elements of music can also be a major feature in creating a unique artiste in the quest to dominate the global scene.

Stay humble; humility is a virtue that continues to aid the soaring of artistes like Stonebouy; I’ve known Stonebouy for a while and we can all attest to the force with which he is dominating the music scene in Ghana, he could have laid back and enjoy the street disciples’ praise but no, he values and knows who will actually label him a star hence he paid the price by staying humble in dealing with his peers, media and even fans. This has made him a toast of many. Can that be said about the numerous acts that adorn the savanna? From experience I will emphatically say NO, and by that I’m not bundling all artistes together, but if front liners are not humble, how do we expect the younger ones to be humble.

The sacrifice and investment; Music as we’ve come to know is a full time business that requires a lot of sacrifice and investment; both time and finances. We’ve heard people say “talent is not enough”, how we relate to that phrase actually can impact our success as musicians. From the image of an artiste which involves the quality of photography, artworks, quality of videos, to investing in vocal performances, studio recordings, live instrumentations and even self improvement programs that can help in interviews and managing your persona in the corporate world, we need to consciously dedicate resources to ensure the aforementioned are at the apex of quality. These will set-up any artiste for every market that appreciates hard quality work. The above is also one thing artistes need to really take seriously, friends and family will do you favors but the bills they have to foot inform how much they can do for you for free.

A key element in this life is loyalty, however when this is misplaced one is sure going to face the repercussions associated with it. Many artistes form cliques and movements, which really don’t have anything in line with improving musical worth, but rather creates the impression of a following. This births paranoia as artistes find themselves making music to please the few people in these cliques; most of who will never pay to attend a show or purchase an album. Usually most members of these cliques are personal friends and family who would would rarely give objective criticism on works. If you believe objective criticism is a much needed fuel in improving your artistry you should be reexamining where you place your loyalty.

Crowning of mediocrity in all aspects of this multi faceted industry;

In as much as I have no problems with putting together award schemes, the sectarian nature and limited number of artistes creates a situation where mediocrity is crowned. The recent Upper East Awards is a good case to cite here, a good number of demo songs actually found their way on the nominations list and even went ahead to win some awards. Are we then celebrating amazing music or just trying to crown some people? No serious artiste will enter a demo song in an award scheme neither wills any serious event organizer accept entries that don’t meet a certain standard of quality. However, given the small operational zone of the scheme, it is easy for such to happen. We therefore need to look beyond our small enclaves and aspire to be part of more competitive schemes, after all whether Navrongo, Tamale or Accra, every artiste wants to be seen as the ultimate when it comes to good music.

Unguided trend following; Whilst artistes will swear to forever stay true to the kind of music they represent, the temptation not to follow trends is far more daunting hence they succumb. Whilst others argue that an ability to adapt to styles and trends is proof of versatility, I believe an ability to walk unchartered zones and still stay you is actually proof that you mastered your craft and control of your audience. Succumbing to trends can only destroy the originality in style of an artiste thereby creating genres like Reggae/Dancehall when both are very different genres. Our artistes therefore need to stay true to themselves, their styles and not just hop from genre to genre. Don Sigli is one of current crop of artistes who has stayed true to his kind of music and maintained relevance no matter which stage he is on.

Lack of ingenuity. (Your native language is not enough); Music lovers are constantly looking for out of the box performers and musicians, this is because as humans we constantly strive to experience same or similar things in varied ways. This when brought into music can be a massive selling point for an artiste. King Ayisoba is busy travelling the world with his beloved Kologo and unique brand of music. How is he different from the many “world” artistes that the we’ve listened to? Well, he brought a unique musical instrument, fused it with a lot of other instruments and offered something different from all the other artistes. His collaboration with Mobeatz on the song “Me ka” is proof of his ingenious superiority. This then suggests that, our artiste need to adopt relevant elements of their various cultures to create a unique sound in their chosen genres. I would wanna hear an rnb tune over a xylophone, I would love to hear some dondo in our reggae songs. Yes, just be ingenious and you will reap fruits sweeter than mangoes.(lol…You get it right?)

