FOR Ghanaian Lovers Rock and Highlife artiste, Phatelinuks, the greatest thrill a singer can have is not being described as a failure — it is being referred to as 'underground.'
What most people interpret as an innocent business term, he insists, is a silent but lethal stamp which obliterates years of commitment, stifles effort and demeans talent and credibility.
In a exclusive one-on-one interview with Graphic Showbiz in Accra on Monday, September 8, 2025, Phatelinuks, having toiled almost a decade in his effort to leave his mark in Ghana's music industry, lashed out at the derogatory tag.
"It is hurtful to work in this industry almost 10 years and still be called an up-and-coming artiste just because your name does not trend.".
It's not only inaccurate. It isn't respectful. I know individuals who've been working much longer than some of the current big names, but because the spotlight hasn't reached them, they're labelled as underground. It makes all their years of effort seem for naught," he stated, clearly hurt.
To Phatelinuks, the underground is not only a category — it's a wall. A wall that keeps talented artists in the dark, with others basking in pop culture popularity.
"'This label has got to go. It's outdated, sad and mentally draining. If you have to put us in a category, call us musicians. Period. Nothing more. Nothing less,' he stressed.".
He called upon the media companies, promoters, analysts, and event organizers to change how they phrase their descriptions of artistes who have not yet 'blown'. (Read The man being head of family just a biblical talk in today's world- Pamela Odame)
"Let's build people up and not tear them down with language. Calling someone who has spent ten years perfecting their craft 'up and coming' is insulting. If we can grow our industry, then we must respect every step of an artiste's build-up," he urged.
Apart from tags, Phatelinuks also raised the alarm on another hindrance sabotaging careers in Ghanaian music — the unwillingness of the audience to exercise patience.
In Ghana, if you remain silent for long enough, people forget. No one waits for anyone in the crowd. The moment you remain silent, someone else takes your place and it is pretty much impossible to catch up," he clarified.
He cited bygone hit bands such as Getty and Friends, who were unable to return to the spotlight following a time-out period. "Not because they lost their talent but because they lost the public's attention. In today's world, absence is not forgiven", he said.