 |
| Image: Google |
Nigerian singer and songwriter, John Ighodaro, popularly known as Johnny Drille, has opened up about his early challenges in the music industry and how he eventually secured a deal with Mavin Records despite his unconventional sound.
Speaking on a recent episode of the CreativTea podcast, the Wait For Me crooner reflected on the difficult journey he faced trying to land a recording contract at the start of his career. According to him, his alternative music style was considered too soft and non-commercial for the Nigerian market, leading several record labels to pressure him to change his sound.
Johnny Drille revealed that two major Nigerian labels had shown interest in signing him before he joined Mavin Records, but both wanted him to adjust his music to suit mainstream tastes. The singer, however, refused to compromise his sound or artistic identity.
He recalled, “There were two other major labels in Nigeria that wanted to sign me but the conversation was always around, ‘How do we change your sound? How do we make it faster? How do we make it danceable?’”
The singer noted that his resolve to stay authentic came with many challenges, as most executives at the time could not envision a profitable market for alternative music in Nigeria. But everything changed when he met Mavin Records CEO, Don Jazzy, who saw potential in his unique sound and decided to take a gamble on him.
He said, “People could never have imagined that a Mavin Records under Don Jazzy would sign an alternative artist like myself. It was weird for a lot of people. However, when I met Don Jazzy, there were no conversations like that. He was just really a fan of the music… that was a big risk to take, but he pulled it off.”
Johnny Drille expressed deep appreciation for Don Jazzy’s faith in him, emphasizing that the label boss signed him not because of commercial prospects but out of genuine admiration for his artistry. He described the signing as a defining moment in his career and credited Don Jazzy for helping him reach a wider audience without losing his creative identity.
“Don Jazzy believed in me at a time when few people understood what I was trying to do. He took a huge gamble by signing me, and I’ll always be grateful for that,” the singer added.
Johnny Drille first rose to prominence after participating in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013, where his vocal range and storytelling ability stood out. His breakout single, Wait For Me, released in 2015, established him as one of Nigeria’s leading voices in the alternative music scene.
He officially joined Mavin Records in 2017 and went on to release his critically acclaimed debut album, Before We Fall Asleep, in 2021 — a project that showcased his signature blend of soul, folk, and R&B influences, and solidified his place as one of the most original voices in modern Nigerian music.
Watch him speak below…
"Don Jazzy was just really a fan of the music...that was a big risk to take, but he pulled it off."
— @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) October 11, 2025
Johnny Drille reveals that two other major labels in Nigeria were interested in signing him before Mavin Records, but they wanted to change his sound. pic.twitter.com/Blyjdo096O
#DonJazzy
#JohnnyDrille
#Mavin
No comments:
Post a Comment