This past summer I wrote an article about a musician who was selling his CD door-to-door in Toronto. I was intrigued by the novelty and scope of this marketing approach and invited him inside after listening to what he had to say on the doorstep. We chatted for sometime and as we spent time together I found myself drawn in by his story and his soft delivery. There was no hype here, and his tale told me that this was a young man with passion and conviction. After he left, I put on the CD I had purchased from him with no expectation of hearing anything out of the ordinary. Well, I was more than pleasantly surprised. Sid Akowuah is a soulman with a lilting soulful style and a way of telling his own story that gets under one’s skin in the best possible way. I hope in some small way Sid’s  accompanying story here contributes to widening his audience and perhaps helps attract some measure of mainstream media attention. David Farrell

My name is Sid Akowuah: A soul singer, producer, recording artist and author who has sold his music door-to-door for the past seven years. I was fortunate enough to meet David Farrell at his home several months ago and we got into a lengthy discussion about the music industry. He asked if I could write an article for him, and I agreed to do so. I know it seems odd to most people that I would spend so many years going door-to-door selling my music without pursuing any real recognition or commercial success, so I will use this article to attempt to explain my drive.

Allow me begin with this story: One of the first people I encountered while selling my music door-to-door, about seven years ago, was a man who essentially laughed in my face, looked me squarely in the eyes and calmly said, “You are wasting your time. Nobody is going to buy your music this way…” He slammed his door in my face, and I walked away dejected.

I have faced countless individuals who shared that man’s perspective over the years; however, at the time, his words cut dangerously deep for a fragile, insecure young man who was still not sure people would like his music, much less give it a chance! I could barely look at people in the eye for the next several houses. I can be naturally soft-spoken, but I spoke extra quiet because I felt ashamed of my chosen path. The result was: door after door slammed in my face, and each rejection sent me deeper and deeper into despair.

I felt like quitting. I told myself I would only do one more house. If that person was rude to me like the others, it might knock me out of my misery for good. When that door opened, I mumbled my spew about being an artist selling my music door-to-door, and the woman said with an enthusiastic smile, “Are you serious? You’re selling your music door-to-door? That’s amazing! What you’re doing takes a lot of courage. Just for your effort alone, of course I will buy your CD! How much is it?” My heart lifted. From that moment, I believed everything would be ok. It occurred to me that no matter how dark things got, there was always going to be a light somewhere down the line — the key has often been surviving the darkness long enough.

It was the response of that lady, and the thousands of people I would meet over the years afterwards, which is what has driven me. My sole purpose has always been to use my artistic gifts to touch people in a personal and real way. Growing up, I spent countless amounts of nights using music as my only console from a feeling of isolation and rejection (in retrospect, it had a lot to do with being an immigrant to Canada from West Africa, Ghana). Once I discovered my musical abilities, I instinctively wanted to pass on the gift of musical companionship for others that might be suffering what I did in my tremulous years. I wanted to inspire people with my life, and use my music to heal people’s emotional, mental and spiritual wounds, if I could. Through some prayer and meditation, I decided I could achieve that goal going door-to-door. On the contrary, if my only purpose was to become famous, make as much money as I can, and collect as many groupies as possible, I would be betraying the reason these gifts were given to me in the first place, and probably end up taking drugs or alcohol to dull my emptiness, and in the long run, lose my artistic gifts entirely.

I have, in fact over the years, met people who offered to help take my career to another level, but once I discovered I would have to compromise my vision to become something I am not, it was clear in my conscience that I could not accept their proposal. Going door-to-door has been a blessing, allowing me to maintain my sense of self (and survive while doing so). I’ve also come to understand and appreciate that what I stand for is worthwhile and necessary in the bigger picture, especially in the world’s climate that we live. I obviously did not intended to spend seven years going door-to-door before I catch the break I want, but the way I see it: I’ve simply needed to survive the darkness long enough before I see the light, and it’s worth it if it means in the end, my music and art will reach the millions of people who I want it to, in a way that will uplift and inspire their hearts and entertain their souls.

Fortunately enough, I eventually did catch that break and have recently completed the album/book that caters to a vision I know will do what I set out to do on a larger scale. You can visit my website (www.sidakowuah.com) and sample/purchase my new album, titled The City Still Has Life.

As a final note, I will say that I think the world will be a lovely place if more musicians take my cue and start going door-to-door. Can you imagine how nice it will be if every so often a stranger comes to your door with their guitar or keyboard and personally plays you and your family a sweet love song? It might not work with every type of music and for every single household, obviously, but I am living proof that it will work for certain. Just a thought…

~Sid Akowuah

Contact: cidnees@hotmail.com

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