Highlife singer-songwriter Dada KD has opened up about the financial sacrifices he made in the early years of his music career, revealing that recording with the late German musician and sound engineer Bodo Staiger could cost up to 8,000 euros for just 10 songs. The veteran artist, who started his music journey in the late 1990s, shared these details during an interview on Accra 100.5 FM’s Ayekoo Ayekoo with Nana Romeo.
Looking back on his early years in the industry, Dada KD recounted how much he invested to make his dream a reality. “I’ve spent so much on music. I’m now making back the money little by little,” he said, emphasizing the challenges he faced in a field where financial support was scarce. He explained that without the help of others, many musicians like him would struggle to survive. “If you don’t get a helper, you’d roam till a wild animal devours you.”
The Highlife artist also expressed his frustrations with the local royalty collection systems in Ghana, describing them as one of the major reasons why Ghanaian musicians are among the “most pitiful” when it comes to earnings. Despite these difficulties, he remains determined to continue his career, stating that every profession has its ups and downs, and the public nature of a musician’s struggles only highlights their journey more clearly.
Dada KD paid tribute to Staiger, who passed away in 2019, noting that the German musician had played a pivotal role in the Burger Highlife scene, working with several iconic Ghanaian artists including Daddy Lumba, Nana Tuffour, and Oheneba Kissi.
His reflection on the challenges of the music industry highlights the determination and resilience required for local artists to succeed amidst adversity.