We’ve allowed rivalry to gain roots in an industry that can only be said to be in it’s infantile stage. Many would cringe at the word infantile but that’s my assertion. Recently fans of Fancy Gadam and Macassio clashed resulting in broken windscreens etc. Why would two talented artistes be subject to such damning rivalry? If we do not have any immediate memories of the results of these “gangs” we might have to revisit the era of Tupac & Biggie, Game and Gunplay, and the many great artistes we’ve lost to unnecessary rivalry to understand the repurcussions of these rivalries often employed in an attempt to create hype. First off, there are enough fans for everybody to reach so there’s really no need to make play rivals when artistes are uniting to do amazing musical works.

An artiste who lacks the ability to fully comprehend the import of criticism is definitely bound to fail since they perceive anyone who critics as an enemy. Some of us have a penchant for looking beyond the surface of issues and works and so we would continue criticize hoping that it helps shape the arts in the savanna. Artistes and their management therefore need to desist from making enemies out of all who criticize and rather look at the issues presented. Your enemy doesn’t want you to succeed, but your critics urge you to reach higher and prove them wrong.

The numerous award schemes has created a career killing mafia since organizers accord themselves a god status because they covertly have an influence in deciding who deserves an award, a situation that has spread even to deejays and radio presenters. Deejays and radio presenters play a vital role in promoting music, so when they suddenly take sides, a number of things manifest–sidelining and continuously running down the efforts of acts they don’t support. This is done with concerted efforts so much so that it becomes evidently clear to the entire public. If indeed we want to see our music and art industry develop, we would need to stop playing God and give equal opportunity to all artistes we encounter.

We can do what we want to fit but that will not make us stand out yet we all agree standing out is the through case of master atistery.

Savanna Music

B-Wayne and Dr Pushkin talk Graves in New Song

Published

4 days ago

April 14, 2024

thesavannaonline_admin

“Mankind is never satisfied, anything I touch them say I’m not Qualified…” B-Wayne

How Empty Grave by Dr. Pushkin and B-Wayne came about.

Empty Grave features one of the most prolific artists from the Upper East Region. This relationship originated from Dr Pushkin’s North2South event held in Bolgatanga. From a casual conversation about a collaboration, the two artists have produced an epic story-telling song that speaks to the hearts of all ambitious people.

Dr Pushkin’s Story-telling Music

As a storyteller, Dr Pushkin has used music to keep fans thinking right. He constantly releases music that resonates with resilience and the will to keep moving. Empty Grave comes on the heels of songs like “Winning,” No Heroes, No Go Go, Lies, Ambition, Did You Ever Think, and several evocating songs.

His forte is music that resonates with most people; thus, he focuses on not just the fun but also the wording. Thus, a collaboration with the one-time UEMA Artiste of the Year is a good offing, as both possess the drive to urge all to thrive.

The B-Wayne Effect

B-Wayne’s verse is typical of him. However, this time, he performs over a beat that is intricately Hip Hop, allowing the artiste to test his skill over something very different.

In Empty Grave, he brings his positive vibe and infectious melodies to life by weaving dexterously through the chorus and his verse. In effect, he is proving his worth as an artiste worthy of a front-row seat in the music business.

B-Wayne is an artiste from the Upper East Region of Ghana. He has honed his craft in anticipation of a significant break. His recent EP, “Stepping Stone,” solidified the singer’s stature after he released multiple singles in the last few years. Interestingly, every single release from this young artiste, who doubles as a Fire Officer by day, has received a lot of thumbs-up in the region.

Other Songs by B-Wayne

Some of his previous songs include the following.
On God
All Correct
My Turn
Loyalty
My World, as well as several other notable songs and collaborations.

Dr Pushkin’s 2024 on course

Empty Grave with Dr Pushkin brings to 4 the number of singles he’s released through his record label, Isolirium Entertainment, in 2024. The Khaya App developer has hinted at releasing two albums and several singles.

While being capable of holding his fort on the albums, he recognizes the importance of collaborating with other creatives. His singles with Lyrical Joe, Kojo Cue, Cj-Biggerman, and Taitan have received massive rotation already. Adding Empty Grave then gives curators of playlists a variety of songs to work with.

Dr Pushkin has remained relentless since the release of his Khaya App, Book, and Outlandish Album. He is poised to ensure his multi-faceted life can impact and impart to all.

Empty Grave is the song we all need when we realize there’s too much vile energy around us. It reminds us of who we are, what we are capable of doing, and the consequences of being unperturbed by naysayers.

The enemies can come as a cavalry, but they won’t win. For those who presume their damning mistreatment has a burial of your pursuits, they shall see an empty Grave.

