“… I would cry almost every three days… ” – Gyakie on challenges at the beginning of her career
Ghanaian music sensation Gyakie has revealed the intense pressure she faced at the beginning of her music career, especially after the success of her hit single Forever. Speaking with DJ Edu on BBC Africa, the 24-year-old shared how these early challenges shaped her journey in the music industry.
According to Gyakie, born Jackline Acheampong, the pressure from her management and fans to produce another hit song was overwhelming. She recounted often breaking down in tears due to the high expectations.
“If I am pressured or shouted at, I am going to grab a tissue and cry. So, I don’t like to be pressured or shouted at. At the beginning of my career, I would cry at home almost every three days because the pressure was too much. Especially when ‘Forever’ blew up. The expectations were high for me to come out with another hit song,” she said.
Despite the emotional strain, Gyakie acknowledged that the pressure ultimately toughened her and prepared her for the challenges of the music industry.
“It’s good when it feels like motivation, but it’s different when it’s different. Also, these negative criticisms that are not coming from a good place… It took me a while to not really let it get to me. But now, I could see anything about me, where the person knows what he is saying is not true. I would be like, somebody should give me some water to drink because the country is already hard,” she added.
Gyakie’s journey began in 2019 with her debut single, Love is Pretty, followed by Never Like This. She gained international recognition in 2020 with her chart-topping hit Forever, featured on her five-track Seed EP. Her resilience and hard work continue to inspire fans across the globe.
