Ghanaian Singer Gyakie Is Making African R&B While In College

The daughter of a Highlife music legend is making her own lane.

Birthed into a family of musicians, Ghanaian singer Gyakie is continuing a legacy of boldly African musicianship. She is the daughter of 80’s highlife music legend Ernest 'Owoahene' Nana Acheampong, but has come into her own as singer and songwriting, releasing her debut EP Seed last August.

While making music, the 20-year-old is also studying for her degree in International Business at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi where she was raised. But akin to other growing stars, like Megan Thee Stallion, her educational pursuits have not deterred her from making an impression on the music industry.

She released her first single; “Love Is Pretty” in February 2019, which was shortly followed by “Never Like This.'' With the release of Seed, Gyakie dropped the single and video for “Forever,” which charted — not only in Ghana — but Nigeria and Kenya. The single also made Billboard’s Top Triller Global and ranked on Shazam's Top 200 chart.

Gyakie keeps creating music with her artistic inspiration from genuine moments of extreme emotion and experiences of people around her. Ghanaian artists like Gyakie are utilizing the power of social media to reach new audiences across the globe, especially in a time where travel and human connection are very limited due to the novel coronavirus.

And with the recent launching of Spotify in 85 new markets, including Ghana, there is the opportunity for more musicians to reach new audiences globally. Teen Vogue caught up with Gyakie talking about her music and what’s next.

Teen Vogue: Where did your love for music first begin?

Gyakie: Growing up with my father, the legendary Nana Acheampong, who influenced highlife music in Ghana, I was surrounded with great music around me. I first went to the studio with my father when I was just eight years old. I knew I could sing but pursuing it as a career was very much a reverie. Seeing and hearing all that he put into his music was all part of the reason why I fell in love with music.

TV: Which artists, other than your father, influence your sound?

Gyakie: I draw from Asa and Omar Sterling. They both have something I fell in love with, that is the uniqueness in their sound and their lyrical content. Growing up I watched their stage performances, I read through the lyrics of their songs, even to the point of following up on any interviews they have had, their speech. Omar Sterling inspired two songs on my EP.

TV: Let’s talk about “Forever,” how did you arrive at that sound?

Gyakie: “Forever” is such a special song to me. Firstly, [it was] produced by Kros who made the beat offshore and even without a network he still managed to send it over to me. “Forever” was written at the corner of my dark bedroom during the lockdown period in Ghana. I threw my thoughts ahead of time into my future love life. I spoke about what I see and what I want to experience and apparently a lot of people related to it in their current lives!

TV: How did it feel when you found out that you were part of Billboard’s Top Triller Global, and ranking on the Shazam’s Top 200 chart?

Gyakie: “Astonished! Blessed and highly honored. And this is because, when I look at the hard work and enthusiasm my management and myself put into making us get there, it leaves me in tears. Hard work has gone into it, and I mean seriously hard work.

TV: Possibly the biggest shift in music that has come through social media has been through an increased level of interaction between musicians and their fans, how are you taking advantage of this? Do you connect with your fans and how?

Gyakie: Social media in our era has had a positive impact on creatives. Fans play a huge role in the development of an artist and with my fans in particular there are so many ways I connect with them. I get on a call with them on my Instagram live, I interact with them on Twitter, I can ask them for opinions on some of the things I do or want to do when I find myself in a dilemma. I put out content to keep them posted on what is going on with me. My fans are super close to me and I love them!

TV: How do you feel generally when you’re releasing new music? Is there anything in particular that makes you nervous or excited when you’re putting a new song out into the world?

Gyakie: I work very hard when making my songs so releasing new music is always exciting for me because I always can’t wait for people to hear what I’ve created. The only thing I would say that makes me nervous is the anticipation from my fans, because I want my songs to always be a bop!

TV: You are in your third year in college. How are you juggling schoolwork and music together? Tell us about your creative process.

Gyakie: Juggling school and music hasn’t been an easy road for me. It’s so hard because at the end of the day, one needs to be disciplined. Deciding to choose between a studio session or going to class, there are times where I have an exam a day after I play a show in another city and I have to travel back with a focused mind to study for an examination. I’m in my final year, so I will finish pretty soon.

With my creative process, I’m the sort of girl that considers the environment and the energies around me. It plays a key role when I’m writing music. I love working in dark places, no light, and possibly just myself and my thoughts. It makes me picture what I want the song to be about clearly. I get to envision what I would write in the song and I feel it too.

This interview has been edited and condensed.