Highlife legend and creator of the Zigima sound, Bright Chimezie, has spoken about how music production has changed over the years, saying musicians of his time were more disciplined and skilled compared to what is seen today.
Speaking on The Honest Bunch Podcast, Chimezie said that back in the day, musicians took their time to master their craft before stepping into the studio. According to him, most artists of his generation already knew exactly what they wanted to record and did not rely too much on producers or digital tools.
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“Before we went to the studio, we already mastered the craft. We knew the music and exactly what we wanted to do. We were not depending so much on the producer,” he said.
Chimezie explained that producers in the past had little work to do because the artists themselves came prepared, with their own ideas, rhythm, and structure for the song.
“Back in the day, producers didn’t do too much work. If you were a good artist, you worked out the music within yourself. Most artists now come empty-handed, no direction, no rhythm. It gives the producer too much work, and that’s why most productions today sound alike,” he added.
He further stated that in his time, being a real musician meant being able to play an instrument and create unique sounds.
According to him, having a musical instrument helped artists to bring out the exact rhythm and melody they heard in their heads.
“If you have an instrument, you’ll be able to work out the song the way it plays inside you.”
