Johnny Drille – Biography And Early Career Of A Talented Young Musician

John Ighodaro popularly known as Johnny Drille is a Nigerian singer-songwriter, producer, and sound engineer. He began in 2006 by self-learning music production techniques, and in 2012, he started making music professionally. Thereafter, he came to the limelight in 2015 after he did a cover for Di’ja’s hit Awww.

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Johnny is one of the few artists in the music industry with over 10 million streams globally across different streaming platforms like Youtube, Spotify, Boomplay, and Apple Music.  

Johnny Drille Early Life

John Ighodaro was born on July 5, 1990 in Edo State, into a Christian family of seven. He studied English and Literature at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State and graduated in 2012.

Johnny started singing in church with his siblings early enough. He joined the children choir and started playing keyboard in 2001. Also, he joined a group ‘Soul Awakening Signers’ and was singing with his sister and some other familiar people. Then, in 2006, he started teaching himself music production with his cassette recorders.

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Early Career

Firstly, in 2013, Drille contested on the MTN Project Fame West Africa, 6th edition, and made it to the last 10. Subsequently, in 2015, he released his cover version of Di’ja’s Awww. The Awww cover brought him to the limelight globally and made Don Jazzy, CEO, Mavin records notice him. Subsequently, he officially signed a deal with the record label in 2017.

After releasing the cover, he also went on to release Wait for me (2015), and later, Love Don’t Lie (2015). The latter received wide acceptance and charted top in Nigerian music charts. Since then, Drille have continued to whet his fans appetite with his timely release of good music.

Also, Johnny plays some musical instruments like drums, percussion, guitar, Keyboard, etc. Again, he has featured and been featured by a good number of artiste. He even recorded Start All Over with Niniola, a fellow contestant at the MTN Project Fame Season 6.

Songs

• Wait for Me, 2015
• Love Don’t Lie, 2015
• Start All Over, 2016
• My Beautiful Love, 2016
• Dear Future Wife, 2017
• Romeo & Juliet, 2017
• Halleluya ft Simi, 2018
• Awa Love, 2018
• Shine, 2019
• Papa, 2019
• Forever, 2019
• Finding Efe, 2019
• Count on You, 2019

As a featured Artist

Furthermore, Johnny has been featured by other prominent musicians, whom he has done great collaborative songs with. His shows have also been graced by thousands of fans from different parts of the country. Some of the artistes and songs he was featured in include;  

• Calling by Chinko Ekun
• Udue by Waje
• Grow Up by Blessing Tangban
• Cover of Hello by Adele
• Happy by Morayo
• The One by Clay

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Awards And Nominations

Johnny Drille songs have been nominated for several awards. In 2018, he was nominated for 3 Headies award but didn’t win any. However, he believes that better days lies ahead. Recently, he won

• Best Alternative Song ‘Finding Efe’, The Headies, 2019.

The previous nominations include;

• Best Alternative Song, ‘Wait for Me’, The Headies 2016
• Best Vocal Performance (Male) Romeo & Juliet, The Headies, 2018
• Best R & B Single Romeo & Juliet, The Headies, 2018
• Best Alternative Song Romeo & Juliet, The Headies, 2018
• Next Rated, The Headies, 2018

Johnny Drille Quotes

“You can’t blend in when you’re born to stand out.”

“People can make you happy by doing something special for you, but only someone special can make you happy just by being in your life.”

“You’re capable of so much more. Surprise yourself!”

“Never stop dreaming but more importantly, NEVER STOP GRINDING.”

“If you lose your way, you can pray. Don’t be afraid, don’t lose faith.”

“We often don’t realize it but God’s grace is constantly at work in our lives.”

“If you still struggling with your rough patches and scanty beard just remember that the sun will shine for you soon, JUST BELIEVE.”

“Don’t let nobody tell you how to live your own life, walk your walk, run your race.”

“Life is beautiful however you choose, be grateful for life.”

“I know that every introvert evolves better in solitude but I’ve also learned not to make it an excuse to not LIVE. Life isn’t as long as we think, we make every moment count, that is living.”

“Shine your light it will show you the road that’ll lead you home. It’ll be hard sometimes, you’ll fall sometime, the devil will try BUT you’ll be in safe hands.”

Entrepreneurial Lessons From The Life Of Johnny Drille

Create Unique Content

Drille has garnered fans globally because of the deep meaning his songs convey. According to him, in a bit to be unique and different from other existing musicians, he experimented with folk music and it worked for him. Raging from Papa to Forever to the latest Count on you, Johnny has exhibited a high level of musical creativity and has distinguished himself from every other singers.

Therefore, every entrepreneur should understand that being the best is great, but being unique is greater. So, always carve a niche for yourself.

Start

According to Lao Tzu “the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Well, what can we say? Thanks to Drille’s stars that he took the bull by the horn early enough. He has been in the game since 2006. Then in 2013, even though he didn’t win at the MTN project fame, it did not deter him. He took the learning from that experience and harnessed his career.

It is never to early or late to start. The best time to start pursuing your dream is now so, you don’t live your later years in regret.

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Photo Credit/Source: Instagram