Castro talks on his consistency and rise in the music industry

A consistency so admirable, Castro makes for that perfect musician for all seasons.

He’s been through the many ‘phases’ of contemporary Ghanaian music, experimenting with almost every sub genre that was once in vogue.

In this exclusive interview with us, he talks career, collaboration with other acts, unreleased materials, and also addresses the issue of occultism, which he was once linked to.

On unreleased records

“I have records I recorded five to six years ago that are still there waiting to be released.” Castro said; “African Girls” which featured Asamoah Gyan was done three years before I released it.

“When I felt the groove of the song suited the moment we were going into, I called up Baby Jet to lay his verse and we released it and it just soared. It was even enjoying heavy rotation on Super Sport and BBC and even Sunderland FC had it on their playlist for half time entertainment and it continued to play till Asamoah left.”

“I don’t write my music on paper, I tell the engineer to play me a beat, I enter the booth, catch the beat at some point and the lyrics start flowing. Everyone has their way of recording their music, some write, some have to rehearse it over and over again, I just need a nice beat and a song will flow.”

With Sarkodie’s “Adonai” for instance, my management and I went to the engineer to take a few productions we had requested earlier and it just happened that Sarkodie was in the studio, Sarkodie said he had a beat he knew we could do something with, I heard the beat and entered the booth and after a few takes, we had that inspirational piece everyone is enjoying now.”

Known for experimenting with new voices on his songs Castro is the kind of artist, who spots talent from miles away.

“I don’t look down on people; I just look out for their ability. After “Toffee”, I did a record with Shilo, then Screw Face, no one knew these artists then but I gave them a shot and people accepted them and they also moved on and followed their music dreams.

“I don’t put people on songs to show them how great of a singer I am or how famous they are, I feature them because I see an untapped talent or voice that I think Ghana need to hear. I put Asamoah Gyan on African girls to rap and now he sings on “Odo Pa”. I also put Kofi Kinaata on “Odo Pa”.

On occultism

“Olofofoo came out after people started spreading rumors about me being sick and couldn’t even walk. So I was just trying to let the audience know they had to be careful with whoever they were dealing with because not everyone who smiled with them wished them well.”

“The rumors were too much and he was getting worried because it was all over the TV and radio and my dad advised me to go out there and clear the air. So on 4syte Music Video Awards at the Accra International Conference Center, I showed up at the venue, and luckily ItzTiffany whom I could relate with musically was on stage and I talked to her manager about joining her on stage and he agreed and so I jumped on stage.

“People were shocked at first because of what they had heard, and then minutes later it was all cheers. After the show, I was at the car park and all I could hear was people talking about how they had been deceived.”

“I am Christian and I believe in spirituality and higher powers. We all have something we believe in, so yes there is spirituality. Certain things are beyond belief and I just keep to myself and myself only. I am not your regular artists who move around with an entourage and try to be everywhere. And I have a personal reason which ties to my career but people try to read meanings into them.”

“People should stop pointing fingers and work. If people say there are easier ways to get help, why don’t they go and get it and stick around.

How can one sustain a 15 year music career on some spiritual dealing? Music is inspiration and it’s God who makes all things possible.”

On not being an out-going person?

“I wish I could party and be everywhere like most artist do but we all cannot be the same. Before I came into this music industry, there were many artists in it already, and the year I got my chance to enter the industry, several other talents entered the industry too.

On consistency

But ask yourself, how many of the ones I came to meet are still around making hits and how many of those I entered with are still around making hits.

“After I bow out of music, there will still be a lot of people who will be practicing music and in my 14 years, many talents have come and burned out at some point. Nothing replaces hard work and dedication. It’s cool when you make a single hit and start partying wild like the whole industry is yours, but it’s fulfilling when you make several other hits for yourself and other people.”