Just-Watch---Dr-Pushkin — Just-Watch—Dr-Pushkin

According to Rev. Dr. Pushkin and B-Wayne, Empty Grave is the sermon. Listen to the gospel, and your life will never be the same.

The year is filled with opportunities for all go-getters.

“…In this graveyard of dreams…Yes, we must be brave to climb out of this Grave…” This is an excerpt from Dr. Pushkin’s verse on empty Graves.

Dr Pushkin and B-Wayne are artists representing the Upper East of Ghana. Their musical pursuits transcend the borders of Ghana. Their ambition is not just to conquer the World but to see fans happy and charged to succeed.

Empty Grave was produced by Dreamlife & Memory, Paul Azunre and Peewezel; Esi Hooper is the backing vocalist.

Stream Empty Grave below.

Savanna Music

Just Watch & Learn How to excel as a musician

Published

2 weeks ago

April 4, 2024

Savanna Murphy

How to dominate as a musician: Just Watch

Dr. Pushkin returns with another mind-buster; this time around, he recruits fellow rapper CJ Biggerman and singer Taitan. The three musicians take us on a musical swell that emanates from the heart, preaches reality, and admonishes a lacklustre attitude. Music isn’t just mumbled words; it’s melodious and creative words strung in a creative way for the purpose of communication. Just Watch

Just Watch by Dr. Pushkin, Cj Biggerman, Taitan (isolirium.com)

The music business is convoluted; however, there remain prying eyes who are best asked to “just watch.” In this classic piece of hip-hop, three “flowrators” express what makes them stand out despite not being popular. To these artists, music is from within, and so long as the spirit stirs, bangers like Just Watch are a serving that will continue to flow for fans.

If you are a lover of rap and hip-hop, you will probably remember Game’s It’s Okay (One Blood), featuring Junior Ried.

Taitan’s Work

Taitan Melodies brings that vibe to this well-crafted hip-hop song with an impressive reggae dancehall feel. Gritty, witty, and a well-thought-out pen game performed like a master, Taitan opens the song with the words:

Just-Watch---Dr-Pushkin-2 — Just-Watch—Dr-Pushkin-2

“Ah, we dem ah watch.
Like Netflix, enuh
Watch this
Sumn fi yuh watch”.

Just Watch (Dr. Pushkin, Cj Biggerman, Taitan) – LYRIC VIDEO (youtube.com)

More like speaking to the essence of being lyrically and musically superior in a way that warrants a “just watch.” The reggae and dancehall artist with an impressive catalog brought a new dimension to Dr. Pushkin’s music by way of style. Despite the fact that Just Watch is a hip-hop banger, Taitan’s vocal delivery complemented the awesome performances of CJ Biggerman and Dr. Pushkin. Taitan starts the song and ends it with a reminder of who an artist is. A resilient creative who ignores all vile commentary to remain focused on what is most important, i.e., the music.

CJ Biggerman’s Performance

CJ Biggerman has made waves many times on the Ghana rap scene. From appearing on Sarkodie’s Bibiba to accosting and dropping one of the illest freestyles to American rapper Rick Ross, the rapper has never slowed down.

When in 2022 and 2023 he became his mother Big Ivy’s number one hypeman, many may have thought the licenced-to-rap artist was slowing down. However, releases like Wabodam ft. Halfco Baby are a testament to this rapper’s awesomeness.

Jumping on Just Watch by Dr. Pushkin is an extension of superior rap antics that elicits every element of rap. He also emphasises the importance of staying true to his calling while reminding fans of his other exploits. Through the song, CJ Biggerman expresses the nonchalance associated with being on top of your game.

Dr Pushkin’s take

In Just Watch, the ingenious Dr. Pushkin takes his bars towards more puns and similes while insouciantly expressing his focus on his game as a rapper and tech entrepreneur. The sentiment expressed through Just Watch indicts the general treatment of artists who aren’t regarded as mainstream or big spenders. The situation where talents aren’t offered opportunities to push the music to the fans often bedevils the strides of many. However, the tried and tested method has been to keep dropping them bangers till they can’t ignore you.

Dr Pushkin’s 2024 Pursuits.

Just Watch is the 3^rd song from Dr. Pushkin for 2024; it is worth noting that Dr. Pushkin is blessing pumped up and ready to bless 2024 with between 30 and 40 songs. He might just drop more.

