10 TIPS ON HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESSFUL GOSPEL ALBUM - (NATHANIEL BASSEY)
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NATHANIEL BASSEY
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Check out the article Below. We hope that you find it
inspiring.
‘‘Shalom saints, just felt a need to share some personal
ideas on recording your gospel album. Now, these are not rules set in stone.
They are essentially personal principles I live by, and can be of help to
anyone out there”.
1. BE LED TO RECORD
As Christians let the word of God and the leading of the
Spirit be the basis. Every time I get a word to do something, I embark on it
with an assurance knowing I have the backing of heaven. In this place, there is
a divine provision and assistance.
2. RECORD WITH A PURPOSE
For me these two reasons should be the main reasons for
recording a gospel album.
A. To glorify God
B. To minister, bless and impact lives.
Many record to make money, assume the limelight and become
famous. But the truth is that any album that meets the two criteria above will
always make money. But this should not be the focus.
3. HAVE DIRECTION AND FOCUS
Have you ever picked up a gospel album and you really can’t
place the style or genre of the work? I have. Lots of Albums in this part of
the world lack that definition and clear musical identity. You get to hear rap,
jazz, juju, dance hall, worship, Afro, reggae etc, all in one album. Perhaps
it’s a way of shooting in all direction expecting one of them to hit. No! No!
You should have a clear sound. Your identity. Something
peculiar to you. If you sound close to Sir Ebenezer Obey, then don’t try
singing like Marvin Sapp. Be true to yourself. Your grace works in your place.
4. GET THE RIGHT PRODUCER
There are great and skillful producers out there. But not
all can properly articulate your sound. In fact, sometimes, the right person
may not necessarily be a big name. I suggest praying for direction in this
area.
5. BE PRAYERFUL
You should spend time praying before, during and after the
recording. Remember a gospel album is a spiritual project. I remember a number
of my studio recordings were worship sessions. Sometimes we’ve had to pray in
the spirit for extensively before tracking. We’ve had people so overwhelmed,
they wept and just fell because we had a strong presence in the studio. People
tend to feel the same presence in the recordings like we did feel in the
studio.
6. USE LIVE INSTRUMENTS
Since music has gone so digital, there is a tendency to do
everything with computers. But even when I’m recording digitally, I try as much
as possible to fuse in as much analogue or live instruments as possible. LIFE
instruments bring LIFE to recordings. And that’s because people play them. You
see, God gives grace, but people are the carriers of it. Some musicians,
especially the anointed ones bring a certain grace and anointing to a work that
digital recording can never produce.
7. RECORD WITH A GOOD SOUND ENGINEER
This is where we really miss it in Naija. Notice I didn’t
say record in a big or expensive studio. I have realized that a studio is only
as good as the engineer in it. A studio can have the best of gear. But without
an engineer with the requisite skill and knowledge to operate the gears, your
recording would still sound poor. And the converse is also true. A studio might
have just very basic gear, but with the right engineer, you can achieve some
high-quality sound. My engineer in Lagos is very good. Though not your typical
big studio, he seems to know his onions. And every time I’ve had to take the
work abroad for further mixes, the engineers abroad have always spoken highly
of his work. I recorded songs like IMELA, no other God, wonderful wonder if etc
with him ( you reach him on 08052222668 – alpha Junes studio).
What I also try to do to get that global sound on my
recording is do my post productions abroad. Mix and master abroad. In addition
to recording abroad sometimes. And you see, if God has given you a global
vision, you can’t afford to do things like a local person. Sometimes the things
that limit our music from having that global reach is poor and mediocre sound
quality.
8. THE BLESSING
After your album is ready, get it blessed. I know some folks
would argue with this. If you have a pastor, you may just have him speak a word
of blessing over it. You see, the guys in the world understand this. They take
their projects to places to invoke all sorts on them. I understand the place of
a father’s blessing. Our generation is one that despises these things. But you
see, I am a product of some of these things. It works. You may not know this,
but before I ever released my first album, I wrote pastor E A Adeboye, my
general overseer, a letter, just asking him to speak a word of blessing before
I ever launch out. I can remember his words very vividly. And I can tell tell,
they haven’t fallen to the ground. I was determined not to go the way of
others.
9. RELEASE YOUR WORK
The beauty of this is that unlike the past, you have the Internet
and social media. And independent online music platforms, and do not need
record labels etc to help with distributing your work. And this is what I’ve
learnt. If your work is good: anointed and well produced, the marketers will
look for you. A good product will always sell itself.
I remember a number of them were reluctant to take up my
work when I came out first, but you see, I was not in a hurry. And just kept my
focus. However, today, by God’s grace, the story is different.
10. BE PATIENT
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the
will of God, ye might receive the promise.”
Hebrews 10:36.
This is where many folks miss it. They want the break now.
The thing must happen immediately. In our kingdom things don’t happen that way.
God takes us through a process to mature us, and allow Christ to be formed in
us.
So wait!
I’ll end with this little story;
I began playing the trumpet in 1991. Yes. Recorded my first
album in 2008. But the impact of our ministry has only begun to be felt. So
what happened in between? One word….. PROCESS!
Character is formed and moulded. God tries and works on our
hearts, to make sure we don’t blow it when the spot light comes. Here are some
great christian producers. Check them out on facebook and connect with them.
Emmanuel Juzzy Uzozie, Rotimi Akinfenwa, Wilson Joel, Wole
Oni, George Adealao, etc.
I hope you find this article useful.
God bless you”.
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