LISTEN: Worlasi
Worlasi is one of Ghana’s most inventive and interesting current musicians. We asked him about his influences and the future of the country’s music
You are an artist - a musician, a painter, animator and cultural curator. How do all these intersect and come together?
My music is an extension of things I can’t ordinarily say or do freely. Falling in love with music informally meant that I did not necessarily learn any technical rules on how to execute the ideas I had. I just loved sound, the energy of music and the emotion that came with it, and this love has just kept on growing. It gives me the opportunity to do anything, at any time, anyhow I want. So it is very hard to describe a Worlasi song in specific terms. The most important thing is how I feel about what I want to say and how I want to say it, and once that is down, I can express it through any medium, whatever genre. It could be jazz, it could be hip hop, so long as I feel it is the best way to express what I want. But, there has to be an African element to it. Super important.
What elements of West African and Ghanaian music have influenced you the most?
For West African music styles, I would say it’s really been mainly music from my home country Ghana I’ve been influenced by. Highlife and hiplife music have had a huge influence on my craft. My favourite elements from these styles are how repetition is used, and then the call and response. These are things I have definitely carried into my music-making process. I also love our guitar melodies, and instruments like the xylophone and conga.
You work with lots of different musicians. Why is collaboration so important to your music?
Collaboration is very important to me. Who you choose to create with can affect you in a very positive way. I choose people I admire and respect because of what they bring, but also so I can learn from them. I’m able to get advice on how they go about their things, and they just come with a certain energy that elevates whatever I’m working on. My most common, and also some of my favourite collaborators, include Akan, M.anifest, Efya, Wanlov and Sena Dagadu – they are so easy to work with.
What projects are you working on this year?
This year I’m working on projects with Sway, Jayso, Juls, and also working on two movies - Aloe Vera and ……….. I’m also working on having a little tour in the US. These are the things I’m sure of, if all goes well.
Finally, three things that every visitor to Ghana should experience?
Visit the Volta Region! Buy kente from the Volta Region! Try banku and okra soup! n
