The Cabo Verdian community in the U.S. is listening to Kizomba, so eventually it might catch on across the country.

AFKInsider: Is it hard for Cabo Verdean artists to break into the U.S. market?

ELL Cosme: Yes and no.  It is not hard because there are huge Cabo Verdean communities in the U.S. so you can breakthrough with that community. But it can be harder to reach the general population in the U.S.–hard but not impossible.

You have to have money to promote the song and present a good quality song. Music is something strange;  you can make music and don’t expect anything from it and it gives you everything and goes to everywhere you can imagine. Or you can spent a lot of time on a song and give it everything and it does nothing.

AFKInsider: This is your third single to be released over a period of about eight months. When do you expect to drop your album?

ELL Cosme: Before the end of 2015–and I am ready to get more of my music out.

AFKInsider: What are some of the challenges being an artist in Cabo Verde?

ELL Cosme: It is very difficult to be an independent artist in Cabo Verde. It can be very expensive to record, to make videos, to do promotion.

Considering the average salary in Cabo Verde is 14,000 esc ($145 US), it can take a person a long time to record just one song or to make a video. On average studio time can cost a person about 3000 esc per hour, but you also have to do the mix and then master the recording, which costs extra. It costs from 20,000 esc ($207 US) and up to make a video.  The average video is around 40,000 esc ($415).

Also, when local artists perform they are paid very little or are expected to perform for free.  So even once you have put music out it’s hard for local artists to make a living. It is only when you relocate out of Cabo Verde do you get paid more money to perform in Cabo Verde.

Lastly, there is no real mentorship in Cabo Verde. No one wants to help you out if you are a new artist. I had to teach myself almost everything. I listened to a lot of music, dissected the music, watched what happens in the studio and then I taught myself. It would be great if artists had mentors who can help guide them.

The CDs don’t sell. People pass the music on to one another or they do free downloads. If you don’t make it internationally you won’t make any money.

AFKInsider: But Cabo Verde  is known worldwide for its music.

ELL Cosme: Yes, but mainly for traditional music.

AFKInsider: Are there many record companies?

ELL Cosme: There are a lot of underground record companies, but the big ones just about six.  Still, the problem is there is not much money to be made from recording here in Cabo Verde.

AFKInsider: What are the rewards of being an artist in the country?

ELL Cosme: The fact that you are doing something to make your people happy, that is a biggest reward for me. I also want to show people you can start from nothing and still make it, that no matter how poor you may be you can dream and have your dreams come true. This is important for me. I never thought as a child that one day I would hear my music on the radio, see my videos on TV. I want young kids today to think this is possible for them as well.

AFKInsider: Is the country supportive today of its musical artists?

ELL Cosme: Cabo Verde is known for its musical greats, but most of them became beloved after they left Cabo Verde, such as Cesária Évora, Ildo Lobo. The local municipalities all have cultural departments that do hire artists for certain events and some have started programs to help fund the artists. But still for the most part you are on your own. But I think this can also be a strength, because if you do make it you can do well wherever you go.

But if you don’t have money yourself you never really get anywhere. You can have all the talent in the world and you don’t have money you won’t get support.

AFKInsider: What is next for you?

ELL Cosme: Keep doing singles, do my album, and then promote the album and go for an international audience;  my goal is to go international.