Mawule

Interview by David R. Navarro

Mawule, is an R&B/Soul singer-songwriter, and music business entrepreneur based in Denver, Colorado.

DN: When did you first get into music?

M: I was born and raised in Ghana, and singing was an integral part of my upbringing growing up in the church. It wasn’t till the age of 13 when I decided to pursue a path in music. Since then, opportunities keep coming my way, and I’ve never looked back.

DN: Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music?

M: Life circumstances and experiences inspired me to pursue a career in music. I found myself at a very young age gravitating to music that gave me hope. From that, I found writing lyrics to make meaning of my own life an everyday habit.

DN: How would you describe the music that you create?

M: I would describe my music as catchy rhythms cloaked in empowering and thought-provoking lyrics. Listeners find my music as a comfort source, and that is a joy as a songwriter.

DN: What was it like creating “Black is Beautiful”? How did it come about, working with Glenn Sawyer, Bianca Mikahn, and Ill Seven? Please share your video link with us.

M: “Black is Beautiful” was a last-minute addition to the album. In collaboration with Glenn Sawyer, Bianca Mikahn, and III Seven, we wrote the song to highlight Black pride and the challenges people of color experience with racism and oppression. Reflecting on the album’s content, I felt that it would not be complete without a song on liberation and maintaining tenacity in the face of adversity. The recording experience was filled with dialogue and countless reflections on Black experiences and Black identities. As artists and educators, we wanted a balanced message that would inspire and meet every listener’s place of awareness and understanding of this disease called Racism. The whole project, from start to finished, was very memorable. We were pleased with the overall reception of the music and music video.

Black Is Beautiful - https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=eG1jjQCgaA0

DN: How has your music evolved since you first began creating music?

M: When I started the business, I wanted to prove that I was an artist and a songwriter that could write to any genre. I confirmed that with my “Reflections” EP and “Chosen” album. On that journey, I found my sound in R&B and Pop Music.

DN: If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other, drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion, or pride, and why?

M: Love would be the emotion that drives me to stay in this business. I enjoy writing music and appreciate the creative process. Knowing that what I create is a source of inspiration for others inspires me to write.

DN: Tell us about your newest release, “Red Light”?

M: Red Light is a warm pop song with an electronic flare. I wrote this song in 2015 to spread a message of self-consciousness, self-preservation, and self-love. “I’m tryna save you from me cause I’m not in a good place, to give you all of me.” The song reminds us to be honest with ourselves when we need time for reflection, restoration, and healing before sharing our life with someone else. Red Light was uniquely produced backward by Codakolor as a personal challenge for himself, making this his most technical piece to date.

DN: Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in a genre overflowing with new faces and ideas?

M: My grind and work ethic is my unique quality. I have been able to get this far, not knowing how to read or write music from a theory aspect. Everything has been self-taught from a very young age. I now understand the music industry with my knowledge growing day by day. I see the future, and I am determined to paint it.

DN: What has been your biggest challenge as a musician/ singer-songwriter? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

M: There’s only so much you can do when it feels like no one is throwing you a bone to nourish you for the next journey ahead. I’ve overcome that by identifying all the resources at my disposal, like LinkedIn, and leveraging my network to fill in knowledge gaps to keep my fire burning for success.

DN: A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

M: When you don’t see the fruits of your labor, self-investment leads to internalizations that can break you down. Within that, pivoting upon new learning along the journey will always lead to new pathways. Nonetheless, building a career is a path of suffrage because nothing comes easy. You must always find ways to take the paths that lead you to new opportunities.

DN: How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business?

M: The internet has created many channels for people to get discovered. Every artist’s smart thing to do is learn how algorithms work on all social media platforms and tap into them. Artificial Intelligence and algorithms are the future, so we music evolve alongside these changes.

DN: What is the best advice you have received?

M: One of the best advice I’ve received was to understand that the music industry was 90 percent business and 10 percent passion. No one cares about why I wrote a song or the meaning behind a song if it can’t make money.

DN: If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

M: Many kinds of music go unheard every year, so I want more talented artists to be recognized. I want better inclusion and recognition of musicians of color within the industry and the academy.

DN: What are the five albums that have helped make you the person you are today, and why?

M: “Once Again” by John Legend is the only album that helped shape me into the person I am today. The entire album is filled with positive messages. It’s the only album that guided my direction with my music.

DN: Tell us about your current project.

M: Currently, I have a bunch of collaborative EPs with local musicians like Kédence, Codakolar, Britney Jane, Eman, Glenn Sawyer, and Sombo music. I’m sitting on a lot of new music and will release these projects in the months to come.

DN: What’s next for you?

M: I want to build an empire! I have big plans to run Mawule Music Company as a music company with strategically built music services to support independent artists. I see my future more on the industry’s business side and look forward to helping artists with their careers.

DN: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

M: Anyone looking to connect with me can find me using @musicmawule on all social media sites. Reach me via email at musicmawule@gmail.com and at: https://linktr.ee/musicmawule