Some Ghanaians have a way of boxing you – Perez Musik

Renowned Ghanaian gospel artist Perez Musik has expressed his concerns over the tendency to categorize musicians into specific musical genres, arguing that artists should be permitted to explore diverse sounds without being confined by a single label. In an interview on The Career Trail on Joy Learning TV and Joy News, Perez Musik recounted the difficulties he faced as he transitioned from urban gospel to contemporary music.

When urban gospel was not widely accepted within Christian circles, Perez Musik encountered resistance from the Christian community, who had yet to embrace this new genre of song ministry. He explained, "One of the challenges was that it’s not really an accepted genre in the country. The Christian fraternity hasn’t come to terms with that aspect of the song ministry. So it was quite difficult."

As Perez Musik continued to explore contemporary music, he experienced further resistance from his peers. He recounted, "One of the challenges I faced when I say, in quotes, ‘transition’, was that the people in the contemporary side were like, ‘Ah, who’s this? Is he part of us? Is he one of us? Where’s he coming from?’" Perez Musik clarified that this change was not an attempt to abandon urban gospel but rather an effort to express his creativity by pushing his limits.

Perez Musik stressed that musicians should be free to experiment with various musical styles as long as their messages remain clear. He emphasized, "I love to explore different sounds and I don’t see anything wrong with that. I have a problem with it when people categorise and segment. I think it’s just music."

The Ghanaian musician attributed the issue partly to how Ghanaians tend to associate people with their initial association with a particular genre. He said, "Ghanaians have a way of boxing you. That’s why we call every toothpaste, we call every bath soap Key Soap." This tendency, he suggested, can hinder the growth and appreciation of artists who wish to explore different musical styles.

Despite the challenges Perez Musik has faced, he remains grateful for the progress he has made in his music career. He attributed his success to the grace and mercy of God, stating, "But I think it’s just the grace of God that has brought me this far. It’s just the grace and the mercy of God. And I don’t take that for granted at all."