As Stevie Wonder once said, “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.”
On Friday, 21st of June, Afrobeats star Kojo Talr released a romantic Ballad, ‘Dadie Anoma’ produced by Lexyz and Mr. Midstrike with OT on guitar. Before then, he had released “Obaa Hemaa” and “Logologo” while following the big footsteps of his brother, Fuse ODG. In this interview with PAM, Kojo Talr talks about his plans, relationship with music and his brother’s influence on his career.
How did you get in touch with OT?
OT works with the New Africa Nation and the Off Da Ground Records, particularly my big brother Fuse ODG. So we’ve become like family, and he does stuff on my tracks for me. He is always ready to support.
You have released ‘Logologo’, ‘Oba heema’ and now ‘Dadie Anoma’, is this a build up to an album?
Sure. I’ve got more projects on the way. These include songs with the big names in the industry. And certainly, I will run them up with an album eventually. However, an EP will precede this album.
I like the fact that you sing in your native language, have you ever worried about people that do not understand your language?
Music is a universal feature of the human experience such that, you don’t necessarily have to understand the language with which it is sang before you enjoy the music.
As Stevie Wonder once said, “Music is a world within itself, with a language we all understand.”
And I agree with him, indeed, music is a universal language which transcends cultural differences due to our shared human nature underlying basic musical structures. Furthermore, our shared psychology, as humans, produces fundamental patterns in songs that transcend our profound cultural differences.
But let me hasten to add that, I do more English songs. I’ve got more English songs than those in the local language. Strategically, I decided to capture and consolidate the local or home fandom with the “Obaa Hemaa”, “Logologo” and “Dadie Anoma” before introducing those works in English as I step on the international stage.
When did you start singing?
I started singing as far as I could remember from infancy because music has always been a part of me. However, I started performing actively at church. I played a lead role in the main choir of our church. We did a series of performances at other churches and programmes upon invitation as well.
How did your big brother Fuse ODG influence your music?
As a big brother, Fuse ODG has always been an inspiration. He is always guiding me on this journey. As a matter of fact, although we come from a family of music, Fuse ODG blazed the trail by going professional and not just that, being international. This has been a big motivation to me, coupled with the fact that I am privileged to have at my disposal, ultramodern and world-class recording studio and equipment to produce good music by kind courtesy of Fuse ODG. To put it simply, just living under the same roof with the Afrobeats king is even a big and major influence enough.
