Finding his voice in the arts

KWASI ‘Ace’ Edmondson is among the Guyanese musicians who have found their footing, creating a name for himself as a musician and etching his music into the minds of Guyanese. Kwasi has evolved in the face of truly unique challenges. Today, Kwasi is known for his explosive presence on stage and his mild-mannered personality that sometimes seeps into his melodic lyricism. However, he states there was a time when he was a shy teen who never dared step on stage. Before music, he described himself as harbouring anger, so, for Kwasi, music and the performing arts have been much more than a means to an end.

Overcoming stage fright and embracing creativity
When the name Kwasi Ace is heard, images of an energetic and lively performance with the explosive bassline of a Soca track are conjured up in the mind. But before the excitement of music, Kwasi Ace was a bashful young man who first found his voice in poetry. A passionate Kwasi was a constant addition to his school’s dramatic pieces and plays throughout his school years. This was where his love and appreciation for all things creative was sparked. But as much as he was present and undeniably talented, he was still a voice that faded into the background at the time.

Kwasi cited his severe stage fright as one of his biggest hurdles in life. Throughout his latter teen years, Kwasi began writing and composing his own pieces, but his fear of stepping onto the stage was still something he struggled with. “In high school, we had our singing group. But this shyness was always there for me, I was singing in the background even though I composed some of our songs,” he said. Using poetry as a stepping stone, Kwasi began writing more of his music. By this time, his writings had garnered an individualistic creative touch that he is known for today by tackling social issues and chronicling personal challenges.

Rising to the spotlight and crafting a creative identity
Kwasi was thrust into the spotlight in a rather poetic fashion. His colleague who was slated to perform missed a major event, and Kwasi was suddenly promoted from a backup singer to lead vocalist. This was an eye-opening experience, and after overcoming his anxiety about the opinions of others, it seemed as though Kwasi became unstoppable as he lit up stages wherever he went. “My band member could not make it, and I had to perform. And when the time came, and I performed alone from then, I knew that I could perform on my own,” he said. Creativity in any form has always been a way for Kwasi to do more than express himself. It was a way of assessing society and his internal trials while connecting to Guyanese, many of whom fought similar battles.

Embracing Guyanese Music
One of the reasons Kwasi has managed to make an indentation in the minds of Guyanese is due to his lyrics. His words and phrases are uniquely Guyanese, engaging his audience in songs reminiscent of a conversation two friends may have while walking along the Kitty seawall. Kwasi says his music is as relatable because it is inspired by the very people who listen to it. He explained that there are many ways to write music. Sometimes, his poetry is turned into melody, but there are moments where instrumentals have a soul of their own. He stated that, “I initially started writing on aspects of society and aspects of my life…Every instrumental has a personality or character.”

Many argue that the creative arts are not shown nearly as much appreciation as they deserve. Whether this is fact or fiction is still up for debate by many, and even if this is the case, strides are being made in various sectors to develop the arts in Guyana. Kwasi is of a unique belief. He explained that appreciation for Guyanese music, particularly, must be crafted. For the Guyanese people to love Guyanese music, they first have to experience it. He shared, “Whatever you choose to give people constantly, those are the things they are going to look forward to. If you are going to play Kwasi Ace on the radio stations and everywhere, that is what the people are going to want to hear.” He further added that, “But if I play Jamaican artists or music from other countries, that is what the people are going to want to hear.”

Before a musician, Kwasi Ace is, first, a Guyanese. Although much of his creative career was spent championing local music, he has recently taken larger steps towards giving his music a Guyanese identity. In his most recent works, Kwasi has changed the way his music is sung by fully utilising his Guyanese twang in his lyrics. Drawing inspiration from the older generation of calypsonians, Kwasi firmly believes that making Guyanese music unapologetically Guyanese is the key to finding our creative identity. His words of wisdom to newer creatives in whatever field they choose to endeavour is to simply pursue their passion to the best of their ability, regardless of what others may think. Kwasi’s newest single is a song that embodies just that sentiment: with his song titled, ‘Think I k?”