Fontomfrom plan to make fans beg for more good music on debut album

Less than a few months to end the year, the Ghanaian music industry will be experiencing the best of the best music from Uncle Myke, Stevo and Kgee. Let me cut the chase and get straight to the point.

They could be traced way back when hiplife music started gaining roots in Ghana. They go by the name - Stevo aka Donedeal of G Life fame, Uncle Myke (backing vocalist for Kojo Antwi, Nana Quame and more) and Kgee of Hammer produced Last 2 boys, KgPM.

On their full-length debut, there’s a natural chemistry that keeps you alive anytime you slot in their CD. It’s a good thing since the three covered so many topics on the album. Variety on any album is imperative and that is exactly what Fontomfrom is taking advantage of.

Before I forget to mention, the hooks are the strongest I have ever heard with productions from Zapp Mallet, Jay Q, and Agyingo.

Fontomfrom album sounds more like it should be sold in the international circles rather than the Ghanaian and African market.

While few listeners will mind, their biggest problem seems to be the naming of the title album They are deliberating on whether to use “Fontomfrom” or change it.

I was delighted when I got a call straight from Kgee blowing his trumpet about the biggest thing to hit Ghana and they giving us an exclusive interview.

Ghana Music.com: So what’s the name of the new group?

Fontomfrom: Pronounced the way like it looks. The name FON-TOM-FROM is a name talking drums from Ghana which is used to send divine messages within communities. The drum symbolizes royalty and authority and that is what this group of 3 represents. The team consists of Uncle Myke who has done backing vocals for the likes of Kojo Antwi and Nana Quame, Stevo aka Donedeal who used to be a member of one of the pioneer hiplife groups, G-Life, and Kgee from the group KgPM.

Ghana Music.com: Who do you think you sound like?

Kgee: We sound like FONTOMFROM.

Ghana Music.com: What should your new fans expect?

Uncle Myke: Something different from the regular, plus everyone would be able to relate to it. Every track is meant to be a banger which, is not surprising considering the cats that worked on creating the album.

Stevo: Some songs may sound like hiphop in your ears, some like dancehall, hiplife and soul.

Ghana Music.com: Any projects in addition to the album?

Fontomfrom: Unlike many hiplife artists from the former Gold Coast, part of the proceeds from this collaborated effort will be used to fund  foundations like BATTLE AIDS and HELP FEED THE HUNGRY, two foundations tackling AIDS and hunger in Africa respectively.


Ghana Music.com: So how has the music journey been for you guys?

Fontomfrom: Well it’s been a good learning experience, fun and exciting. With this album we have all learned how to record, programme, arrange and produce our own music. We also learned to agree and disagree on what song should make this album and what shouldn’t.

Ghana Music.com: Why has it taken long for you guys to come out either individually or as a group?

Fontomfrom: It’s a lot of reasons but for now we’ll just throw light on some of the most important factor. School played the most important role since we were all trying to get our degrees. Also we had a lot of songs to choose from and last but not the least what engineers were going to work on this project.

Ghana Music.com: Do you think since you guys were one of the most sought after musicians you can make it again?

Fontomfrom: We all agree hiplife has come a long way and transformed into something new but during this transformation we never stopped growing musically. We kept on making our “pen bleeding on our pads” and writing new materials. In short what we are saying is if 1+1=2 then we still got the formula to make hit records and good music.

Ghana Music.com: What kind of music are u guys doing?

Fontomfrom: Some hiplife, hiphop, highlife, soul and dancehall.

Ghana Music.com: Could you guys define the album?

Fontomfrom: There is not a particular word to define this album because it’s just a “feel good” music. We believe both young and old can relate to this album because it got songs for every one. It’s got slow tracks, mid tempo and high energy tracks. We also touched on very important topics about the well-being of Africa in general.

Ghana Music.com: Convince me why I should go grab a copy of your CD when it’s out?

Fontomfrom: We know where you live so we’ll come get you if you don’t get a copy (joking). Ah, on a serious note it is good album put together and also we are helping out the less fortunate ones with some of the money made from this project.

Ghana Music.com: How many tracks do you guys have on this album?

Fontomfrom: So far we’ve scaled it down to 10 songs plus intro and outro making it 12.

Ghana Music.com: Which artistes blessed this album?

Fontomfrom: As at now there are no set artistes on this project. We’ve talked to different artistes but there is a high possibility we might do collaborations with PM of KgPM fame.

Ghana Music.com: Any new engineer who worked on this album?

Fontomfrom: Uncle Myke and Eddie Beamer.

Ghana Music.com: Tell us the difference in the industry in the States?

Fontomfrom: There is no clear difference. It’s really amazing how both Ghanaian based and Americans have caught onto the hiplife train. It’s as popular as it is in Ghana now and we are lucky and blessed to have some of hiplife finest to come over here and rock stage with us.

Ghana Music.com: What do you guys want to be remembered for?

Fontomfrom: As the 3 young men who re-defined hiplife.

Ghana Music.com: How are you guys going to promote this album since you are not based in Ghana. What is the promotion strategy?

Fontomfrom: Well we funded the whole album ourselves but we are open and willing to work with any producer and promoter. Also we’ll be touring Ghana, Europe and here in the US when the album is out. Any one willing to work with us could e-mail us at fontomfrom_music@yahoo.com and www.myspace.com/fontomfrom.