Produce good sounds: Bessa Simons urges music engineers

Veteran Ghanaian Highlife artiste, Bessa Simons, is calling for an improvement in the quality of sound in music production, urging sound engineers and producers to move away from substandard methods.

Expressing concern about the current state of sound production in Ghana, Bessa Simons, who is also the President of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), said although some sound engineers and music producers were putting in good efforts, the majority of them were not living up to the mark.

In a recent interview with the Daily Graphic, he highlighted the emergence of new trends in sound engineering and music production and urged stakeholders to blend contemporary and traditional elements to align with global standards.

The veteran musician passionately advocated a paradigm shift and innovative approach in music production, emphasising that such a move would be instrumental in improving the overall quality of music coming from Ghana. 

“Talking about whether the sound or the music around is good, I will say no because there are some sounds that are not up to scratch; but I think with time, we can fix it because now MUSIGA is planning to do a lot of work.

“We have sound engineers who have been very good and can even do better for our industry. But I will say we are now in a digital era, and it’s different from the olden days when we had very limited options. Now it is much easier and with very little effort, we can tap into both the traditional and modern-day platforms to improve upon our sound production to boost the quality of music we do,” he added. 

Decentralisation

Addressing the centralisation of sound engineers in the capital, Accra, Bessa Simons told the Daily Graphic that plans were underway to address this concern.

He said MUSIGA was working on a laid-out strategy that sought to empower local sound engineers across the regions. 

According to him, this initiative would eliminate the inconveniences artistes from other regions faced when travelling to the capital to find sound engineers, ultimately fostering growth in the music industry.

"Most of the good sound engineers are in Accra, so people travel from wherever they are to record here, and so I think if we can work for those in the other regions for them to also improve on their sound, then it will make it easier because they wouldn’t have to travel all the way to the capital”, he explained.

Commitment 

 With a career spanning over four decades, Bessa Simons expressed his willingness to work with up-and-coming artistes and offer them guidance and mentorship should they approach him for support.  

Having recorded and produced for several big names in the music industry, including Tagoe Sisters, Yaw Sarpong, Felix Owusu, Pat Thomas, Papa Yankson and others as a music producer, Bessa Simons said he was ever ready to share his wealth of knowledge with industry stakeholders for the growth of the industry.

“I have recorded and produced some of the big names we can mention in our music industry, including Tagoe sisters, their first album Yedi Nkunim, and other songs of theirs. 

“I’ve also produced and recorded songs for Celestina Owusu, Samuel Owusu, Papa Yankson, Paulina Oduro and Stella Dugan, among other artistes. A lot of people know I am a good sound engineer and I am ever willing to share my experience with anyone who wants to learn and grow in the music industry,” he said.

Appeal 

Bessa Simons urged stakeholders to implement measures recognising the contributions of creatives who had significantly contributed to the country's vibrant creative industry. 

He expressed the belief that a well-established system would enhance the appreciation of creative works, emphasising the need for relevant stakeholders to collaborate with MUSIGA in creating such a framework.

He underscored the critical role played by the creative industry in Ghanaian society and urged stakeholders to ensure that the creatives who had paid their dues received the celebration and appreciation they rightfully deserved.

"I think my work could have been more appreciated if we had the right system in place, and I would plead with relevant stakeholders to put systems in place to celebrate our creatives and their contributions to the growth of our creative industry. The industry plays a critical role in our society and its players must be celebrated and appreciated for their efforts," he said.

Bessa Simons

Bessa Simons has been in the music industry for over four decades. He was a member of the Osibisa group when he lived in London and remains an integral part of the group's performances.

He is a prolific songwriter, keyboardist and singer who has worked with some of the greatest names in music, including the Tagoe Sisters, Pat Thomas, Papa Yankson, Kari Bannerman, Osibisa, C.K. Mann, Ebo Taylor and Gyedu Blay Ambolley.

The seasoned musician cum sound engineer was born into a family of musicians with his father being a Choir Master, Organist and Music Teacher. 

While at Aggrey Memorial Secondary School in Cape Coast, Bessa Simons played in the school band.

As a youngster, he led The Pelikans Dance Band of Cape Coast and won first prize at the Big Band competition held in Accra by the Ghana Arts Council.

He attended the National Academy of Music in Winneba and also successfully completed a Diploma Course at the School of Audio Engineering in London.