Yaa Yaa: I’m more fulfilled when people talk about my voice

Songwriter Yaa Yaa says she is unperturbed by assertions of her critics that she needs to get into the arena of controversies to be accepted

Kent Mensah February 7, 2021

5,372

“Don’t be desperate, I think desperation, pushes people to do a lot of things that they wouldn’t do if they were thinking… it won’t make you need reason or think about the things you do… because you just want to do anything to be seen. Just keep the focus, work on your craft, build it up because that’s what’s going to speak for you."

Ghanaian singer and songwriter Yaa Yaa reveals “not conforming, not doing what’s trendy, not being controversial” is her biggest challenge so far in the music industry.

Yaa Yaa, who is scarcely in the news for the wrong reason, noted that once a musician does not engage in controversies people assume that “you’re not serious, because you’re not going the same direction everybody is.”

She, however, said that she gets, “talked about in things that matter” to her – especially what has to do with her voice and her performances. She said this makes her “more fulfilled, than going to fight someone and getting talked about.”

Speaking to Naa Ashorkor on Asaase Radio’s Between Hours show, the “Odo Kae” hit-maker admitted that she at one time discussed with her publicist about doing something to trend, but the latter shot the proposal down.

She went on to thank God for the people around her, saying, they always help “bring me back on track.”

Prepare like a footballer

The melodious singer also revealed the reason behind her compelling performances at any event. She said that she rehearses by herself before shows “just like a footballer does before a match.”

She observed that training “every day for a minimum of two hours, doing warm ups, projection exercises, articulation exercises and breathing exercises,” is why she “can sustain” the way she does.

Yaa Yaa hosts “Vocal Hub”, a quarterly training session for others interested in singing. She noted that her journey in music thus far, was God preparing her to share her gift and knowledge with others.

She draws inspiration from Kojo Antwi and Whitney Houston and said she’s happy to “be passing on” through “Vocal Hub” what she’s learnt, listening to these music greats.

“Don’t be desperate… work on your craft”

She advised young talents who wanted to get into the music to be focused and not do things out of “desperation.”

“Don’t be desperate, I think desperation, pushes people to do a lot of things that they wouldn’t do if they were thinking… it won’t make you need reason or think about the things you do… because you just want to do anything to be seen. Just keep the focus, work on your craft, build it up because that’s what’s going to speak for you,” she said.

Listen to her powerful vocals as she sings Ave Maria: