TO MY PERSONAL PEOPLE (Church musicians) | Nathaniel Bassey

A lot of times church musicians accuse pastors of living the good life while they struggle to make ends meet (and sometimes there can be a few pastors that could be insensitive to the needs of their church musicians) but this is what I've found; many church musicians are not even serious with their walk with God.

Some are not even saved. They have one leg in church and the other in the world. They have no regard for the word of God. The very thing that brings transformation and change to a life.

As soon as they are done playing, they walk out, just gisting outside when the word is going on. And when they are not outside, they are inside but not paying attention. You find them cracking jokes and fiddling with their phones and not listening. I know this because I was once like this. And had all the idea about pastors being blessed and living large while we suffered.

How can we be blessed like this? You are not blessed and successful because you can play an instrument, you are because you practice Joshua 1:8.

"8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

I throw you a challenge my brother/sister: forget the pastors living large; including those who may not really care. You make straight your crooked ways, seek God, put his word inside you and on your lips, do what it says, work hard and smart, serve faithfully, spend time in prayer, in worship and just obey his voice, then come back in a year or two and let's talk. Let's see if your life won't so change that you can't recognize yourself again. And we'll see if that your pastor story is true or not.

Shalom

Nathaniel Bassey

GOSPEL ALBUM TIPS | Nathaniel Bassey

GOSPEL ALBUM TIPS

Shalom saints, just felt a need to share some personal ideas on recording your gospel album. Now, these are not rules set in stone. They are essentially personal principles I live by, and can be of help to anyone out there.

1. BE LED TO RECORD

As Christians let the word of God and the leading of the Spirit be the basis. Every time I get a word to do something, I embark on it with an assurance knowing I have the backing of heaven. In this place there is divine provision and assistance. I can remember my late Mentor and Pastor and I, PASTOR ESKOR MFON, walking up the stairs in church before he went to be with The Lord. And he said to me, "I think it's time to record." For me this was a confirmation of what I'd been thinking about that season.

2. RECORD WITH A PURPOSE

For me these two reasons should be the main reasons for recording a gospel album.

A. To glorify God
B. To minister, bless and impact lives.

Many record to make money, assume the lime light and become famous. But the truth is that any album that meets the two criteria above will always make money. But this should not be the focus.

3. HAVE DIRECTION AND FOCUS

Have you ever picked up a gospel album and you really can't place the style or genre of the work? I have. Lots of Albums in this part of the world lack that definition and clear musical identity. You get to hear rap, jazz, juju, dance hall, worship, Afro, reggae etc, all in one album. Perhaps it's a way of shooting in all direction expecting one of them to hit. No! No!
You should have a clear sound. Your identity. Something peculiar to you. If you sound close to Sir Ebenezer Obey, then don't try singing like Marvin Sapp. Be true to your self. Your grace works in your place.

4. GET THE RIGHT PRODUCER

There are great and skillful producers out there. But not all can properly articulate your sound. In fact, sometimes, the right person may not necessarily be a big name. I suggest you pray for direction in this area.

5. BE PRAYERFUL

You should spend time praying before, during and after the recording. Remember a gospel album is a spiritual project. I remember a number of my studio recordings were worship sessions. Sometimes we've had to pray in the spirit extensively before tracking. We've had people so overwhelmed, they wept and just fell because we had a strong presence in the studio. People tend to feel the same presence in the recordings like we did feel in the studio.

6. USE LIVE INSTRUMENTS

Since music has gone so digital, there is a tendency to do everything with computers. But even when I'm recording digitally, I try as much as possible to fuse in as much analogue or live instruments as possible. LIVE instruments bring LIFE to recordings. And that's because people play them. You see, God gives grace, but people are the carriers of it. Some musicians, especially the anointed ones bring a certain grace and anointing to a work that digital recording can never produce.

7. RECORD WITH A GOOD SOUND ENGINEER

This is where we really miss it in Naija. Notice I didn't say record in a big or expensive studio. I have realized that a studio is only as good as the engineer in it. A studio can have the best of gear. But without an engineer with the requisite skill and knowledge to operate the gears, your recording would still sound poor. And the converse is also true. A studio might have just very basic gear, but with the right engineer, and you can achieve some high quality sound. My engineer in Lagos is very good. Though not your typical big studio, he seems to know his onions. And every time I've had to take the work abroad for further mixes, the engineers abroad have always spoken highly of his work. I recorded songs like IMELA, no other God, wonderful wonder, etc with him( you can reach him on: 08052222668 - alpha Junes studio).

What I also try to do to get that global sound on my recording is do my post productions abroad. Mix and master. In addition to recording abroad sometimes.

And you see, if God has given you a global vision, you can't afford to do things like a local person. Sometimes the things that limit our music from having that global reach is poor and mediocre sound quality.

8. THE BLESSING

After your album is ready, get it blessed. I know some folks would argue with this. If you have a pastor, you may just have him speak a word of blessing over it. You see, the guys in the world understand this. They take their projects to places to invoke all sorts on them. I understand the place of a father's blessing. Our generation is one that despises these things. But you see, I am a product of some of these things. It works. You may not know this, but before I ever released my first album, I wrote a letter to pastor E A Adeboye, my general overseer, just asking him to speak a word of blessing before I launch out. I can remember his words very vividly. And I tell you, they have not fallen to the ground. I was determined not to go the way of others.

9. RELEASE YOUR WORK

The beauty of this is that unlike the past, you have the Internet and social media. And independent online music platforms, and do not need record labels etc to help with distributing your work. And this is what I've learnt. If your work is good: anointed and well produced, the marketers will look for you. A good product will always sell itself.

I remember a number of them were reluctant to take up my work when I came out first.But I was not in a hurry, and just kept my focus. However, today, by God's grace, the story is different.

10. BE PATIENT

"For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise."

Hebrews 10:36.

This is where many folks miss it. They want the break now. The thing must happen immediately. In our kingdom things don't happen that way. God takes us through a process to mature us, and allow Christ to be formed in us.

So wait!

I'll end with this little story.

I began playing the trumpet in 1991. Yes. Recorded my first album in 2008. But the impact of our ministry has only begun to be felt.
So what happened in between? One word..... PROCESS!
Character is formed and moulded. God tries and works on our hearts, to make sure we don't blow it when the spot light comes.

here are some great christian producers. Check them out on facebook and connect with them.
Emmanuel Juzzy Uzozie, Rotimi Akinfenwa, Wilson Joel, Wole Oni, George Adealao, etc.

I hope you find this article useful.

God bless you.

TURNING POINT | June 2015

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. ⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

-          John 2:5-10 (NIV)

Somewhere between the obedience to the instruction of Jesus and when the governor of the feast received the cup, a miracle had occurred. It is rather instructive that there were six stone water jars holding from twenty to thirty gallons...

As you act in obedience to divine instructions, 

may the thirty days of this sixth month mark a Positive TURNING POINT for you and all yours.

God Bless You!

/bayormartins 

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@bayormartins