Meet Eche Raphael

 Today I met a rather inspirational individual. Eche Raphael is a Gospel Artist and for some reason I have this feeling that he will be a big shot in the Gospel world. I am posting the interview I had with him today in benin.

toni3dd:  hello
Eche: hello

toni3dd: Please Introduce yourself
Eche: I am Echezona Gibson Ejike Raphael (Eche Raphael), a gospel artist just out of the blocks by God’s grace. I hope my songs are able to reach out to people in a way that makes them remember God’s love for them.

toni3dd: Tell me more about your music.
Eche: I have spent the last 20 years of my life (from 1993 in secondary school) in the choir and gradually built myself up technically to understand some principles of music. My encounter with the keyboard within this time has helped me a great deal in understanding music better. However up until December 2008, I did not possess the ability to write songs. I only started having musical inspiration from December 2008 when I wrote my first song “Son of David” as an R and B song. However since that time, I have written a number of others (mostly in my sleep) and have managed to evolve into a more contemporary African form of gospel.

toni3dd: What gave you your inspiration.
Eche:  I have always believed that my work in the choir is the very essence of my existence. I have had several personal experiences to support this belief and I have also sacrificed a lot to secure this vision. It has been hard because it has set me back materially, yet I still find a lot of joy in what I do in gospel music. I have had a balanced musical upbringing listening to and loving virtually all forms of music. I was fortunate to belong to a generation who heard and patronized a calm generation of singers at a time when music was judged purely on its quality rather than it’s hype value. When musicians didn’t have to pay their way to the top. So in all, my inspiration has been divinely commissioned and someday God will confirm this (Amen).

toni3dd: Tell me about the lyrics and spirit of "Son of David"
Eche: Son of David is a song that announces my ministry just as the Lord Jesus was announced upon his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It’s a song that recognizes the Lord Jesus as the beginning of all I will do in the gospel music ministry. I intend to praise his name through the lyrics of the song and also acknowledge him as our source of life and salvation. If we look up to him and call upon him to save us (just like the blind beggar did in the scriptures), he is capable to save us in his absolute love and mercy towards us, as demonstrated in the ultimate sacrifice he made for us through his painful and shameful death on the cross.

toni3dd:  Why did you choose Cobahms to produced that song?
Eche: I chose coby because I wanted the best possible production for my first song. It did not matter to me the cost, all I wanted was to give God the ultimate gift of praise (no matter how much it set me back materially). Also I wanted to set a standard for my future productions. So I asked to be introduced to the best possible producer in the land and coby’s name popped up. So I sent in my demo and was highly elated when he picked my songs as worthy of his patronage. It really lifted me.

toni3dd: Why didn't he produce "Bless the Land" or "Angel of My Eyes"?
Eche: After producing “Son of David”, I couldn’t continue with other songs because of the financial constraints. However, I still hoped to find a producer who would give me the same quality of production as Coby did without my having to pay as much as I did. I waited and Ratty sought me out and I think he’s been great so far, most especially because of his humble carriage and inexhaustible drive to succeed. He truly believes in me.

toni3dd: So where are you now musically? I mean you current musical State?
Eche:  I am working on new songs as well as trying to do some promo within the limits of my resources. I have come to discover that it’s a bit difficult to get people to commit to any musical project (financially), so I work within my means and with the help of people like my promo guy (my chief promoter). Hopefully soon, a video will be released to boost my promo efforts.

toni3dd: How come we haven't heard from you till now?
Eche: Ask my promo guy. I hope I don’t kill him someday. Anyway some things take a while to surface.

toni3dd: Tell me about your new singles
Eche: Yes! Ebube dike and Ezi Ekene are my two new singles currently bring promoted. They are two songs specially designed for the needs of my immediate environment. I have been inspired by the excellent work of gospel artistes like Frank Edwards, Samsong, Sinach, and a few others. Ratty produced them by the way and they do kick heavily, especially Ebube dike. I prefer them to my earlier works. I think they are a vast improvement on the earlier works.

toni3dd: Is your old album considered a success or a flop?
Eche: I don’t think it can be rated yet because they are all part of a whole work including the new productions. So I don’t think they are to be considered a flop or success at the moment. Time will tell about that.

toni3dd: Can I say tha they are more goodies to see from Mr. Eche?
Eche: Definitely, by God’s grace, definitely.

toni3dd:  Why have you chosen benin city being that you are of ethnic Igbo tribe?
Eche: I have not chosen Benin City. I only consider it a starting point since I was born and raised in Benin. Besides, my choir is resident in Benin and I love my choristers to bits. They are the blood in my veins, without them I am lost (and I mean this).

toni3dd: Are on to any label yet?
Eche: No! no! no! no! no! no! no! it me, myself, and I for now.

Just incase you want to listent to Eche Raphael Songs here's a link.. Eche Raphael Soundcloud 
and Eche Raphael Reverbnation
 
Now I didn't want to ask much but....I am pretty sure that I will be hearing from Mr. Eche Raphael and his music very soon..Toni out!