Making music is a dream come true— Magic Rocker  

Music has always been in his blood, and now he's determined to make it his life's work.

US-based-Ghanaian musician Magic Rocker, who first gained recognition as a DJ, has left behind a successful career in sound engineering, DJing and production to pursue his ultimate dream–making music.

Magic Rocker, spent over a decade building a name for himself in the entertainment industry and explored sound recording, production and songwriting in Ghana and US. But in the last five years, he has shifted his focus entirely to doing music.

His decision to go into full-time music creation raises questions: Why now? What triggered this shift from a successful DJ and producer to a musician starting from scratch? For Magic Rocker, the answer is simple – it’s about fulfilling a childhood dream.

The journey, though filled with uncertainties, seems not to deter Magic Rocker. Unlike many who might fear failure or worry about how they will measure up to industry expectations, he remains unfazed. 

His confidence stems from a deep-seated passion for music and an understanding that this is his moment to live out his lifelong ambition.

When asked about the possibility of failing in this new pursuit, Magic Rocker explained that the outcome would be less important than the journey itself. 

For him, making music is not about joining the crowd of successful musicians or succumbing to fears of failure, but rather about giving his all to realise his childhood dream.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, he said: “From the moment I ventured into music, many people tried to discourage me. They couldn’t understand why I chose to leave behind my career as a DJ and all my other endeavours to focus solely on music. For some reason, they were convinced I would fail. The scepticism was real. They questioned my decision at every turn, not realising that music has always been my deepest passion.

“But here I am, five years later, with a growing catalogue of music performing well on all the major streaming platforms. Not only that, but my songs are also receiving significant airplay across multiple radio stations. It’s been an incredible journey, which means so much to me. 

“It is a dream, and I am finally living it. That’s all that matters to me. No amount of discouragement or doubt from others can sway me from this path. I’m here to stay, and I’m committed to doing what I love,” he added.

Mentorship

Although his primary goal is to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a successful musician, Magic Rocker is also focused on creating a support system for underground artistes. 

He believes that by nurturing and promoting up-and-coming musicians, he can make a lasting impact on the music industry. 

As the CEO of Gavali Music record label, Magic Rocker emphasises that his exposure and experience have given him the tools to help rising talents to push through the complex music landscape. 

By leveraging his record label, he hopes to provide these artistes with the necessary resources, guidance and industry connections to push them into the spotlight. 

“My vision is not just about my personal success. It is also about building a community where underground musicians can have a platform to thrive, grow and achieve their own dreams of stardom. We're all familiar with the challenges faced by emerging artistes in Ghana –they have little to no support, which often leads to untapped potential and unrealised dreams. That's why I want to leverage my exposure and industry connections to empower and uplift fellow artistes, providing them with the support they need to thrive and succeed," he said.

Magic Rocker

Magic Rocker’s real name is Richard Essien and he is credited with songs such as Talk Dirty, Peace Rain, Lion King, Who Are U, Fati Down Down, Trophy Man and Sweet Like Sugar, among others.

The artiste, who has worked with Grammy award winners such as Michael Rose, Don Carlos, Anthony B, Elephant Man, Sizzla, Frankie Paul, Sppragga Benz and Ava Cherry, among others, describes himself as multi-talented and a versatile artiste with a vision to change the world with his talent.  

He began his music journey as a club DJ in Chicago and later ended up at Elma and Company; a children's television show aired on Chicago public access cable.