Davido Reflects on Early Challenges, International Success in Recent Interview

Ikenna ChurchillMarch 26, 20241 Mins read1.1k

When we come to sign record deals overseas, they don’t know we are superstars back home. When I signed my first deal, I did a 60,000-capacity stadium in Mali. So when you sign a new contract, they ask, ‘What’s your name? What type of music do you make? Davido explained how he went from being a superstar in Africa to an emerging star in the US.

Nigerian music sensation Davido recently appeared on The Bride alongside Real Madrid midfielder Aurelian Thouameni, model Cindy Bruna, and François-Henry Bennahmias. During the interview, Davido opened up about his early days, signing to global record label Sony Music in 2016, and the hurdles he faced in proving himself to a new audience.

According to Davido, he signed with Sony Music shortly after selling out a stadium in Mali, yet he still felt the need to validate himself. Despite being paired with top-class producers to create a project, his 2016 EP ‘Son of Mercy’ fell short of his expectations. Despite featuring popular tracks like ‘Skelewu’, ‘How Long’ featuring Tinashe, and ‘Coolest Kid in Africa’ featuring South African rapper Nasty C, the EP failed to meet the standards he had set as a hitmaker, with only ‘Skelewu’ resonating locally.

When I first came they put me with some producers but it didn’t work out. We dropped an EP under Sony which was my first project but it felt like a failure to me. Some people might see it as success but that wasn’t it for me.

Disappointed but undeterred, Davido returned to Lagos and collaborated with his producers to create new music. One of the standout tracks from this period was ‘IF’, produced and co-written by Tekno, which would ultimately propel Davido to international success.

During the one-hour, 22-minute interview, Davido also discussed the rise of Nigerian music, acknowledging the sacrifices made by the first generation of stars and highlighting the efforts he and other current artists are making to pave the way for future generations.

Davido’s candid reflections illuminate the challenges and triumphs he has experienced throughout his career and offer insight into the evolution of Nigerian music on the global stage.

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW BELOW