Johnny Drille Reveals Record Labels Wanted Him to Change His Sound

Nigerian singer and songwriter Johnny Drille has opened up about the early challenges he faced in his music career, revealing that two major record labels pressured him to alter his signature sound before he eventually signed with Mavin Records.

Speaking on a recent episode of the CreativTea podcast, the Wait For Me crooner said the labels wanted him to make his music “faster and more danceable” to fit mainstream expectations, but he chose to stay true to his unique alternative style.

“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 or more commercial?’”

Johnny Drille said it was Don Jazzy, Mavin Records’ founder and CEO, who took a bold risk by signing him without demanding any artistic compromise.

“When I met Don Jazzy, there were no conversations like that,” he said. “He was just really a fan of the music. That was a big risk to take, but he pulled it off.”

The singer, who rose to fame after participating in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013, gained widespread recognition with his 2015 hit single Wait For Me.

Johnny Drille joined Mavin Records in 2017 and went on to release his debut studio album, Before We Fall Asleep, which earned critical acclaim for its soulful storytelling and distinct sound.

Reflecting on his journey, the artist praised Don Jazzy for believing in him at a time when signing an alternative musician was unconventional for a label known for mainstream Afropop hits.

“People could never have imagined that Mavin Records, under Don Jazzy, would sign an artist like me,” Johnny Drille said. “It was weird for a lot of people, but it worked.”