Ghanaian Hiplife and Highlife artiste, Pure Akan, recently opened up about how his childhood experiences with music, particularly the timeless tunes of legends like J. A. Adofo and Nana Ampadu, played a pivotal role in shaping his creativity.
In an interview on Y 107.9 FM’s “Party Pressure” with Princess AJ, Pure Akan indicated that his earliest encounters with music were at funerals, where his uncles would play the timeless melodies of Adofo and Ampadu as they drove to pay their respects.
For him, in those moments, music was not just background noise; it was a focal point, something that demanded attention. With no distractions like radios or TVs at home, young Pure Akan had to rely on his ability to immerse himself in the music.
He said, “I think I had a very interesting childhood, and I’ve always been surrounded by music. My earliest introduction to music was attending funerals with my uncles, and they normally played some Adofo or Ampadu songs while they drove.”
“At the time, I didn’t have a radio or TV at home, so it always had to be something you had to focus on. So it’s either you get yourself reading, playing around, or being creative on your own. So it really helped me shape my focus, and now when I find myself doing anything, I’m really focused with details to build and let the things grow.”
He explained how his passion for music deepened when he visited friends’ houses after school, where he had access to their radios. “Every time I got to their house, the radio was always the first thing I went to, and with time, I got labeled as a snake by their mothers because of my love for music,” Pure Akan chuckled. “Trust me, every time I got to their homes, I played songs, and that was when everyone knew I was around.”
Pure Akan’s journey through the world of Ghanaian music legends like J. A Adofo and Nana Ampadu undoubtedly left an indelible mark on his artistic sensibilities, inspiring him to become the creative force he is today in the Hiplife and Highlife music scene.
The versatile Ghanaian artiste recently released his latest single dubbed “Auntie Bete”