G. Double. E Simply Survives
According to G. Double. E the COVID-19 pandemic affected a lot of artists, and non-artists alike. Well, to him it affected his anticipated projects in terms of releasing new songs, gigs have come to a halt as well as his botched marketing strategies. Yet, currently he is trying his best to use social media to put his head over-the-water so that he doesn’t drown in obscurity. He’s doing everything to survive this year to save his musical career. In order to stay relevant, G. Double. E releases online and uses all kinds of social media platforms to share with many people. He also shoots videos to be shared online. Owing to that, he said; “my performances are chronicled online since more people spend time on their smart phones to pass out time and chase out boredom. We do so to keep them entertained plus keeping the pandemonium swinging so that our names do not fade into oblivion.”
His journey in music dates back to the year 2009, when he developed the love for music. He would write songs about his life experiences, and listened to them as if someone was talking to him. Also, he admitted that he uses music as a therapy… when it worked for him, he started taking it seriously. He takes stock of what is happening in other people’s lives, then he starts talking to them through his music.
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Who inspired you?
He was inspired by Ghana artist Sarkodie. I have been his fan for a long time and started knowing him with his hit single ‘Original’. His words in the song talks about believing in himself, and how he is never going to change-but still going to make it by being original dishing out rap lyrics with his original vernacular. I loved his astound passion and work ethics he portrayed throughout the song.
How would you describe your sound?
My sound is totally different, I honestly do a certain number of genres. I do the genres that are trending just for survival, and equally balancing it with the notion to gain more fans. I do Motswako that is way too different using urban afro and local house kwasa sound, coupled with a different approach of rap and singing.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process, I am a very creative person. I do songs about reality and occurrences in our daily lives. It can be something that happened to me or anyone else I know, even the social ills that befell the whole world. I have my album ready to drop anytime. But now I’m just waiting for the right time and until recent my focus was just dropping singles for now.
Whom do you envy, and yet you’d like to collaborate with in future?
I would really love to collaborate with Rihanna, Nasty C, Beyoncé, Sarkodie, Eminem, Tinashe Casper and Kamo Mphela.
Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety?
Of course, it’s a big Yes! I’ve dealt with anxiety back in the days when it was my first time performing my first song ever, that was my first appearance on stage at Babusi hall. When I went on stage upbeat with the song called “A la nkutlwa” I was greeted with a cold response as the whole crowd just went out of the hall at the peak of my song. I came on stage to perform after the number one was announced, it was moments after a certain lady was crowned ‘Miss Black Diamond’ in a hotly-contested beauty pageant. It all started when I performed and the audience stood up, packed their stuff and tracked outside the hall. I could hear them murmuring and chatting disgruntled messages as they trickled outside the hall premises. It was really a bad and a painful experience for me, such that I got traumatized for over two years without doing any music. I hibernated and went into absentia soon after that-only to surface the beginning of 2020. On a comeback trail I performed alongside Zanda Zakuza (SA) at BUAN and I was on fire this time around, I killed it.
How are you coping with the current Coronavirus situation?Just like any other artists elsewhere, corona virus has shut so many doors in our face.
How do you keep your fans entertained on social media?
I’m keeping them busy with sharing my everyday life events and pushing my merchandise. I inform them about the upcoming songs I’m dropping as singles. I’m building that momentum so now they’re ready for the bounce back of the entertainment industry. I do so to keep them on their toes until when the curtain is raised, so they will appreciate seeing me getting back on stage. The good news is I have hot singles awaiting to be dropped on December 2020, an EP to drop on 2021 as well as an Album.
Were you prepared for survival, if not? What are you doing today for survival?
Honestly, I wasn’t prepared. My passion is just in music, acting and commercial modeling or something along that line. So, for survival now I’m pushing ads for companies, acting in short local films and television series that are yet to drop soon. There is this one international advert I did with Sharon Seno aka Marang from Muvhango for Zebranet; and it opened more connections for me so now I’m a freelancer. I do ads and promos for known and unknown entities. Some of my works were made for: *Chichi Diamond clothing, Shmir clothing line, Chosen Design, Pusha Hustle Clothing line as well as Kapari Clan.
What are you currently doing for survival apart from music?
I am yet to do some promos for food and beverage entities (Restaurants) too. Am calling out for companies and individuals to use me to market them as I can also shoot a music video featuring whatever the services they are offering.
Random question: Who are you currently dating?
I am currently single and not searching. I have best friends.
Duncan Sebeso