By Rinelda Mouton
A growing number of artists are releasing songs without proper mastering, often to cut costs. While it may save money in the short term, it is also leading to music that sounds unfinished and lacks the quality listeners expect.
Paulus Kavindja, popularly known as Yung Kavin, admits that he also released unmastered tracks early in his career. He says this is a common reality for many upcoming artists.
“Many artists release unmastered or poorly mastered tracks usually because of budget limitations or lack of knowledge. Sometimes it is also about urgency, wanting to get the music out quickly. But over time, most artists realise the difference it makes and start prioritising mastering,” said Yung Kavin.
He stressed that mastering should not be overlooked, even for beginners before noting: “Mastering should always be part of the process. Even if you cannot afford high-end engineers, there are affordable or even do- it-yourself options that can still improve the final result. Mastering is an investment, not just an expense.”.
Eduardo Cotton, known in music circles as Wardo, shares a similar experience. He released his early music without mastering, driven mainly by excitement and limited resources.
“In the beginning of my career I released unmastered songs before understanding what goes into a complete song. I just wanted people to hear my voice,” Wardo explained.
He indicated that for many Namibian artists, financial constraints remain a major challenge and that studio time itself is costly, and services like mixing and mastering are often charged separately.
“Many artists do not earn much from music. Even if you manage to pay for recording, mixing and mastering is extra. Most studios charge for recording only, so it becomes difficult to afford the full process,” he added.
Sakaria Shiwayu, also known as Focus Fireboy, says his early mistake was simply not understanding how important mastering is.
“Mastering requires technical knowledge and skill. It is not just about the artist, but also the producer. If it is not done properly, the song will not sound right,” Focus Fireboy said.
“When a song is not mastered, it sounds incomplete. It is like it is not finished yet, and you cannot really call it a full song.”
Veteran artist Eric Sell, better known as EES, believes that while cost can be a concern, there are now more accessible options than before.
“There are affordable online mastering services, freelance engineers and software tools. So avoiding mastering completely is not the only solution. Even a small investment in sound quality can make a big difference in how the music is received,”
EES explains that listeners may not always understand the technical side, but they can hear when something is off.
“A track might sound fine on one system but weak or uneven on an- other. That affects how professional it feels and how competitive it is,” according to EES.
He stresses that mastering is the final step that prepares a song for re- lease across all platforms.
“It ensures the song sounds polished, balanced and consistent whether it is played on a phone, in a car, in a club or on streaming plat- forms. For me, mastering is about giving the song the respect it deserves before sharing it with the world.”
