GOSPEL MUSIC NOT ABOUT RIVERS AND ROCKS - CWESI OTENG

CWESI OTENG

Winner of the Best Gospel Video at the 2012 MTN 4Syte Music Video Awards, Cwesi Oteng, has called for measures to improve the standards of gospel music videos in Ghana to make them viable on the international scene.
The gospel maestro, whose mega hit track ‘God Dey Bless Me’ is currently the talk of town, told NEWS-ONE that he was in the gospel music fraternity both by choice and by calling and that he would contribute his quota in taking Ghanaian gospel music to a higher level.
Cwesi said he is not only a Christian singer but also a practicing Christian who attends the Lighthouse Chapel International, Tema Community 8 branch, where he actually leads praise and worship as well as directs the choir.
“Gospel music can go very far if we give it the requisite attention and stop treating it as a less important genre of music that is all about standing beside a river or a rock or a tree to sing. No.
Gospel music is far above that and the countries that have taken that genre serious have created international music heavyweights and I believe we can also get there as a country,” Cwesi noted.
The gospel sensation confirmed to NEWS-ONE that he had signed on to the BBnZ Live Record Label and that the world should watch out for what would come out of it in no time.
“All this while, I have done my productions myself and all that but it is not easy looking for a producer; yet I continued to do my best.
Recently I had a call from BBnZ and the talks went well.
There comes a time when you need an administrator to manage your career and that is where we are now,” Cwesi explained to NEWS-ONE.
Checks from BBnZ confirmed that Cwesi Oteng had truly been signed on to the label.
“We have always wanted to sign on a gospel artiste but it was a challenge to get one with the qualities we wanted.
But when we saw Cwesi’s video, we were convinced he is the guy we have waited for,” Alvin Bekoe, one of the company’s directors, noted.
Cwesi also told NEWS-ONE that all his songs were recorded live with real instrumentalists actually playing the instruments and that he looked forward to a time where event organizers in Ghana would actually allow artistes to perform at shows with their bands.
“That is where we should be working towards for now so we shift from the system of just going to perform to a CD with your microphones off. Music is a career and we should be seen as professionals.
“Let us all continue to pray for God to use us as His vessels to minister to people and to bring solutions to people. Let us all pray for the best,” Cwesi stated.

BY NEWS 1