mpmRekords, Piano Bar help expose young acts

A unique feature of the Piano Bar live music venue at the Greda Estates Roundabout, Teshie-Nungua Estates in Accra is that one can always catch a young, up-and-coming artiste in performance on Friday and Saturday nights as they eagerly knock on the door to real professionalism.

In the fast-spinning world of show business, it is simply not enough to be talented and then sit back without honing and promoting one’s ability.

That’s why the Piano Bar has become a hub for blooming musical talents to feature live  and tell the world what they can do.

The man behind the project to showcase fresh, little-known talents is Mr Eben Sowah, a software engineer and pianist. He is CEO and founder of mpmRekords.

He has been collaborating with the management of Piano Bar to help make the world know about the freshest musical voices in the land.

“The whole idea is to bring out the best in our young talents and help them into the mainstream. We are truly achieving a lot over there,” said Mr Sowah.

His mpmRekords outfit took off in March 2015 and has managed to provide a useful platform  for a long list of unsung acts.

They include Josh Blakk, Six Strings, Jeed Rodgers, Rosel, SerwaGuilty Beats, Boi Jake, Renolds The Gentleman, Stan EddYanful, Awesomeness and  Kobby Prairie.

Others are Nene,  Marian Norman,  Asantewaa, Elisanti, Aysha Tahiru, Rhyme Sony, Ama Saaka, Ike Wonder, Titi, Surpha, Robin Huws, Mikel, Kueiku Knicklez, Aduhemaa and  Efe Keyz.

Some of the acts that embraced mpmRekords’ efforts and have since received wider notice  include Kuami  Eugene, Kidi who affected many with his ‘Odo’ track,  Kurl Songx whose ‘Jennifer Lomotey’ with Sarkodie received extensive attention and Adomaa.

 “Adomaa’s very first live performance was organized by mpmRekords at the Piano Bar. She has continued to work hard and is a recogniable face everywhere she goes now,” Mr Sowah stated.

There are a number of music talent shows in the system aimed at spotting talents. ‘Stars of the Future’ somehow opened the way and it has since been followed by others such as ‘Vodafone Icons’, ‘MTN Hit-Maker’, ‘Mentor’, ‘Bands Alive’, ‘New Music Ghana’ and  Voice Factory’.

“All those shows were necessary in tapping new talent. My only issue with them is the brilliant acts that emerge are later left to find their own feet. You don’t hear of them again till they struggle to push themselves onto the market.

“That’s where an outfit like mpmRekords becomes useful.  We are open to work with any budding act willing to progress through live performances. We are happy to be making an impact,” the mpmRecords boss said.