Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to James Mawutor. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, James thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have always been around music and participated passionately but it was my friend who told me I pursue it as a full-time career and he was right.

James, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am Raingad, a musician who fuses elements of Afrobeats and reggae. I made an official entry into the music industry when I released my song; Junction. Then I got discovered by legendary American Reggae Band, Big Mountain of ‘Baby I Love Your Way’ fame. Big Mountain took me under their wings for grooming and artist development. In short, Raingad stands out through his genre-blending sound, cultural grounding, international collaborations, recognized artistry, evolving discography, and vibrant performances. He’s crafting a path that’s both local in authenticity and global in reach. Raingad represents resilience and progress. Raingad stays around the topics of love, social awareness and general self development.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I grew up in Aflao (Volta Region, Ghana) in a modest environment where chasing a music career wasn’t easy. Early on, he performed in church and in school, but lacked the financial and industry support many artists in bigger cities (like Accra) enjoyed.

When I first broke out with “Junction” in 2018, the success was unexpected. The track got heavy radio play, but instead of being content, I kept pushing—because I knew Ghana’s music scene is competitive, and Volta artists often get overlooked.

My resilience really showed when I landed a collaboration with Big Mountain, the legendary U.S. reggae band. It wasn’t handed to me, I worked persistently, networking, sending out my music, and believing in my sound until that international door opened. Big Mountain did not only featured me on “Angelina” but even helped promote my “Junction” hit.

For a young artist from Aflao, moving from local recognition to earning the backing of a world famous band is a classic resilience story proof that consistent effort, despite limited resources and geographic disadvantage, can push boundaries.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn that I couldn’t reach some heights. I now believe everything is possible and I am ready for global success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raingad1
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1GmV9VAn4D/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Twitter: https://x.com/raingad1
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCRF9u6tJPUy7qIrNAl1VFmg
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/raingad1
• Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4xXRXnjTN9NUldw0sQPXLo

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gh/artist/raingad/1454317581

  Audiomack: https://audiomack.com/raingad1

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Josey Photos

Additional
1. TheStunnerds
2. Josey Photos
3. TheStunnerds
4. Lucas Henry Images