One record company which has been eyeing housemates of TV3 Mentor and taking on one or two of the contestants from each edition of the reality show to work with is Bandex Music Production.

Any good observer of Bandex's relationship with Mentor would notice that the label does not go in for the favourite or best contestants but rather settles for those it considers as potentially marketable and transforms their works into big hits.

Two of such artistes are former housemates Isaac, "show boy" of Mentor 1 and Cynthia Appiah-Kubi, a.k.a Cee of Mentor 2 whose respective albums, Me Nyame Dome and Osabarima, currently have songs making hits on radio.

Mr. Ahmed Banda, CEO of Bandex Music said that his vision is to target those among the contestants who show promise.

"I don't go in for those who make it to the finals of the reality show because those ones are definitely given some money as part of their prizes unlike those under-privileged ones who are evicted at the early stages with nothing. If they don't get any support, their talents go waste and those are the ones I want to work with" he said.

Mr. Banda and his production team decide on which contestant to work with by monitoring their performances of local songs on TV from their Accra Newtown office and settle on one or two even before the eviction process begins.

They also monitor the selected ones by watching their activities in the Mentor house to observe their general conduct and attitudes towards fellow housemates.

"We don't just select those with talent but those with good behaviours and with humble backgrounds as well. It is very difficult working with proud artistes who would later tell you what to do instead of admitting their flaws and adhering to instructions."

According to him, once their preferred houesmates are evicted from the show, he informs them of his desire to work with them and instantly gets to work if they agree with his proposal.

Banda said he has already tipped three housemates in Mentor 3, which is still running, and would eventually settle on one out of the lot provided that person does not make it to the grand final.

This idea of support came to Banda when CEOs of some record labels including Bandex were invited to the launching of Mentor 1 last year to introduce the talented.

Source: Graphic Showbiz