You recorded the album between London and Accra proper?
That’s proper.
Was {that a} deliberate determination, or a results of coincidence?
It was positively deliberate. In my view numerous the grooves, and rhythms and patterns that you simply hear can solely be finished once you’re on the market. You simply really feel the rawness on the tapes. I wished to embody the Ghanaian groove in my music, however to match it up with the influences I had from UK music. What higher option to do it than truly be in Ghana? After which come again to all these nice musical occasions within the UK.
What have been probably the most memorable moments from recording the album?
Most likely my periods with Meron T and Ayeisha Raquel. They have been massive studying curves for me, I had not finished many periods earlier than with artists — so that they have been educating me tips on how to conduct a session in a approach that I hadn’t finished earlier than. They have been affected person with me as effectively. They understood how this was such an essential album for me, and I used to be studying on the job. But in addition speaking about life in between recording takes, speaking about our music, our aspirations and our objectives – severe conversations that I’ll at all times keep in mind. It was tremendous gratifying.
There appear to be numerous various things in your combine and your album that make up who Hagan is as an artist and individual. What’s your relationship between who you’re and your music?
It’s very private to me. I assumed for individuals to know the themes and subjects I’m speaking about [on the album], it will be good to have these little anecdotes and voice notes that you simply hear. For instance my grandma is essential to me, you hear her on the observe ‘Pray for Me’ on the finish, and she or he’s praying on my life and my household’s life – giving us her ideas and her prayers.
One other one from Griffit Vigo, you hear his voice on the finish of ‘Welcome to Ghana’, and he’s mainly telling me one thing that I’ve been pondering as a producer for a really very long time which is “be your self” – don’t try to match style packing containers, simply produce what comes naturally to you. There was a time I used to be sending him concepts and he stored on telling me: “Hagan, don’t ship me concepts about what sound good for me – simply ship me what sounds good for you.”
The final observe, which is named ‘Outro (Baffour’s Son)‘ – Baffour was my dad, who sadly handed away final 12 months, and the best way that album ends there’s barely any rhythm – simply melody and synths and it. It jogged my memory of how calm and forgiving my dad may very well be in sure conditions. He at all times had persistence.
What’s subsequent for Hagan?
I wish to try to refine the sound I’ve launched within the album, but in addition deliver the album to life. I wish to see how I can recreate it in a dwell setting – try to get musicians and artists I’ve featured so we are able to deliver the album to an viewers, so we are able to expertise the album not simply via streaming platforms, however truly face-to-face.
Learn this subsequent: Listen to a playlist of gqom classics curated by Griffit Vigo
And at last, what was the concept behind the combo you’ve created for us?
That is the primary combine the place I’m taking part in tracks outdoors of the singles [from the album]. So it was created with the concept of introducing the album tracks as a part of my common set rotation. The combination additionally replicates the journey I try and take individuals on [with my music]. I’ve tried to create an intro that’s welcoming. As you hear additional the temper proceeds to darken and the basslines are heavier. You additionally hear totally different variations of the album tracks reminiscent of acapellas or instrumentals.
Isaac Muk is Mixmag’s Digital Intern, observe him on Twitter
