In the competitive world of Ghanaian music production, David Kojo Kyei, known professionally as Kaywa, found an unexpected guardian angel in the legendary artist Castro, who became a pivotal figure in transforming his struggling sound engineering career into a remarkable success story.
When most artists would walk away from a studio plagued by power challenges, Castro was the only musician who stood by Kaywa during his most vulnerable professional moments. “He doesn’t play with Castro because he came in when I was struggling with my career path as a sound engineer and supported me very well,” Kaywa recalls with profound gratitude.
During the early days of his career, Kaywa faced significant challenges, including frequent power outages that deterred potential clients. “When clients came to record at the studio in his father’s house and we had a power outage, they would say ‘we’ll come back when you have light’, but they never returned,” he explained. In this landscape of uncertainty, Castro emerged as a transformative figure.
Castro’s unwavering belief in Kaywa was encapsulated in his memorable phrase, “Charle y3 k)to power” (meaning “let’s go buy power”), a statement that went beyond mere words and represented a genuine commitment to supporting emerging talent.
As a multi-talented sound engineer, CEO of Highly Spiritual Music, and a recognized prophet and composer, Kaywa has built an impressive portfolio that has dominated the Ghanaian music scene. His journey was far from straightforward, beginning with his father’s initial disapproval of his career choice – preferring he become a lawyer instead of pursuing sound engineering.
Kaywa’s remarkable career includes producing hit songs for numerous artists, with “Olofofo” by Castro being particularly significant. His exceptional talent has been recognized through multiple Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA), winning Sound Engineer of the Year in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.
In a candid interview with Rev Erskine on Y107.9 FM’s Yleaderboard series, Kaywa shared the intricate details of his professional evolution, highlighting Castro’s critical role in his early career development.
Key Achievements:
– Multiple VGMA Sound Engineer of the Year awards
– Produced hit songs for top Ghanaian artists
– CEO of Highly Spiritual Music
– Recognized for technical innovation in sound engineering
Castro’s early support represents the power of mentorship, belief, and the transformative potential of genuine support in the creative industry.
Written by Eva Cindy Kumah
