Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido has opened up about a challenging period in his career, revealing that his first project under Sony Music was a commercial disappointment.
In a recent interview, Davido spoke candidly about his experiences with the American record label. He described the Son of Mercy EP, released in 2016, as a creative misstep. He attributed the project’s shortcomings to a disconnect between his own creative vision and the label’s direction.
Davido said they were making music for me, not by me, expressing his dissatisfaction with the creative control Sony exerted. This lack of creative freedom reportedly led him to return to Nigeria after spending a year in Atlanta. Reuniting with his usual producers proved to be a turning point.
“We dropped the first EP under Sony, failure”
– Davido pic.twitter.com/542ttOn3Dj
— 🐬 @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) March 25, 2024
He then shared that he he had to come back to Nigeria and reconnect with the Producers that understood him. This collaboration resulted in the mega-hit If, a song that continues to be celebrated as a defining moment in his career.
Davido’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of artistic autonomy for musicians. His struggles with Sony highlight the potential challenges that can arise when an artist’s vision clashes with a label’s expectations. The immense success of If underlines the power of artistic control and staying true to one’s creative roots.
