Gyakie talks ‘SEED’ EP and her music legend father

Almost a year and half after she released her debut single, Ghanaian singer and songwriter Gyakie let the world in on a secret – she is the daughter of Ghanaian Highlife music legend, Nana Acheampong.

Prior to the revelation, she had, and continues to build a strong following off her vocal prowess, writing and music style.

In the process, she earned a highly coveted cosign from BET and Ghana Music Awards winner, Sarkodie, worked with other award winning artistes including Bisa Kdei and E.L, performed at top rated shows and snagged a 2020 ‘Unsung artiste of the Year’ nomination at the prestigious Ghana Music Awards.

Born Jackline Acheampong, the 20-year old is currently a third year International Business student of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Gyakie shows no signs of intending to slow down – she is perfecting her craft, carving her own path and plans on taking “Ghanaian music to the world.”

She chats about her newly released ‘SEED’ EP, rap skills, and her Highlife music legend father.

GQ: Months ago, you let the world know that you are the daughter of Ghanaian highlife music legend, Nana Acheampong more than a year after the release of your first song. Was that planned or it was an impromptu decision?

Gyakie: It wasn’t planned. Let me just say it was part of God’s plan. The timing and everything – it was God’s plan. We didn’t plan to announce it this way.

GQ: Is it case of you deciding you wanted to grow a following off your talent, and not necessarily based on your father’s name?

Gyakie: Yes.

GQ: What would you say was the reaction when you made the revelation?

Gyakie: It was a huge surprise to a lot of people. Others also knew about it but they weren’t sure so needed confirmation from me. When we released the artwork (that had myself, my brother and my father) everyone was talking about it. It created a lot of buzz online.

GQ: Is it safe to assume the EP was already recorded before the announcement so there won’t be pressure (from the public) to create music that is supposedly befitting of a legend’s daughter?

Gyakie: Yes. The songs were recorded for the EP before we released the artwork.

GQ: There is a dancehall song and you also rapped on this EP which isn’t something people would probably associate with you because your work prior to this was mainly soul or Afrobeats if you will. Was a decision made to introduce how multi-talented you are on this project?

Gyakie: This EP is to show people the other side of Gyakie because a lot of people do not know I rap so it will be a pleasant surprise to a lot of people. The EP is to make people know that this is what Gyakie can also do. These are the sounds that Gyakie can also jump on.

GQ: Are you gunning for Sarkodie’s throne with your rap skills?

Gyakie: Not at all! Sarkodie is one of my favourite artistes. I listen to Omar Sterling (also known as Pae Dae – one half of award winning Ghanaian music duo, R2Bees) a lot.

I love hip hop, and rap. This is just from within. Something I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted to show people that I am versatile.

GQ: You felt that this EP is the perfect platform to show people what you are made of?

Gyakie: This is my first EP and I felt if everyone is going to wait for this particular project, why don’t I define myself properly on this body of work because everyone is going to listen to it. And everyone is going to understand who Gyakie the artiste is. SEED – the name of the EP is about originality so this is my original self on the project.

GQ: You debuted the dancehall song ‘Whine’ on Triller. Can you speak on why you felt that it was the right platform to release the song for the first time compared to say, Tik Tok?

Gyakie: Triller is a space that evokes happiness, nice moments and there are a lot of people on the platform. My management and I felt that would be the perfect place to debut the song, and then it turned out to be a good idea. When it comes to Triller, it’s basically about music, people vibing to music and all of that compared to Tik Tok where people do other things aside dancing to music.

GQ: Have you shot any videos for the EP, yet?

Gyakie: Yes. 2 – ‘Forever’ directed by Stephen Asamoah and ‘The Journey’ which is the outro was directed by Electro Mirror, my manager.

GQ: What do you want the takeaway to be when people listen to the EP?

Gyakie: The purpose of the project is make people know and understand me very well, and know the kind of sounds I am capable of doing. This EP is the definition of Gyakie as an artiste. I did the entire project with the fans in mind.

GQ: In an earlier interview, you mentioned your desire to take Ghanaian music to the world. Do you feel this EP is the breakthrough to reach more people than you previously did?

Gyakie: This is not just the only one. This is part of the many projects that would be coming. And I am very positive that it is not just going to stay in Ghana but it is going to cross over into the international market.

GQ: Anything else you want to talk about?

Gyakie: I want the fans to keep supporting my music. Not just today but the coming years, and I would appreciate every love that comes from everyone. I am very positive that anyone who listens to the SEED EP is going to fall in love with Gyakie and her sound. There is a lot that is being done, there is a lot that would be done so we’ve just started. The effort from my management, FLIP The MUSIC and myself is great and I believe that everything will pay off.

Listen to Gaykie’s EP here.

Originally published by GQ South Africa READ HERE on August 11, 2020.

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