Lady Talata bounces back in style

When talking about great music legends in Ghana, there is no way Lady Talata can be left out. She started music at the age of nine but professionally she joined the Black Anchor band of Black Star Line at the age of 16 years in 1977, when she was in the elementary school at Burma Camp.

She revealed that her first album was released in 1985 with the title “Me Kunu” which was produced by a Danish footballer. Watch Gyae by Lady Talata feat. Screwface

She continued that at the time that she released the song, she shot the video of the song with a (‘saito’ uniform) public school uniform which made the song popular at the time it was introduced.

“The country used to celebrate the independence day with the song. I really thank the people of Ghana for realizing that my music made the uniform popular” she narrated.

Talata now has five albums to her credit with the fifth one yet to be released after her arrival from the U.S. The album which was recorded by Zapp Mallet, Kwame Yeboah and Roro and features artistes like Reggie Zippy, Kaseem and Screw Face.

Talking to her at her residence in Spintex, she made it known to Flex newspaper that coming into contact with some of the talented hip life artistes has really created a positive impact for her. “I think the young guys are doing well and need to be encouraged” she said.

Comparing the 80s to the music of today, she revealed that the young musicians are really making money which is helping the industry but was quick to add that there are some little problems.

She added that in the 80s, they did good music and never gained anything which she says has never made her richer. “My music was very popular not only in Ghana but the whole Africa and if I tell you I got big money from it then am telling you lies” she recounted.

Lady Talata as she is affectionately called in U.S. admires hip life artistes like Reggie Rockstone, Reggie Zippy and Screw Face but for the ladies she admires Mzbel and Becca because she thinks they are really doing well and raising the flag of Ghana high. She said she is looking forward to have a track with Samini in the future. “The advice I have for Mzbel is that she shouldn't listen to what the public will say but should continue to do what she knows to do best”, Lady Talata advised.

The singer continued that she was trying to put things together for the past years but many people thought she couldn`t make it and others even questioned as to her why she wants to come back into the game.

When asked the problem she is facing in the promotion of the album, she also cried about the increasing rate of payola which is making most of the musicians unable to come out with their talent. She said she is taking it cool because she knew of payola even before coming back to the country and has therefore worked out a strategy with her management and they know how to escape that.

Married with one daughter, she described Koo Nimo and Kwabena Yamoah, Ebo Taylor, Kwame Ampadu and AB Crentsil as heroes who deserve external recognition.

Before she bounced back into the music scene, she met people like the late Christie Azuma and Shallot Dada who are now in Germany. “Christie Azuma never released an album but she was one of the greatest musicians in Ghana.

For her fans, she said they should expect her great come back into the music scene with a more different style.