Kojo Antwi

Kojo's music - Afro Pop is a well-tasty, magical blend of West Africa's Hi Life and Soukous, The Carribean's Lovers' Rock, a hint of Afro-America’s Rhythm and Blues, brewed in a large African pot and stirred with well-composed lyrics plus a voice so sweet.

In an exciting career spanning over two decades he has gone from bubbly vocalist through introspective songwriter and lead singer to consummate musician, arranger, producer and enigmatic performer.

WZPK 99.3 FM’s Sounds from the Motherland caught up with the Musicman in an Accra studio this weekend and below is the abridged transcript of the phone interview.

Sound from the Motherland: It’s a pleasure having you on the line, Mr. Musicman!

Kojo Antwi: Yeah, talking to you all the way from Ghana.

SFTM: You’re in the studio, I understand.

KA: Yeah, I’m in the studio working on some new stuff. Well, it’s all done; I’m just fine-tuning them.

SFTM: Your last album (Densu) was in 2003. Between then and now, I suppose you’ve been working on this album. Tell us a little about it.

KA: Well, last year, I released a collection of my videos on DVD titled The Videos of Kojo Antwi, you know, special collections and for the past year and half I’ve been working on this very album which is supposed to be out by the end of this very month. And you know I love ballads and I have a lot of ballads on them.

SFTM: So I suppose the audience at this November 26 concert will be the first to hear you perform live songs from this album.

KA: Yes, yes, 26th of November. I believe that will be the first time we will be performing most of the songs from the album for the first time. We were reserving the album for the 24th of December concert in Ghana but unfortunately for the people in Accra, this gig in Washington DC came in and we accepted to do it so Washington DC will be the first venue where we will be playing the songs live.

SFTM: I’m going to go back and talk some more about the album and the concert. 100 Degreez- how did you guys hook up?

KA: Well, I am aware of them. I know they’ve been organizing a lot of parties and shows; and so when they called on me to come and do a show? um’ I always feel comfortable with people who are mature in doing show business, you know.

Because sometimes when you link up with promoters who are just starting out, they? I have been in the industry for such a long time and I have some requirements when I am to perform and it takes those mature promoters to understand those things you need to spice up a show.

So when they requested that I come do a show, I said fine. I mean, you guys understand the business and as long as I can get to the things I love to do on stage I’m ready for it.

SFTM: Let’s talk a little bit about the concert. What is a Kojo Antwi concert like? Let say I have never been to a Kojo Antwi concert, tell me of what to look forward to, what sets it apart and why I should be there.

KA: Well, concerts are more like? for me you come to see a show and I give you something to remember; because if people wanted to just listen to the music, they could just sit at home and listen to the CD. But when I’m doing a show, that’s the time I could involve the crowd, get them to sing along, invite them on stage, do a dance with them- involve them. Make them feel they are a part of the whole thing.

And there are ways that I do my intro, the way that I interpret some of the songs differently? when I’m doing them live? You will listen to "Me nya ntaban" and from the way we will play it, it will seem like you are hearing it for the first time, you know. And I’m coming with a professional musician- I’m talking about Kwame Yeboah, the best Ghanaian keyboards man you can think of. He’s on tour right now with Brett Davis.

I’m coming with my whole band and I’m featuring this accomplished musician. Nana Yaa is also coming. Yvonne, the lady who did the female vocals on "Konkotibaa" is also a part of my team.

SFTM: This is definitely going to be big, Kojo, and I am excited about it.

At this point, the interviewer asks Kojo Antwi for an a capella performance of one of his songs. Kojo Antwi opted to introduce Nana Yaa and have her do the a capella instead. Nana Yaa is the daughter of Pat Thomas (Sika Ye Mogya) and Lola Evert (Sweet Beans).

Nana Yaa sings a chorus from the Densu album- "?obeba abeda me nkyen; menfa no’nto mpapah mpa so, mpapah be bu abor me do yi".

SFTM: Awesome, awesome. We like that and we loved talking to you. The concert is on November 26 in Washington DC, and Kojo we’re dying to see you, we’re waiting for you?

KA: I’m looking forward to it?

