Interview with ... Eye Judah

Please introduce yourself to those reggae fans who don't know you yet. How did you start your musical career ?
Blessings to all reggae music lovers worldwide. The name is Eye Judah from Ghana, West Africa. Down here in Ghana it's very difficult to break into the mainstream market as a fresher most especially if you don't have the funds to push your music. Maximum respect to frontliners in our Ghanaian reggae/dancehall fraternity like Iwan and Stonebwoy. They gave me some platforms to step on in other to expose me to their fanbase and I must say that is how I got some amount of attention to trigger the whole thing . That was the start for me before I met my team (Freedom Cry Records). I can say meeting them is how everything properly started for me as an artist.

Can you explain the choice of your artist name ?
Eye Judah simply means eye of Judah and Judah as we all know historically or biblically has a lineage of black decendants. So it's basically me saying, eye of the black race. Eye of my race. I don't have any problem with any other race but I have to just represent my own. When I decided to do music full time, I wanted to pick a name that vividly describes me personally. A name that when it is mentioned, will trigger my whole being and spirit as a true art and announce my presence right away. And I feel Eye Judah represents me well enough.

What are your main musical influences ?
My style of music is heavily influenced by Jamaican music even though I am Ghanaian. I fell in love with music when I first heard reggae and dancehall music. I love my afro beats as well but dancehall and reggae has always been my main engine as an artist. I grew up on music from reggae and dancehall icons like Sizzla, Capleton, Vybz Kartel, Demarco, Popcaan... I also listened to great hi life legend Kojo Antwi from Ghana which has also actually influenced my afropop reggae ragga fusion sometimes.

What was your first single ?
My very first single recorded is a dancehall track titled "Shake your body" in 2014. This song was inspired by the beat.

You get connected with Donovan Germain via VPAL with whom you signed a distribution deal. Tell us more about the connection with VP and with Penthouse Records.
Being connected with VPAL music at this early stage is nothing short of a real blessing to my career. We all know what VP represent in the world state of music. It's given me wider audience and brought me to other music market. That is what has brought my music closer to the hearing of a living legend Donovan Germain of Penthouse Records.

The “Friday Riddim” was released in july and was getting major airplay all over the world. What is your favorite title on this riddim ?
Wow this is indeed very difficult. I have listened to the whole album and I feel every one in there came in special. Diverse angles, different twist with their messages and it's really difficult to pick out one as a favorite. I'm just blessed to be in the midst of these great singers on a riddim.



Tell us more about your first single for Penthouse “Give Thanks”
Reggae music from its inception has been that type of music that carries some amount of weight in vibes or message. So when I first got the riddim from my manager, I knew instantly this is going to be something big. Most especially coming from Penthouse. My song "Give thanks" is a song that reveals the true blessing in thanksgiving. "Appreciate and get in excess". And that is a major key to success.

You are the first African artist produced by Penthouse Records. Are you proud of that ?
I don't know about pride but of course I am extremely delighted about this fact. It comes to me like a gateway to higher heights in my musical career. I am more focused on reaching stronger minds and hearts with my music. Nevertheless, working with Penthouse Records at this early stage of my career is a real blessing! And I am really happy about it.

During the golden years of Penthouse records, which songs left most memories in you ?
Untold stories by the legend Buju Banton is my pick. Really enjoyed that it's a very deep song which used to be my morning inspirational song.

Black Prophet, another Ghanaian artist, has recorded a song for Penthouse which be available soon on the tribute album of Joseph "Culture" Hill. Do you know him ?
A very big yes ! Lots and lots of inspiration I've drown from people like Black Prophet coming up as an artist. He's like our biggest reggae export after Rocky Dawuni. They've really made Ghana proud with reggae music.

How is the reggae scene in Ghana ?
Reggae has a place in Ghana music .It’s doing quite well. Most especially with the new crop of artist rising like myself, Scata Bada, Jah Lead, Renner...

What projects should we look out for in the future ?
My plan is to stick with music for the rest of my life. My team is working so hard to put the Eye Judah brand on the highest of levels. Big respect to the growing fanbase worldwide. Love!!