Entertainment anchorman, at the weekend had an interview with the owner of the Halam Studio in Kotu.
The studio, which is one of the famous within the greater Banjul area, has contributed a lot in the development of music in The Gambia and beyond. Oumar Traore, commonly called Tra, owner of Halam Studio, said he is a musician and a producer, which he has been doing for quite a long time now.
The Halam boss, who was speaking to Entertainment on Wednesday at his studio, said he also has a music band called the Baatin Band.
According to him, the band has operated for more than nine years. He added that being a Senegalese, he loves The Gambia as his second home. “The country is my home; in terms of culture the two countries are the same,” he said. “When I started music I was inspired by great people like Touray Kunda, Halam 2, Super Eagle and many more others. I am a keyboard player in the band and I also sing a bit.”
Tra said some of the artistes he has worked with over the years are Sambou Susso, Jaliba Kuyateh, Singhateh, Flexman, Nancy Nanz, Cess Ngum, and T Small.
Explaining about his studio, Tra revealed that it is not expensive to record at his studio, adding that he fixes the prices more affordable for musicians.
“There is no project big or small for me,” he said. “I do my projects in order to respect it. What is important is how the work is done.”
Tra also told Entertainment that his studio records live band sessions, while calling on the general public to patronize Halam Studio as “it is here for them”.
The Halam boss called on young musicians to do more research in music. “An artiste is an ambassador,” he avers.
