Nigerian singer and songwriter John Ighodaro, popularly known as Johnny Drille, has opened up about his early struggles in securing a record deal due to his unique sound.
Speaking on the CreativTea Podcast, the “Wait For Me” crooner revealed that two major Nigerian record labels showed interest in signing him but wanted him to modify his sound to make it more commercial and dance-oriented.
“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?’” he said.
Johnny Drille, however, chose to stay true to his authentic musical style, a decision that led to his eventual signing with Mavin Records. He said Don Jazzy, the label’s founder, took a huge gamble by signing an alternative artist at a time when the label was known for producing mainstream pop hits.
“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. But when I met Don Jazzy, there were no conversations about changing my sound. He was just really a fan of the music,” Drille recounted.
He added that Don Jazzy’s decision to sign him was based more on admiration for his craft than financial gain.
Johnny Drille first gained public attention after competing in Project Fame West Africa Season 6 in 2013. His breakout single, “Wait For Me,” released in 2015, earned him national acclaim for his emotive vocals and storytelling style.
He officially joined Mavin Records in 2017 and released his debut album, “Before We Fall Asleep,” in 2021, a project that cemented his place as one of Nigeria’s most distinctive voices in alternative music.
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