Dr. Pushkin in 2024 has released No Heroes, featuring Lyrical Joe, and “No Go Go,” featuring Kojo-Cue. Both songs have received massive reviews from music critics.

Just Watch was produced by Dr Pushkin for Isolirium Entertainment.

In the next couple of weeks, another banger drops. In the meantime, stream Just Watch on all digital platforms below.

Just Watch by Dr. Pushkin, Cj Biggerman, Taitan (isolirium.com)

Entertainment

This is Incredible – Kologo Fusion Sounds better

Published

2 months ago

February 17, 2024

thesavannaonline_admin

No-Go-Go-By-Dr-Puskin-Ft.-Ko-jo-Cue-&-Ataman-Nikita-(Artwork) - Kologo Fusion

No Go Go by Dr. Pushkin, Ko-Jo Cue, Ataman Nikita (isolirium.com)

Kologo Fusion is set to reign.

The talk about who wins a Grammy from Ghana has been a subject of debate for a long time. However, very little attention has been paid to the ingenious music being made by musicians without the A-list or Mainstream Tag. Artists like Wiyaala, Atongo Zimba, Worlasi, and others who stand out for their ingenuity are never considered potential winners. However, with the release of No Go Go! by Dr Pushkin ft. Ko-Jo Cue and Ataman Nikita, one may be tempted to ask, “What will it take to win a Grammy as a Ghanaian artist?”. Is it just attempting to fit into popular genres or using established genres as a footing to create imaginative, artful, and inventive music?

Ordinarily, most artists would be clamouring at the successful fusion of sounds that has the potential to birth a new genre or direction. However, when two talented creatives meet, the satisfaction is in bringing art and impact to the fore; such is the case of this masterpiece of a song. No No Go! It thrives on rhythmic percussion backed by the pleasing, incessant sound of the Kologo. In what Dr Pushkin calls “Kologo Fusion”, the genre is not just another attempt at creating something new but a conscious fusion of indigenous sound and musical instruments in popular music genres, offering a refreshing listenership to fans and music lovers.

Despite being a fun song, No Go Go is art-in-protest; the lyrics are a resounding reminder of the need to stand firm against the systematic failures of leadership. Time and again, Ghanaians have suffered instances where politicians use state institutions to shut up people who speak against the system’s wrongs. However, No Go Go! is a reminder to the powers that be about the relentlessness of the people despite the oppressive antics. It is a reminder that the people will match and protest till the wrongs become right.

Who else to recruit for such an experimental sound but Ko-Jo Cue? Kojo Amankwah Cue, better known as Ko-Jo Cue, has proven to be an amazing lyricist, storyteller, and voice for the voiceless. While he doesn’t pick up a megaphone to chant impactful messages, his music has always contained a full dose of serving as a person. It, therefore, came as no surprise when Dr Pushkin chose to collaborate with him on creating a beautiful song set to be the anthem for protests in Ghana and beyond. For a rapper whose album “For My Brothers” contains so much about life, he is well-experienced in life to put that to a beat.

Ataman Nikita, a brother to Dr Pushkin, also brought on his melodious voice to No Go Go with hooks and a chorus, giving the song a flawless transition from one point to another. His impressive vocals combined with the rap performances by Dr Pushkin and Ko-Jo Cue over the beautiful Kologo Fusion instrumental by AzkonnaBeatz has birthed No Go Go, a new sound capable of putting Ghana at the top of ingenious music production.

What is Kologo Fusion?

Kologo is the popular 2-string guitar found mostly amongst the Gurune-speaking ethnic groups of the Upper East Region. It has become a symbol of what truly exudes the musical culture of that particular ethnic group. The instrument is behind successful and ingenious artists like Atongo Zimba, King Ayisoba, Stevo Atambire and several traditional musicians from the Bolga area who are conquering the world with its unique sound.

Kologo Fusion is a blend of the musical instrument in popular music genres. While rap has likely been fused with it for decades, the current modern iteration of the sound can likely be traced to Soorebia’s “2 Strings” – a track produced by AzkonnaBeatz and featuring rapper Akan. Artists Wanlov The Kubolor and Stevo Atambire have also contributed immensely through their collective “Alostmen” and their unique brand of Rap. No Go Go! is the first of Dr. Pushkin’s fusion songs, and we can expect several more to appear on the album, including one with Stevo Atambire.