Nigerian alternative music star, John Ighodaro, widely known as Johnny Drille, has opened up about the early struggles he faced before securing a record deal.
He reveals that many labels wanted him to alter his distinctive sound.
The “Wait For Me” hitmaker shared that two major Nigerian record labels showed interest in signing him but pressured him to change his style to suit mainstream trends.
However, he refused to compromise his authenticity and chose to stay true to his unique musical identity.
Johnny Drille credited Mavin Records boss, Don Jazzy, for taking what he described as a “huge risk” by signing him without attempting to reshape his artistry.
Speaking during an episode of the CreativTea Podcast, the singer said:
“People could never have imagined that Mavin Records under Don Jazzy would sign an alternative artist like myself. It was weird for a lot of people.
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 or danceable?’
But when I met Don Jazzy, there were no such talks. He was just genuinely a fan of my music — that was a big risk to take, but he pulled it off.”
Johnny Drille first gained recognition after appearing in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013.
He released his debut single “Wait For Me” in 2015 and joined Mavin Records in 2017.
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Also, his debut album, “Before We Fall Asleep,” was released in 2021.
