Ghanaian Afro-Jazz Musician 'DrumPIPO' Creating Waves Around Africa

Phillip Sowah (DrumPIPO)

DrumPIPO

DrumPIPO in his childhood never spared cutleries at home nor took a chance with whatever looked like sticks to him. He played on any surface of membranophones and experimenting beats suiting himself or the passerby, same way envisioning a stage with a large audience tapping to his beats, fused in the smoothest of rhythm ever imagined. DrumPIPO could have been dreaming Afro-Jazz, however his persistence earned him the discovery of his rightful skill. Philip certainly knew he was born a musician.

Philip Sowah, the Ghanaian born musician and self-taught drummer who was raised in Accra spent a decent number of his childhood age in church and was privileged to begin playing with the church band at 9 years old. After high school, Philip paid his way through his gigs to study at the University of Education, Winneba where he majored in African Music.

Philip is popularly known as ‘DrumPIPO’. Interestingly, he acquired the name during his University days, as some of his colleagues called him Philip, others called him Philippo, his name was then shortened for ‘PIPO’ whiles his undying passion for the drums landed him the stagename DrumPIPO. In 2007, he moved to South Africa after his University education to seek after his musical career. As persevering as he has constantly been, he performed at many music festivals across South Africa and America touring and sessioning with various top-notch South African artistes.

According to Philip, he has always been passionate about his music and that has kept him glued to the game.

In 2009, DrumPIPO established an Afro-Jazz Band which he called ‘DrumPIPO Ensemble'. They recorded their maiden album in 2010 called “Burning Desire”. In 2012 the band became second in the klipdrift Battle of the bands competition held at Carnival city in Johannesburg with which DrumPIPO Ensemble recorded a new single ‘Afrikan Child’. In 2016 he changed his band from DrumPIPO Ensemble to DrumPIPO as a solo artist where he recorded “Christmas In Africa” album and afterward released several singles.

Whilst pursuing his music, he delved into a couple of additional activities such as; setting up a recording studio and studied Film and Television Production. He has since been recording and filming several music videos, similarly as he produces all his songs and that of other musicians.

As versatile as he is, the lover of sound, the percussionist, the Art Musician, ‘DrumPIPO’ communicates in about 7 languages to compliment the motivation for his Afro-Jazz style of music.

“My music is inspired mostly by my life experiences but my sound is inspired mostly by nature. African languages inspire me, Animal sounds inspire me and so on. When I look around me everyday, I get inspired”, Philip stated.

His affection for family can be effectively noticed as he brightly smiles when asked about his family. DrumPIPO lives in Pretoria with his wife and son.

Amidst accolades, DrumPIPO received 2 grand awards from the 2018 Ghana Music Awards in South Africa.

Philip hosts a TV Show called 'The Sound of Silence' where he brings various artistes from all over the globe to showcase their skills by performing live and share their experiences in the music industry. The show can be viewed on DrumPIPO Music Channel on YouTube every Saturday.

BIAKOYE (oneness) DrumPIPO’s single ‘Biakoye (oneness)’ of his 'Sounds Of Africa EP

“Looking around, seeing Africans fighting each other and killing each other everywhere just bleeds my heart, hence ‘Biakoye’ is calling for us all to come together as one”, DrumPIPO disclosed to Iseegh his trigger for Biakoye.

‘Biakoye (oneness)’ is currently available on all digital platforms such as iTunes, Deezer, Spotify, Googleplay and more. ‘Biakoye (oneness)’ got lots of thumbs up from all across the world. He promises all fans to watch out soon for a music video for Biakoye which he intends to shoot in Ghana.

Check out DrumPIPO 'Sounds Of Africa' EP on the SoundCloud link below.

 
By: Abel Ofori-Adeniran