 |
|
| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
 Posted - 18 Jan 2012 : 16:24:00
|
Eddie Conta Releases Debut Album
By Kebba Camara
18-01-12
Eddie Conta, a son to the renown Gambian artist Demba Conta, has released his album called ‘Kanno’. He told Foroyaa that even though most of the tracks are recorded, duplicated and mastered in Stockholm, Sweden, he decided to release the album in his fatherland, the Gambia.
In this edition of Art and Music, he talks to Kebba about his new ‘Kanoo’ album.
Foroyaa: Introduce yourself to the readers.
Eddie: My name is Edrissa Conta, the son of Demba Conta. I live in Stockholm, Sweden, but presently in the Gambia to see the family and to work and promote my new album that is out in the market.
Foroyaa: What is the album title and how many tracks does it contain?
Eddie: The album has 8 tracks and the title is Kanoo, meaning ‘love’ in Mandinka. The sounds are mostly in Mandinka and Afro Manding beats. I also have few reggae tunes in it.
Foroyaa: Who produced the album?
Eddie: I produced the album. The album took a long time to come out because I also worked as an engineer, I travel very frequently around the world and that being the case. I did not have much time to produce the album. So I had very little time available. I did everything on that album except the mastering. The instrumentals and the dub were all done by me.
Foroyaa: Am I correct to say that you were inspired by your musician father Demba Conta?
Eddie: Yes, I was and am still being inspired by him. The whole Gambia knows what he did about Gambian music. I was born in music and my eyes were open seeing my dad singing, his voice has been around me ever since I was born. So it is really correct to say that he is the one who inspired me.
Foroyaa: How successful are you in promoting the Kanoo album in the Gambia?
Eddie: Well the album was released just about a week ago and that is because we had to wait for it to be released first in Stockholm.
For the promotion, I have some radio interviews and some of my tracks were promoted here before I came to the Gambia. We also have some videos being played at the national television at the moment.
I’m happy with the promotion and the feedbacks I received from people have been positive.
Foroyaa: Do you have a management you work with?
Eddie: Yes, I do have a team working with me. There is an organisation behind this. It is a song academy. We also have a team called one Gambia and we have LAK Productions in Stockholm. These three organisations are behind my album. I have a team that will be responsible for my album here and also a team responsible for my album in Stockholm.
Foroyaa: When you came to the Gambia, what was your impression about Gambian music?
Eddie: I was very surprised to be frank. The quality and the talents in Gambian artists have positively improved. Actually, I left the Gambia to go abroad many years ago. In our days, it does not mean we don’t have talents but how to demonstrate it was the problem. Now many people have taken up to music production unlike those days. Artists like Jalex, Singhateh, Sambou Susso etc. are doing good in Gambian music. I personally met some of them abroad and the others when I came here. I’m really impressed with Gambian music.
Foroyaa: Have you done any combination with any of the Gambian artists?
Eddie: Not this time, unfortunately, and that is just as I told you I did not have enough time to cook the album the way I wanted it, and also the time they would came to Stockholm I have traveled to other parts of the world on business trips. I hoped I would have someone to combine with someday, but it was not possible this time round.
Foroyaa: You sing in the Mandinka language with your beats in Afro Manding, but do the Europeans who do not understand your language enjoy the music?
Eddie: This is a very vital point. People believe that your music has to be in Western style in order to attract Europeans. Well, of course it sells, but the Europeans enjoy it more if you sing in your culture and expose your culture to them. They are always very curious to know the culture of Africans. If they hear the African beats they enjoy it. This is what Africans should embrace.
Foroyaa: You are going back to Stockholm today, how will you get the proceeds of the copies of your album sold in the Gambia?
Eddie: We have a written contract with the people who work for me in the Gambia. There are people responsible for that and I’m hoping that it will work well.
Foroyaa: Do you have a word of advice for your fellow Gambian artists?
Eddie: Well, you have different kinds of artists. You have artists who sing and those who play instruments. The singing ones are good. What is lacking now is the instrumental part as very few Gambians play the instrument. In Senegal, the instrumentalists are rampant but in Gambia very few can play instruments. My advice to Gambian artist will be for them not to only depend on singing but should also be able to play at least a kora, a drum, a guitar or other instruments. It is not easy anyway but as an artist you don’t expect to take shortcuts and win. You have to go through the hardship as an artist. I will also advice if a music school can be introduced in the Gambia.
Foroyaa: Where can one get the Kanoo album?
Eddie: Well at the moment the central point is Capital FM, It is only there now where the ‘Kanoo’ album can be purchased.. They might extend the distributions later.
Foroyaa: What happen to your dad, Demba Conta, he is a little bit quiet now?
Eddie: Yes, you are right. He’s been quiet now because he is now more into production than singing. They have a company in Stockholm called Song Academy where they do vocal coaching and also a studio where they produce artists. So he is more engaged now in other aspects of music.
Foroyaa: Have you made any public appearances since you came to Gambia?
Eddie: No, and this is because we wanted the album to hit the market before we take shows. In fact, I had a couple of shows that I should play, but that due to a delay in the album all that could not be possible.
Foroyaa: Who should people contact if they want to purchase the album?
Eddie: Just as I told you, Capital FM is the main contact, but you can also dial 7901934 or 3943885 if you need the album. But for people outside the country, they can reach me on eddieconta@gmail.com.
Foroyaa: Are you single or married?
Eddie: (Laughs…) Yes, I have been married for a long time now and I do have some kids. I’m not too sure if my kids will take up music in the future. Nowadays just as what my dad used to say, they choose what they want to become. But whatever they choose, I will be there to support them.
Foroyaa: Any final message to Gambians in general?
Eddie: Let us not forget about culture. As an artist whatever you are doing let us think Gambian. Well, I think they are doing that because with my few weeks here I have realised that in some radios stations some programmes are done in strictly Mandinka, just like the national TV stressing on culture. This is a good thing and I like that really.
Generally, I am impressed because things are moving. I can feel some Gambian-ness in them and the Gambian artists are also doing that. I have even seen Gambian artists singing in Manjago, this is really impressive and is the way forward. Let them keep it up.
Foroyaa: Thank you for granting me this interview and I want to wish you every success in your album.
Eddie: Thank you very much; I also appreciate the interview.
Source: Foroyaa
|
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 20:14:58
|
| Very rich in sound and tradition. Momodou, how could anyone lay hands on the entire collection of Eddie ? I remember him as shy little boy who would now grow to be music super star. |
Karamba |
 |
|
|
Momodou
Denmark
11634 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 20:44:30
|
| Karamba, there is an e-mail address in the text above where you can reach Eddie. |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
|
|
|
Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2012 : 00:31:53
|
| Thank you Momodou, I will shoot him an email soon. |
Karamba |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
| Bantaba in Cyberspace |
© 2005-2024 Nijii |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
