Music soothes the soul - Proxx Beats
Katima Mulilo-based music producer and artist Moses ‘Proxx Beats’ Ishmael says for him music is spiritual and should not be overshadowed by personal ambitions.
In an interview with Namibian Sun, Ishmael said that music is the centre of communication in the physical and spiritual worlds.
“If you do music for the benefit of the listener, it will safeguard you. Music is spiritual and it’s not supposed to be used for personal gain, as it can destroy or build.”
He added: “I believe music is the voice of the voiceless. It soothes the soul.”
He believes overcrowding is one of the biggest challenges facing the music industry.
“Nowadays anyone who has a laptop and mic is a producer or an artist, which leads to a congested industry with news artists and producers releasing below-par music. Most artists now self-record and publish songs without proper mixing and mastering. The other problem is that most of these artists we record are not getting recognition for their music, which is the leading cause of most of them quitting due to a lack of finances,” he said.
Driven to learn
Born in Mumbwa, Zambia, Ishmael's musical career began in 2006.
He has since worked with various artists. “The following year, I started recording my music with a friend who had a computer, when computers were easily acquired. I learned to record in 2007. Since then, I have been upgrading my skills as an artist and a producer as well,” he said.
Ishmael said he can work with any type of beat but is in love with African traditional instruments. “I always make sure to add a touch of African elements to each beat that I make. I got into production because, when I was just an artist, I used to face problems with producers sabotaging my work with poor mixing and poor sound quality. It drove me to learn everything in a short period and ever since then, I have been focusing on improving my production skills,” he said.
Support needed
“Namibian music is as good as any other music around the world," he said.
However, he added that it is "sad that our music is not recognised as a trade. Namibian artists are good and better than some established artists out there; the only problem is that there is a lack of sponsorships and promotions. The government, through the ministry of arts and culture, must work on something to get proper funding to help market our music out there like any other artist from different countries."
He further encouraged upcoming artists to invest in their music, as “there is no one else out there who risks their money on someone who does not understand the business. Take some lessons on how to handle your music distribution. It’s not only talent that is required, but dedication and hard work,” he advised.
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In an interview with Namibian Sun, Ishmael said that music is the centre of communication in the physical and spiritual worlds.
“If you do music for the benefit of the listener, it will safeguard you. Music is spiritual and it’s not supposed to be used for personal gain, as it can destroy or build.”
He added: “I believe music is the voice of the voiceless. It soothes the soul.”
He believes overcrowding is one of the biggest challenges facing the music industry.
“Nowadays anyone who has a laptop and mic is a producer or an artist, which leads to a congested industry with news artists and producers releasing below-par music. Most artists now self-record and publish songs without proper mixing and mastering. The other problem is that most of these artists we record are not getting recognition for their music, which is the leading cause of most of them quitting due to a lack of finances,” he said.
Driven to learn
Born in Mumbwa, Zambia, Ishmael's musical career began in 2006.
He has since worked with various artists. “The following year, I started recording my music with a friend who had a computer, when computers were easily acquired. I learned to record in 2007. Since then, I have been upgrading my skills as an artist and a producer as well,” he said.
Ishmael said he can work with any type of beat but is in love with African traditional instruments. “I always make sure to add a touch of African elements to each beat that I make. I got into production because, when I was just an artist, I used to face problems with producers sabotaging my work with poor mixing and poor sound quality. It drove me to learn everything in a short period and ever since then, I have been focusing on improving my production skills,” he said.
Support needed
“Namibian music is as good as any other music around the world," he said.
However, he added that it is "sad that our music is not recognised as a trade. Namibian artists are good and better than some established artists out there; the only problem is that there is a lack of sponsorships and promotions. The government, through the ministry of arts and culture, must work on something to get proper funding to help market our music out there like any other artist from different countries."
He further encouraged upcoming artists to invest in their music, as “there is no one else out there who risks their money on someone who does not understand the business. Take some lessons on how to handle your music distribution. It’s not only talent that is required, but dedication and hard work,” he advised.
[email protected]
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