I want to be remembered as a legendary gospel musician - Cwasi Oteng

Cwasi Oteng has been developing his talents as a gospel artist, songwriter and producer with the hopes of getting significant exposure within the gospel music industry to connect with God's children to worship, obey and devote our time to creator.

Cwasi Oteng has a strong compassion for being used by the Spirit of God to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ for Salvation, deliverance and healing.

He ministers and leads the praise and worship team at the Lighthouse Cathedral (Tema community 8) church weekly and has been leading the church into a new level of praise and worship for years now.

As a gospel artist, Cwasi Oteng is anointed, energetic, intimate, uplifting, soul stirring and penetrating and he has a sound that reflects happiness, thanks, adoration, energetic praise and an atmosphere of worship to the Lord which leads his listeners into the realm of praise and right into the very presence of God.

Read on to see what Cwasi thinks of the gospel music industry and know more about his "Blessed Are They" album.

Ghana Music.com: I've always seen you as one of the major artists that broke gospel into the mainstream listening audience. How would you qualify your contribution?
Cwasi Oteng: I think am a drop in the ocean of the many mighty works God is doing in the music ministry. And I feel privileged to be part of what God is doing; I have a rather humble view of my contribution to this mighty move of God.

Ghana Music.com: So what is your CD album trying to address?
Cwasi Oteng: My CD seeks to address the worship of the father, obedience to his spirit and devotion to his service.

Ghana Music.com: Do you find anything exciting about the gospel music industry?
Cwasi Oteng: What excites me is the passion and vision God has put in my heart right now and my every force goes to accomplish it. Personally I think a lot has to be done with the music industry yet little by little we will get there. I just hope we get there soon. I think you (Ghana Music.com are doing well) a good part of it too.

Ghana Music.com: What piece of advice do you give someone who wants to become a gospel artiste?
Cwasi Oteng: My advice to any upcoming gospel musician is that the gospel music is a ministry, the purpose of this ministry is the battle for the hearts of men, therefore it requires that the motive for pursuing this career is correct so that God can also trust you with the anointing to capture the world's attention. The message of the cross and the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ should be our main simple but yet powerful message.

Ghana Music.com: Who are some of your influences?
Cwasi Oteng: My influences are the bible, books that promote the friendship with God, anointed preaching sermons and songs. Much of my musical influences has come from outside and they have been influenced by music from Fred Hammond, Israel Houghton, Mavin Sapp and Commissioned and Rev. Eric Kwapong.

Ghana Music.com: You've got a unique brand of music with a national appeal.  What's been one of the highlights of your career?
Cwasi Oteng: I think the greatest highlight of my career is that I am a worship leader for my church - the Lighthouse Cathedral (Tema community 8) for the past 11 years. Leading God's people in praise and worship and the choir of my church all these years built me up in a unique way. I believe in live presentations of music.

Ghana Music.com: Please give us details of your album?
Cwasi Oteng: The title of my album is "Blessed Are They". It's a fifteen track album with all types of interests. I have a worship medley in Twi that runs for like 12 minutes with passionate worship. A pidgin song "I Love You lord", another slow jam praise with highlife beat of "I Love You lord". A song for mothers and a song of encouragement and strength to women-daughter that you can make it. "Okurayen" is a magnificent song God gave me which still encourages people for over four years now. Am shooting a video for "Okurayen" in June. Serious promo for "Okurayen" will begin in July. The rest is yours for you to hear so please get the CD.

Ghana Music.com: If you could work with any artist (living or past, local
or foreign), who would they be?
Cwasi Oteng: Fred Hammond, Mitchell Jones, Marcus Cole and Marvin Sapp. (Don't worry if you don't know the names. You will feel them in me when you fellowship with my songs.

Ghana Music.com: As an artist, where do you find your talents best exemplified. Is it your writing, producing, or is it the performances and where do you find the greatest joy?
Cwasi Oteng: I find my greatest joy in writing, composing and arranging the songs God put in my heart. Currently am working on a song and its interesting when I see the joy and heart people give to my songs and the fulfillment they find in singing it. I get joyful when someone gets blessed.

Ghana Music.com: How is the Ghanaian gospel community embracing your album ?
Cwasi Oteng: Amazing. The acceptance is huge. For the first time I had like hundred text messages on my birthday and my facebook page was littered with messages of love and all. People are bluetoothing my songs and video everywhere and the rush for the CDs is amazing. People call me from everywhere locally and internationally - Nigeria, Australia, London,Hong Kong, South Africa and America for the CDs and shows. Am not doing badly. At least I can see the vast difference from then and now.

Ghana Music.com: What do you want people to remember you for?
Cwasi Oteng: I would want to be remembered as a legendary gospel musician who captured the attention of his generation and won the heart of them with his music not just Christians but every human being wheresoever found comfortably listening to Cwasi Oteng. King David of Israel inspires me on this.

Ghana Music.com: What's in your CD player right now?
Cwasi Oteng: Mitchell Jones.

Ghana Music.com: Everything is so new about you, who are the people behind you?
Cwasi Oteng: My wife, my pastor, church family, my entire music family, my management and music crew the Flo Rivas.

Ghana Music.com: As a gospel artist, who has to live in the "worldly world that is showbiz, how do you balance that with your duties of delivering spiritual gospel through music?
Cwasi Oteng: My quite time with God every morning is my iron sharpener. That's where I draw my strength and direction.

Ghana Music.com: Round up the interview?
Cwasi Oteng: I am just a little brother from Ghana whose goal is to capture the attention of a generation. I do not bring an extraordinary thing no one has seen before. What I bring to the table is simple. Love the lord with all your heart soul and strength. Be there when you hear of my concert around you and don't be reluctant to buy a ticket to see me. You will never regret the experience. God bless Cwasi Oteng and keep him.

< Prev		Next >