Copying Other Musicians Craft Won’t Get You To The Grammys, Rocky Dawuni To Ghanaian Artists.

Three times GRAMMYS nominated Ghanaian singer Rocky Dawuni has illuminated his long time recognitions on the international stage although most Ghanaians are yet to fully appreciate his works locally following his third Grammy nomination.

The ‘In Ghana’ hitmaker said originality should be the watchword of every Ghanaian artist but sadly most of them have made ‘copy and paste’ their modus operandi.

“When doing music, you don’t have to do it like someone else or copy what somebody is doing”, Rocky Dawuni said in a recent interview.

He mentioned that his nominations have been consistent because he stayed original to his craft which has given him a distinctive persona musically.

“My style is not pure reggae music, it is called afro root. It is a style I mix with Highlife, Afrobeat, and different mixed together. So if you are doing music, you don’t have to do it as someone else or copy what somebody is doing. When you do that, you won’t make it”, he explained.

So what I’m saying is that you can’t copy somebody’s style and make it yours. Of course, you can’t do it better than the originator of the style so you have to create your own and that is what will make people know that you also have something unique to offer”, he added.

He also cited Highlife legends like Nana Kwame Ampadu and Apofo Agyei as having a great influence on his craft.

“When I began I was inspired by people like Nana Ampadu, and Ampofo Adjei, all of these people inspired me before Jamaican music came. So when you listen to me critically, it is a fusion of all these styles”, he said.

Story by: Mc Paa Saahene