Young performers fall short of my requirements for collaboration — Ambolley
Veteran Ghanaian Highlife musician Gyedu Blay Ambolley won’t work with any artist, especially the young ones, if they don’t live up to his standards, even if they are promised a fortune.
This is because he has established a solid reputation, and Ambolley will keep declining their calls for collaboration as long as those musicians do not recognize and uphold the standard of preserving Ghana’s unique musical heritage.
“I don’t have my eyes on the cash. I won’t say that I’ll charge them and do it because they have money. It must be in line with my beliefs, and the music’s content must be engaging for listeners.
“During our time, we learned the fundamentals of music composition, orchestration, and all other components that constitute good music. The younger generation no longer has access to that. All they do is rely on the computer and then confer all kinds of titles upon themselves, he said.
Ambolley, whose music career spans more than four decades, claimed that most of the new crop of artists prioritized trends and rapid gratification over creative integrity and cultural preservation in an interview with Graphic Showbiz on Tuesday, September 12.
The Simigwado hitmaker suggested that the young acts would benefit greatly if they prioritized developing their skills over looking for quick ways to succeed.
“Many of them want to collaborate on music with me, but they fall short of my expectations. I’m sorry, but I won’t work with you if you can’t handle it.
“Some of the younger people have approached me on multiple occasions, asking me to endorse their music. However, I have declined since the music has to be authentic for me to put my stamp on it. The majority of them are performing what I refer to as “sharp sharp” music, which has a very limited lifespan.
However, Ambolley recognized that there were some extremely brilliant young musicians making waves in the field and he would not be hesitant to train them and open his doors to them for partnerships and sponsorships.
“There are a few exceptional ones who have the potential to make a significant impact on our music scene, and we know them, and these are the ones I will not hesitate to work with,” he continued.
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