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Spyro shares his bitter experience as an artist on businessman Paul O’s label
Nigerian singer Spyro has reflected on his time as an artist under the record label of prominent businessman and socialite Paul Okoye, popularly known as Paul O.
In an interview with ‘Echo Room,‘ the artist candidly shared the struggles he faced while signed to the label, which he initially believed would fast-track his music career.
“I signed the deal because I saw the affiliation he had with the likes of Wizkid. He was giving everyone endorsements,” Spyro revealed. However, the reality turned out to be far from what he anticipated.
During his two years on the label, Spyro admitted he experienced minimal career progress. “I was there for about two years and nothing happened. I was always in tears crying,” he said, recounting his frustrations.
Spyro shared that he faced significant hurdles in promoting his single ‘Funke,’ which caught the attention of Afrobeats superstar Davido. Davido recorded a remix of the song alongside Mayorkun.
Despite this breakthrough, Spyro faced funding challenges. “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 stated.
In a bid to push ‘Funke‘ forward, Spyro and his business partner took out two loans to finance the song’s promotion. One of these loans came from a bank, and after defaulting on repayment, its staff reportedly started visiting him at home.
Despite securing a hit with ‘Funke,’ Spyro struggled to capitalize on its success. “I was new in the industry and couldn’t deliver a strong follow-up,” he admitted, reflecting on his early career challenges.
Speaking about Paul O and his label, One Africa Music Fest, Spyro described the businessman as someone who excelled in the entertainment world but lacked expertise in the music industry. “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 explained.
The singer also revealed that he missed out on a potentially career-defining collaboration with Davido, adding to his setbacks during that period.
Spyro’s candid account sheds light on the difficulties artists often face in the music industry, even when associated with influential figures. Despite these challenges, he has since continued to forge his path, building a career rooted in resilience and determination.