Singer Niyola, a female Nigerian recording artist, singer, songwriter and performer who came into spotlight after getting signed to Banky W’s EME records in 2012 has now spilled why she left the label.
Speaking in a recent chat with Chude Jideonwo, Niyola who recently starred in Kunle Afolayan’s Swallow movie, revealed the record label believed in a lady being sexy but she wasn’t in for all of that because it wasn’t who she is.
“When a female artiste wants to do music, the first thing any man will think of as a business man is be sexy…I know I’m sexy but I am also smart, i love God but it is also important to find a person or people who understands that….I think that to be fair on the label, a lot of times, they just didn’t see it, they are business men and did things as far their knowledge carried them…I should have been marketed as who I was and not just as a girl that is pretty and that can sing” Niyola said
“Leaving EME wasn’t a happy event….it was not happy in the sense that when you invest time, your blood and all into something, you want to see it yield results …but it didn’t happen as expected…….it was sad for me cos i feel I should have done enough more while there…we are still friends now though, i am friends with everyone” Niyola stated.
Kemi Filani recalls that Niyola got signed to Empire Mates Entertainment in 2012 and was featured on several tracks on the EME Empire Mates State of Mind album alongside leading Nigerian acts, Wizkid, Banky W and Skales; including
her debut single as the EME 1st lady, titled ‘Don’t Go There. She, released 2 singles, ‘Crazy’ and ‘Toh Bad’ in 2013 which were great hits.