For the Craftsfolk
BY DJ YAMZ
A breath and a pause, and the biggest love from Tema 🖤
Even by the standards of our world today, there’s been a lot going on in the world lately. In a time where people’s identities/sense of self are being censured by the very people who were appointed to safeguard the welfare of all people, regardless of their identities—queer or otherwise—, it feels a bit strange to be writing about the latest exploits in my journey. I acknowledge that my privilege allows me this luxury, especially in a time when a great many people still have to grapple with how much of themselves is safe/acceptable enough for the world(s) they find themselves in.
I will say this though: I do hope people the world over will continue to find the courage to strive to be ourselves—our best humane selves—irrespective of narratives and agendas that tell us otherwise.
This issue recounts a memorable day I spent with a member of the Spc.Gh.st collective and gives a shoutout to the Champion, Masta H, and his new hard-hitting single, ELEVATE.
Happy reading!!
Love,
Yamz
“You can feel like you have to try and be something you’re not because of the pressure society puts on you. And this is a big factor in the development of mental health problems.”
“I’ve realised that I have to be me. No matter what.”
~ Tyson Fury, Legendary Boxer
A Day with a Gh.st 👻
In late February, I had the great pleasure of meeting Spc, a dynamic member of the Ghanaian musical band and creative collective, Spc.Gh.st, at his home-studio in Dawhenya, Accra (S/O to Avit for the connect!).
If I could describe Spc in two words, they’d be: ‘multifaceted’ and ‘selfless.’ I found Spc to be one of those rare people who is so well-versed in many different facets of music and other artforms but is at the same time blessed with a unique blend of humility and selflessness. For me, it was really a breath of fresh air to meet a fellow creator who is not motivated by ego.
I think what helped or made us both eager to meet each other was a series of exchanges we had concerning feedback I’d given Spc on C3 WAVS, a yet-to-be-released collab venture with Avit.
During a round of feedback, I included a number of song references to help guide his mixing approach. Spc later shared with me that it was these references that made him feel that we were kindred on a musical level.
On the day I met him at his studio, one of the things that struck me early on, was the number of keyboards that were around the room (if I remember correctly, there were probably no less than four or five). As I was getting settled, my eyes fell on a book (What Napoleon Could Not Do) that was lying on a couch which piqued my interest. I would soon discover that Spc, a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, was also a fellow book nerd. Naturally, we spent a bit of time talking about some of the books/authors we’d read recently. We both professed our love for Nnedi Okorafor and her Afrofuturism works and I was surprised to learn that Spc was a big philosophy buff. I couldn’t stop waxing lyrical about Cixin Liu’s, The Three Body Problem, which is one of the best sci-fi books I’ve read in a long time.
We chatted about various topics, sharing experiences from our respective creative journeys and our observations on life in Ghana. Spc also shared more about his Spc.Gh.st band/collective, which he both plays in and composes arrangements for. As a collective, Spc.Gh.st strives to push boundaries at the intersection of sound and culture and prides itself as ardent explorers of Afrofuturism—a movement that merges African culture, futurism and science fiction that has been gaining increased momentum across artistic disciplines1.
Hearing about some of the band’s exploits gingered me and shortly after Spc shared the collective’s history with me, I took out my sax to vibe out and see if we could cook up something. In the weeks’ prior to our link-up, I’d been learning to play a rendition of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song and so I thought I’d give it a try with Spc. I started playing out some early phrases and then my broda started melting my soul with some piano chords 😭
Luckily, I had the bright idea to record our impromptu jam session which you can check out below:
Redemption Song Cover
by Spc.Gh.st & Yamz
[Tap ▶️ to listen to our cover]
After our jam session, we locked in on the outstanding post-production work on C3 WAVS. We actually spent a good amount of time working on my MICHAEL POWER song—which I now feel much better about after getting Spc.’s help fine-tuning the track.
When all work was done, we vibed out at a nearby pub, where we continued to talk about our experiences and respective plans for the future. By the time I was ready to part ways with Spc, I was just grateful that I’d found a new friend and creative collaborator.
If you don’t know Spc or the Spc.Gh.st collective already, be on the lookout for them. I have a feeling you’ll be hearing more about them in the coming years.
When Your Friends Shine …☄️
Click on the button below to listen to ELEVATE on your favourite streaming platform:
I have to give a special shoutout to my friend, longtime collaborator and fellow Champion, Masta H.
Just a few weeks ago, he dropped his first single, ELEVATE, from his upcoming EP, These Thoughts, and I couldn’t be happier for this man. There are few people I personally know who are as gifted and driven to improve themselves in their chosen craft as Masta H is.
I’m grateful that this maestro is finally letting his light shine out to the world.
Check out ELEVATE and feel empowered by the rhymes and rhythms of this musical Spartan!
Until Next Time! 👋🏿
That’s it for this issue!
Until we link again! Breathe easy!! 🐉
Spc.Gh.st. (2023, September 5). Instagram. Retrieved March 4, 2024, from https://www.instagram.com/p/CwzwNLsMN00/?img_index