Not that simple to connect GH acts to global stars—Nabeyin

AMERICAN born Ghanaian music producer Edgar Nabeyin Panford has a very rich resume and comes highly recommended. He has worked with top international musicians such as Drake, Nas, The Game, Miguel, Kanye West, among others.

So it is only natural that one would think he could easily connect artistes here to these international musicians for collaborations in order to attain global status.

But Nabeyin, as he is popularly known, tells Graphic Showbiz in a recent interview it is not that simple.

The Grammy nominated music producer disclosed that although he has built a relationship with these international musicians, he just cannot tell them to collaborate with our artistes when they (international artistes) are not ready.

“These guys are world class musicians and it is difficult getting them for collaborations, especially if they are not ready.

"If they hear of a particular artiste in Ghana and want to work with him or her, I will be more than willing to help,” he said.

According to Nabeyin, most of these super stars listen to songs from other African countries and if they like a particular one, they don’t hesitate to jump on it.

“There have been collaborations from Ed Sheeran and Fireboy DML; Rick Ross and P Square; Keri Hilton and Stonebwoy; and Shatta Wale and Beyoncé, so I am certain they know the musicians outside the US who are doing well in other countries.

"If they want to connect for a collaboration, I believe they can make it happen,” he said.

Asked how else Ghanaian artistes could get global attention with their music, Nabeyin said “Ghanaian music is doing well but we can crossover to other countries if we are more experimental with our sounds and make our music more digestible.

“We should make our music more consumable to foreigners. In that way, crossing over will be easier.

"It is good to sing in our local dialect but we could also do more English songs with catchy choruses and we are good to go.

“Our musicians could also employ the services of international music producers to work with them. Imagine Timberland and other great producers recording an album for Sarkodie.

"The impact will be so huge and he will  get global attention in no time” he said

Touching on how he was able to meet with all these international musicians, Nabeyin said it is mostly through his colleague music producers.

“My colleague music producers connect these musicians to me. Some of them also call me based on the work I have done over the years and that is how it has been,” he said.

Asked if he would have been able to record for all these musicians if he were based in Ghana, Nabeyin said he didn’t think that would not have been possible.

“I don’t think I would have been able to work for all these musicians if I was based here in Ghana.

"I spent most my whole life in USA and I have been in this music business for some time now, so it was easy to be associated with these artistes and other great music producers,” he added.