WHY hip-dia man Sony Achiba has kept the promotion of his latest album on a low profile may have come as a surprise to many music enthusiasts. It is not as if the album is not good, it is an appropriate sequel to his debut and yet Sony seems to be rather quiet.

Indian Ocean 2 is what he calls it and he told Showbiz in an interview “ I know publicity has been kind of low but I was putting a few things in place and now with the total support of Victory Records, I am coming out soon with a bang.”The album which has ten songs on CD and eight on tape is not doing badly as far as airplay and sales are concerned, according to Sony.

Considering that many local musicians come out with rather nuexciting music videos, it is always a relief when some make an effort to go for something appealing, like what Sony Achiba has done with his Indian Ocean 2. Putting together a bevy of beautiful young women from India, the United Kingdom and Ghana, Sony’s music video for Sony, Maba one popular song on the album, is refreshing.

Director Terry Bright Ofosu gives a good account of himself with this clip — lovely ladies, colourful and fitting costumes and very skilful moves with the dance from Sony himself and his dancers. One cannot help but admire the Indian lady singing in twi, virtually pleading to be taken back. Even if she was miming, it was well done.

The music video for Who Do You Trust is also commendable, the macho men and men in black hats add colour to it. The exciting bits are when Sony Achiba ends up dancing with a fruit seller, then an ice cream vendor. Their formation dances are impressive, nice concept. Again, the two ladies who back him with this song have very sweet voices which adds to their pretty faces to make anyone want to watch them over an again.

Suro Nipa is another nice song on the album which is done in what Sony Achiba himself calls hip-dia. Whatever or whoever might have disappointed Sony Achiba in whichever way might have really hurt him because the lyrics he uses here is deep. Proverbs are abundant in this song, as it most of the others.He sings in twi “you’ve got to fear man and not ghosts, if you do not fear man, you will not live long.” and goes on to say that doors are locked at night because of man and not ghosts.

Fast-paced Sony Maba is one that has found its way on the lips of fans of the hip-dia man. Just right for dancing, it is the words of a repentant lover whose plea falls on deaf ears. The female voice is very soothing as she sings “Sony, Sony, Maba, Maba.” Sony calls the style he employs here as hip-dia house, “hip-dia” being a combination of hip-hop and India.

Christined Emmanuel John Bandick Danguah, Sony Achiba actually got his name for his love for Sony products. The Achiba, he says, means action, compassion, honest, irresistible, blessed and an achiever. For pastime. Sony loves to play soccer and watching movies. His next birthday party comes off on October 2.