Talented Nigerian singer and songwriter John Ighodaro, popularly known as Johnny Drille, has opened up about the early struggles he faced in his music career and how his refusal to compromise his sound nearly cost him a record deal.
Speaking on a recent episode of the CreativTea Podcast, the Wait For Me crooner revealed that two major record labels once expressed interest in signing him but insisted he would need to change his sound to fit the mainstream market.
According to Johnny Drille, the labels wanted him to make his songs faster and more dance-oriented; a suggestion he resisted because it went against his artistic authenticity.
“There were two other major labels in Nigeria that wanted to sign me,” he recalled. “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, known for his soulful alternative sound, said that meeting Don Jazzy, the CEO of Mavin Records, was the turning point in his journey. Unlike others, Don Jazzy didn’t try to reshape him instead, he appreciated Johnny’s uniqueness and believed in his artistry.
“When I met Don Jazzy, there were no conversations like that,” Johnny said. “He was just really a fan of the music. People could never have imagined that a label like Mavin Records would sign an alternative artist like me. It was weird for a lot of people. But Don Jazzy took a big risk and he pulled it off.”
Johnny Drille praised Don Jazzy for being one of the few music executives in Nigeria who genuinely support creativity in its raw form, adding that his boss signed him not just for profit, but because he truly believed in his music.
“Don Jazzy took a gamble on me,” he said. “He signed me because he loved the sound, not because it was the trend at the time.”
The singer, who gained national attention after participating in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013, released his breakout single Wait For Me in 2015. His emotional lyrics and soothing voice quickly earned him a loyal fan base and set him apart from the high-energy Afrobeats sound dominating the Nigerian music scene.
Johnny Drille joined Mavin Records in 2017 and went on to release his critically acclaimed debut album, Before We Fall Asleep, in 2021. The album showcased his signature blend of folk, soul, and alternative influences, earning praise for its lyrical depth and authenticity.
Today, Johnny Drille is celebrated as one of Nigeria’s most soulful storytellers, a proof that staying true to one’s art, even in an industry obsessed with trends, can still pay off.
