"Spiritually in the music industry" touches 3 different angles people usually mean:
Traditional/Spiritual practices artists use for success
In Ghana + globally, some artists use spiritual backing to protect their careers:
Prayers & anointing: Gospel artists fast before album drops. Secular artists visit pastors/prophets for direction or “open doors”.
Traditional protection: Visiting shrines, wearing waist beads/charms, or pouring libation before shows. Common in Hiplife/Highlife circles.
Taboos: Some won’t record on certain days, won’t mention rivals’ names in studio, or avoid whistling at night before gigs. Breaking it = “bad energy” on the project.
Feature politics: Belief that some collaborations bring spiritual baggage. You’ll hear “that artist dey use juju” when someone blows up suddenly.
The spiritual toll of the industry
The industry can drain you spiritually:
Identity pressure: Labels push an image that conflicts with your values. Lots of artists feel they “sold their soul” for fame.
Substance + nightlife: 3am studio sessions, alcohol, weed. It blurs judgment and many cite spiritual emptiness after.
Envy/competition: Beef, sabotage, backstabbing. Accra’s scene is tight - if you blow, people study your downfall.
Fan energy: You absorb thousands of people’s emotions nightly. Artists like Kanye, Fameye, and Kwabena Kwabena have all talked about spiritual burnout.
Using music as a spiritual tool
Flip side - music IS spiritual for many:
Gospel: Diana Hamilton, Joe Mettle, Ohemaa Mercy. The goal is ministry first, industry second.
Conscious Highlife/Afro: M3nsa, Wanlov, Amaarae sometimes tap into ancestral sounds - gyil, chants, Ga proverbs - to heal/connect.
Healing frequencies: More producers now talk about 432Hz tuning, or writing songs during dawn “quiet time”.
What Ghanaian artists actually do to stay grounded:
Have a spiritual father/mother: Most big names have a pastor or mallam they check with.
Set boundaries: No studio on Sundays, tithe off first show money, etc.
Libation before big moves: Common before VGMA night or first international tour.
Community: Tema/Ashaiman collectives pray together before splitting. Industry is cutthroat but you need your people.
The unspoken rule: In Ghana, you don’t talk publicly about juju, but everyone moves like it exists. If you’re entering the industry, decide your own line early. The fame will test whatever you believe.
Are you an artist trying to navigate this, or just curious about the stories behind the scenes?