From High School to Today: Black Sherif explains his evolving sound

Black Sherif has described his latest musical direction as a “reintroduction” of himself, saying his sound has evolved through the different stages of his personal and artistic journey.

The musician, speaking on the Afternoon Show, reflected on the various periods of his career and how they have influenced the music he creates today.

According to Black Sherif, the music he made as a high school student, his work in 2019 and songs released during the pandemic all represent different layers of his identity as an artiste.

“The music I was making in 2019 and in high school, the music I was making during the pandemic, they sound like Sun Sherif,” he said.

He described his current direction as a renewed introduction to his artistry and the different influences that have shaped him.

“So this is a reintroduction of me and how many layers there are to me,” he added.

During the interview, Black Sherif also addressed the broader question of Ghanaian music’s international ambitions.

He argued that taking Ghanaian music to the global stage should not be viewed as the responsibility of one musician.

“It can never be the work of an individual artiste,” he said, calling instead for greater collaboration and “collective motion” within the industry.

Black Sherif further cautioned against unrealistic comparisons between Ghana’s music industry and those of other countries, noting that the circumstances surrounding how different countries develop and export their music vary.

His remarks highlight two sides of his current musical outlook: an evolving personal identity as an artiste and a belief that Ghana’s international music ambitions will require a united industry effort.