Award-winning singer, Epixode, has revealed that he has never drunk alcohol or smoked, choosing a lifestyle that breaks away from common stereotypes in the music genre.
“I’ve never tried it before,” he emphasised, taking off his glasses to demonstrate his seriousness and honesty.
He said the choice stemmed from “an individual decision to stay good,” no matter the temptations he encountered. Helping his resolve, he added, was being “fortunate” to have been exposed very early in life, given his parents’ jobs.
Epixode mentioned that his mother was on tour as a musician when he was only a toddler.
“I’m not saying I was a spoiled rotten, but at least, home was good. My father, too, worked in a bank,” he added, noting the importance of a two-parent home and the advantages of good parenting, which had shaped and helped him resist peer pressure and deviance.
“I only had my tattoos like two years ago. I didn’t have my piercings, I didn’t have tattoos, nothing. It’s not that I can’t do these, but growing up, I wanted to be different.”
Epixode
He debunked the assertion that drugs enhanced creativity, especially in music. To support his point, he lightheartedly asked if Gospel acts used hard drugs to help their creative process.
He challenged the stereotype that Reggae/Dancehall acts had to take to smoking and drinking.
“I stand to be corrected [but] Lucky Dube [did] not smoke or drink [for inspiration]. I come from a musical home [and that explains my gift]. I don’t think you need to depend on something [detrimental].
“I think there’s a sweet side to Reggae and Dancehall. The likes of Sean Paul, Konshens, Beenie Man – there’s a sweet side. It’s not always about violence, bravado, or gangsters.”
Epixode
While the creativity-enhancing potential of certain drugs is supported by scientific research, the ethical, health, and societal implications of their use necessitate a cautious approach.
Creativity is a multifaceted phenomenon that thrives on a rich tapestry of experiences and emotions, and reducing it to a pharmacological enhancement risks oversimplifying its complexity.
As individuals continue to explore the relationship between creativity and drugs, it is essential to prioritize holistic methods of fostering innovation and expression, ensuring that the pursuit of creativity remains a deeply human endeavor, free from the constraints of dependency and risk.
Epixode Reacts to Role Model Lord Kenya’s Criticisms
The music star confessed he does not speak the best Patois.
“I, definitely, don’t have it [learned] a hundred per cent. It would sound cliché [funny] in the ears of real Jamaicans. It’d be as though a Chinese man were speaking Twi. Or just like me, a Ga man, speaking Twi. You’ll find those [awkward] things in there.”
Epixode
The singer-songwriter reacted to Lord Kenya, dismissing the Patois of many Ghanaian artists as inauthentic.
Recognising Lord Kenya’s legendary music status, he urged the rapper-turned-evangelist to be mindful not to “trash our hard work,” but notice the effort being made to follow “the legacy” artists like him had left.
He emphasised undermining the work of today’s musicians and alienated veterans, creating an environment where people felt emboldened to disrespect them, and threatened the crucial continuity between generations.
“Let’s enjoy music, whether it’s Patois or Twi. Now, guess what? Most of even Kojo Antwi’s songs are Reggae songs; they are not in Patois, but they are legendary records that our children will come and enjoy.”
Epixode
He noted he had learned so much from following Lord Kenya’s career, including “his stage performance”. He named Samini for the same reason.
“And then based on swag on stage, I learned from Tinny. So it’s a whole merger of legends, superstars.”
Epixode
READ ALSO: Mahama’s Government Accused of Betraying Ghanaians’ Trust
