I didn’t collaborate with Mercy Chinwo for attention – Diana Hamilton
RENOWNED and multiple award-winning UK-based-Ghanaian Gospel singer, Diana Hamilton, hardly does collaborations, especially with her Ghanaian colleagues so what could have pushed her to join forces recently with Nigeria’s Mercy Chinwo if not exposure and attention?
But the 2021 Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) Artiste of the Year explains her collaborations with international musicians are not about leveraging the popularity or fame of another artiste.
Instead, her approach to choosing collaborators is rooted in spiritual guidance and a commitment to find the right fit for her music's message as well as aligning with individuals who can enhance the spiritual essence of her music.
Speaking on the subject in a chat with Graphic Showbiz in Accra, Diana Hamilton who had recently engaged Nigerian singer Mercy Chinwo on her song The Doing of the Lord emphasised her priority lies in ensuring the authenticity and impact of her songs. (Read also: I will take a critical look at the operations of Creative Arts Agency – Dzifa Gomashie, Kwabena Kwabena: Real men take care of their partners)
"Every song has its unique purpose and message, and I strongly believe the person I work with must resonate with that purpose. It’s not just about creating music; it’s about touching lives and ministering to people. It's not about who can bring the most attention or traction to the song. It's never about that.”
“It's about finding the right artiste who can genuinely convey the message and emotion behind the lyrics. I want to collaborate with someone who shares my passion for the song's message and is committed to bringing it to life in a way that inspires and moves others as directed by the Holy Spirit,” she added.
When questioned about her relatively fewer collaborations with Ghanaian gospel artistes, the songstress explained that logistical challenges, including time constraints and geographical factors, often prevented her from working on projects with her Ghanaian colleagues. She emphasised that that had nothing to do with any ill feelings toward any of them.
“I would love to do that with my people but I am not always around. I remember some time ago I recorded a song which was supposed to be a feature with someone. When I was done, I sent my part to music producer, Kaywa, but he rejected it because he didn’t like it. I had to come down from the UK to do it all over again, and he loved what I did, and we produced a masterpiece,” she recounted.