Nigerian singer Spyro has shared his challenging experience as an artist under the label owned by prominent businessman and socialite Paul Okoye, popularly known as Paul O. In an interview with Echo Room, Spyro recounted how his expectations of success turned into disappointment during his time with the label.
The Promise vs. Reality
Spyro revealed that he signed with Paul O’s label because of the businessman’s industry connections and influence.
“I signed the deal because I saw the affiliation he had with the likes of Wizkid. He was giving everyone endorsements,” Spyro said.
However, his expectations of a fast track to fame were quickly dashed.
“I was there for about two years, and nothing happened. I was always in tears crying,” he shared.
Funding ‘Funke’ Without Label Support
Spyro spoke about his breakout single, “Funke,” which attracted the attention of superstar Davido, who recorded a remix with Mayorkun. Despite this, the label failed to provide financial backing for the song’s promotion.
“When we dropped Funke, David picked interest in the song… I went to the label to fund it, but they were not forthcoming even though the money was there,” Spyro disclosed.
Left without support, Spyro and his business partner resorted to taking out loans, including one from a bank. The financial strain became so severe that bank staff started visiting his home after he defaulted on repayments.
Struggles with Follow-Up Success
Although Funke gained traction, Spyro faced challenges in building on the success. Being new to the industry, he struggled to deliver a strong follow-up, which hindered his momentum.
Paul O’s Approach to Music
Spyro shared his views on Paul O’s management style, suggesting that the businessman’s strengths were more aligned with showbiz than the intricacies of the music business.
“He’s a nice and kind guy, but he understands showbiz more than he does the music business… I wouldn’t say he knew much about the music business at the time,” Spyro stated.
Reflections on His Journey
Despite the setbacks, Spyro has since found success, though he missed a career-defining collaboration with Davido during that challenging period.
The full interview with Spyro, where he details his journey to fame and his experience under Paul O’s label, is available on Echo Room.
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