Blonds sure have more fun, but I doubt that this radiating beauty who just walked in (exactly on time!) would ever consider dying her amazing curls! She looks good enough to be in a James Bond franchise and when she speaks (Hi! I’m Mavis. Mavis Acquah) I wonder how many cool chicks do I know, called “Mavis Acquah”? That CAN’T be her actual name, like all things that seem to good to be true.
- Oh, that’s my real name by the way - she adds casually.
We order drinks and get comfortable. OK, she’s got my attention. Let’s find out everything there’s to know about this exotic creature who happens to sing like an angel too, rumor has it.
O: Your parents must be very creative. Is there a story behind your name?
M: Well, the name kinda comes with the territory. I was born in Amsterdam. My dad is from Ghana and my mom from Indonesia. My middle name is Grey and there’s definitely a story behind my name: my initials are Mavis Grey (MG) after my dad’s favorite car and I’m also named after Mavis Staples, an American rhythm and blues/gospel singer and civil rights activist.
O: That explains it! So your professional choices were pretty much predetermined: law school or music, LOL?
M: (laughs) I guess. I actually do have a degree in Dutch law. So should this music thing not work out… (laughs again) No, it’s always been music for me, really. I used to drive everyone crazy, using every chance to perform.
O: So I’m guessing… Motown, The Jacksons, those were your heroes growing up?
M: Yep. The Jackson Five, Michael, Janet, Prince. I also listened to hip hop, jazz, gospel, rock, house. I’m a music addict!
O: From what I hear you are a fashion addict too. But let’s stay on track here before we find ourselves talking about shoes. How one becomes a singer, MC, free vocalist? There’s tons of girls singing into a blow dryer in front of the mirror, but they don’t necessarily end up performing at Dance Valley, film festivals and each and every cool club there is in Holland. What’s your secret?
M: What’s my secret? Let me address that “fashion addict” comment first: it’s a professional hazard, I swear. As an artist I have a responsibility to look at my best at all times (laughs)
(Yeah, like we are buying that!)
M: Anyways, about becoming a singer. Some of it is luck, most of it is hard work and a complete, devouring passion for singing as craft and music in general. You can’t do this unless you really love it. Growing up I grabbed every opportunity to perform at school or in our living room. I remember my first singing performance, I sang “I’ll Be There” at a school concert and that was it. I was hooked. So, to answer your question on how one becomes a singer: I just can’t see myself doing anything else. And when you are that crazy about something and you are not just sitting around, daydreaming about it, sooner or later an opportunity will present itself that will take you one step closer to your goal.
O: So what happened next? After “I’ll Be There”?
M: I started a school band. We were very motivated for thirteen-year-olds. And I think it was that same year when I first attempted songwriting. At 15 I ended up in a recording studio, singing backing vocals for a R&B songs and jingles.
O: Did you ever attend a music academy or theatre school?
M: No, not really. The closest it ever came to singing lessons was the time when I auditioned for the musical “The Lion King” and got accepted into their understudy program (Lion King School they call it). Though no actual part in the musical came out of it, I consider this time well spent, I’ve learned a lot there.
O: Wait, The Lion King? Rewind please! I did some homework on you, dear, and if my sources are not mistaking, u once were a part of a hip hop formation too?
M: (laughs) What are you? KGB? That’s right, during my law study in Nijmegen I was a proud member of such a formation. We did some R&B, but mostly hip hop and our shows rocked! And no, I don’t have any pictures. Psych!
O: We’ll definitely see about those photos, Ms Acquah! So what happened next?
M: Let me see, the year was 2005, my boyfriend was spinning at Paradiso. Somehow I ended up with a mic in my hand, performing for the very first time as an MC / free vocalist. And just so we’re clear, by “somehow” I don’t mean that I’ve had one too many drinks or anything (laughs) cuz I’m not much of a drinker. That same night I met a Dutch producer, Pim Kilian with whom I’ve written a couple of songs. None of those songs were ever released, but it was a priceless experience, in terms of learning about how songs are actually been made.
O: I can imagine how that Paradiso night must’ve been a turning point for you, no? Was this actually the first time that you thought to yourself: hey, maybe this MC/vocalist thing is something for me?
M: Yep!!
O: What about this Hardsoul thing you do with dj’s Roog & Greg van Bueren? And who else?
M: You mean Hardsoul Live with Roog, Greg van Bueren, Mitch Crown (vocals) and Glenn Helder (drums)? You could call it a live compilation of Hardsoul work. Every show is different, put together with care and passion.
Besides Hardsoul Live I’m also a member of Amsterjamming with dj Alex van Oostrom, Dillon Lewis (percussion) and Arjan M. In this act we travel through the seventies, eighties and nineties to hits of the present.
Another live act I often play with is Future Groove Express. A Nu Jazz –Deephouse act. Other members of the act are Jazzy D (keys/dj), Maarten Hoogenhuis (sax) and Rob vd Wouw (trumpet).
And last but certainly not least, I’m a pupil-turned-backing vocalist of Moon Baker. The wonderful female singer who used to be the lead singer of Candy Dulfer’s “Funky Stuff”.
O: Our time is almost up and I’m almost out of questions. Just two more. A little bird has told me that you’ve been busy lately, recording with Gregor Salto & Laidback Luke? Anything you wanna tell us about this track?
M: I performed several times with Gregor at “Bateria”, but it will be officially released November this year. For those curious cats, there’s a youtube video of Laidback Luke spinning the track at Ibiza.
O: Last question: what’s next? Where is Mavis Acquah headed? Whats your wildest dream?
M: My solo album, that’s for sure! I would really love to create my own sound and my own show with a team of creative people. They need to be a bit crazy too, cause I love to experiment.
O: OK, thanks for your time and the drinks are on me. All the best, lets meet up again in a couple of months, see where you at. And one last thing..
M: What’s that?
O: Please do the James Bond thing. You know: “My name is Acquah. Mavis Acquah”
M: (laughs)
Olena: And so she’s off to her next appointment. Ladies & gentleman, Mavis Acquah has left the building but this is definitely not the last time she’ll be heard from.
To be continued….