Kojo's music - Afro Pop is a well-tasty, magical blend of West Africa's Hi Life and Soukous, The Carribean's Lovers' Rock, a hint of Afro-America’s Rhythm and Blues, brewed in a large African pot and stirred with well-composed lyrics plus a voice so sweet.

In an exciting career spanning over two decades he has gone from bubbly vocalist through introspective songwriter and lead singer to consummate musician, arranger, producer and enigmatic performer.

WZPK 99.3 FM’s Sounds from the Motherland caught up with the Musicman in an Accra studio this weekend and below is the abridged transcript of the phone interview.

Sound from the Motherland: It’s a pleasure having you on the line, Mr. Musicman!

Kojo Antwi: Yeah, talking to you all the way from Ghana.

SFTM: You’re in the studio, I understand.

KA: Yeah, I’m in the studio working on some new stuff. Well, it’s all done; I’m just fine-tuning them.

SFTM: Your last album (Densu) was in 2003. Between then and now, I suppose you’ve been working on this album. Tell us a little about it.

KA: Well, last year, I released a collection of my videos on DVD titled The Videos of Kojo Antwi, you know, special collections and for the past year and half I’ve been working on this very album which is supposed to be out by the end of this very month. And you know I love ballads and I have a lot of ballads on them.

SFTM: So I suppose the audience at this November 26 concert will be the first to hear you perform live songs from this album.

KA: Yes, yes, 26th of November. I believe that will be the first time we will be performing most of the songs from the album for the first time. We were reserving the album for the 24th of December concert in Ghana but unfortunately for the people in Accra, this gig in Washington DC came in and we accepted to do it so Washington DC will be the first venue where we will be playing the songs live.

SFTM: I’m going to go back and talk some more about the album and the concert. 100 Degreez- how did you guys hook up?

KA: Well, I am aware of them. I know they’ve been organizing a lot of parties and shows; and so when they called on me to come and do a show? um’ I always feel comfortable with people who are mature in doing show business, you know.

Because sometimes when you link up with promoters who are just starting out, they? I have been in the industry for such a long time and I have some requirements when I am to perform and it takes those mature promoters to understand those things you need to spice up a show.

So when they requested that I come do a show, I said fine. I mean, you guys understand the business and as long as I can get to the things I love to do on stage I’m ready for it.

SFTM: Let’s talk a little bit about the concert. What is a Kojo Antwi concert like? Let say I have never been to a Kojo Antwi concert, tell me of what to look forward to, what sets it apart and why I should be there.

KA: Well, concerts are more like? for me you come to see a show and I give you something to remember; because if people wanted to just listen to the music, they could just sit at home and listen to the CD. But when I’m doing a show, that’s the time I could involve the crowd, get them to sing along, invite them on stage, do a dance with them- involve them. Make them feel they are a part of the whole thing.

And there are ways that I do my intro, the way that I interpret some of the songs differently? when I’m doing them live? You will listen to "Me nya ntaban" and from the way we will play it, it will seem like you are hearing it for the first time, you know. And I’m coming with a professional musician- I’m talking about Kwame Yeboah, the best Ghanaian keyboards man you can think of. He’s on tour right now with Brett Davis.

I’m coming with my whole band and I’m featuring this accomplished musician. Nana Yaa is also coming. Yvonne, the lady who did the female vocals on "Konkotibaa" is also a part of my team.

SFTM: This is definitely going to be big, Kojo, and I am excited about it.

At this point, the interviewer asks Kojo Antwi for an a capella performance of one of his songs. Kojo Antwi opted to introduce Nana Yaa and have her do the a capella instead. Nana Yaa is the daughter of Pat Thomas (Sika Ye Mogya) and Lola Evert (Sweet Beans).

Nana Yaa sings a chorus from the Densu album- "?obeba abeda me nkyen; menfa no’nto mpapah mpa so, mpapah be bu abor me do yi".

SFTM: Awesome, awesome. We like that and we loved talking to you. The concert is on November 26 in Washington DC, and Kojo we’re dying to see you, we’re waiting for you?

KA: I’m looking forward to it?