Lack of mentorship killing young talents —Arathejay
A BUDDING artiste, AratheJay, who believes talent is not enough to guarantee the success of young artistes, is appealing for mentorship and support for young musicians in the industry.
To him, young acts need proper guidance, encouragement and support from established artistes and industry professionals.
In a chat with Graphic Showbiz recently, AratheJay said it is not his intention to be the mouthpiece of every up-and-coming artiste but he just wants to draw attention to what he thinks causes the early ‘downfall’ of his compatriots.
“Honestly, I can’t speak for everyone but I am advocating for more support for young musicians. I think most people see music as a gift and assume it’s by chance; so sometimes reduces its value in people’s eyes.
“And that is the more reason why I believe young artistes like me need proper mentoring and support. The system is choked and it’s difficult to stay relevant even after releasing a hit. However, with guidance and mentorship, young artistes learn from the mistakes and experiences of established ones,” he said.
In the past few months, AratheJay has earned considerable attention with songs such as Jesus Christ, 360, Chosen, Onoa and Sankofa.
He expressed utmost gratitude to Ghanaians for accepting his music.
“The reception has been great, especially knowing just how people connect with my personal struggles told in my music.
“It’s satisfying to know that your story resonates with so many people. It’s always a good feeling when I hear someone playing and enjoying my songs,” he shared.
He also explained the inspiration behind his new single, saying: “My latest song, Grenade, is a reflection of the hardships that we all go through and also the defiance we show in the face of it. It’s basically me shouting at a storm; my own act of defiance,” he said.
Having collaborated with a number of A-list artistes such as Black Sherif, Sarkodie, Stonebwoy and King Promise, among others, Arathejay told Graphic Showbiz he valued the learning experience these joint ventures offered his young brand.
“It’s always interesting to work with other artistes. I can’t say the outcome has always been positive but I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from them,” he said.
With a ‘hustling’ story and a style that always reminds listeners of Black Sherif, AratheJay touched on the comparison to the Kwaku the Traveler hitmaker. (Read also: Awukudae: Afua Asantewaa calls on Asantehene at Manhyia Palace, Funke Akindele’s ‘Everybody Loves Jenifa’ hits N1bn (GH₵ 9,520,530) ticket sales in 19 days)
He acknowledged the similarity, saying: “Shoutout to my brother, Iron Boy KK(Black Sherif’s name on X). ! I think every artiste brings something unique to the table. I want to believe the similarity lies in the message or the feelings we evoke with our music. For us artistes, music is our way of communicating and I think we’re very aligned when it comes to sending a message; so I understand. Love to my brother,” he said.
With the knowledge that long-term success is not always guaranteed, the Jesus Christ artiste said he doesn’t want to be overrated but rather encouraged to always give off his best.
“As long as God gives me life and the ability to make music, I’m going to keep doing this. My focus is on making music that speaks to people and their situations. Let’s see where and how it goes,” he added.