Ghanaian Afrobeat singer, Kelvynboy has reacted to Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts & Culture, Mark Okraku Mantey stating that he [Kelvynboy] does not have a music identity.
He revealed that the deputy minister made this statement when he was the President of the Creative Arts Council.
“Right now, as we speak, that comment does not make sense to me. If you go back to really listen to my songs, I have an identity. Listen to ‘Yawa No Dey’. It’s the Amponsah [Highlife] rhythm. Listen to ‘Mea’, ‘Down Flat’ – it’s Kwaw, it’s Highlife.”
Kelvynboy
The serial hitmaker noted that some individuals are avowedly anti-progress in the music industry, adding that talk is easy so they like to talk.
“It’s not the DJs, presenters, bloggers, nor the artist. We are all supporting. The artists are also doing their best but our people like to talk [against all our efforts],” the singer-songwriter bemoaned.
Kelvynboy mentioned that one of such people is “Okraku Mantey”. “My song ‘Down Flat’ is Highlife/Afrobeats so I don’t know exactly what identity he wants me to get,” he further added.
Responding to Okraku Mantey’s criticism that he [Kelvynboy] sounds different on every beat, Kelvynboy proudly admitted that it’s because he is versatile, adding that it’s supposed to be a good thing.
“What has Okraku Mantey done for the music industry?” he quizzed.
Kelvynboy jubilated that unlike the days past when radio executives – Okraku Mantey once held such an office – were controlling the industry and determining the success of songs and artists and thanked “phones” and “Gen Z’s”, adding that the power is in the ordinary people’s hands.
“Now, you can’t force anybody and assert your opinion as supreme,” Kelvynboy declared.
Foundation For A Song’s Success
Kelvynboy revealed that one would never know a song will be a hit song until it is worked on.
According to him, it’s into the hands of God and not up to human strength if a song will be successful.
“You don’t know. You [only] feel it, picture it, imagine it. That’s why you start saying some words. You imagine somebody singing that. Trust me, you don’t know. You [just] feel it. No matter how bad or good a person is, I feel it’s written [predetermined] if he will succeed. Your will, strength, or know-how do not determine it.”
Kelvynboy
Kelvynboy, however, clarified that at the end of the day, it’s the talent first and then the grace of God.
He confessed that many of his songs did not succeed as he had pictured it from the onset.
He observed he had opposition from day one because they felt his music didn’t sound Ghanaian. That notwithstanding, he mentioned that it was good for him because he is the only one doing what he does, and he survives through it all.
The “Down Flat” hitmaker underlined songs like “Vero”, “Mea”, “Yawa No Dey”, and others were instant hits mainly because of the issues surrounding them but he noted generally that it takes some time [for his songs] to grow on his audience because of how peculiar they are.
“It was after 5 months that people started singing Pilolo [with Strongman],” he cited.
Kelvynboy also revealed that he supports the production process for his songs because he has an idea of what he wants to hear.
Also, Kelvynboy argued that it is a parent’s responsibility to make sure their child does not fall under ill influences from public figures.
He contended that in these modern days, no one shows children these [so-called bad] things, adding that parents may hide it from their children but they [children] will discover it themselves and also hide it from their parents.
“I have three kids, and when it [what I smoke] falls from my hand, they go, pick it up, and place it where it was before because, to them, it is daddy’s medicine. Therefore, “if you allow your kid to move [behave] like me, that’s your loss,” he cautioned.
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