Nigerian singer Niniola Apata has shared the reason she chose not to sign with any record label.

During a recent appearance on Hip TV, as seen in a YouTube video posted Monday, Niniola explained that she was approached with various record label offers after dropping her first single.

However, she declined them, citing a desire to maintain full control over her creative process.

The 38-year-old artist expressed concern that signing with a label could lead to pressure to alter her musical style, especially since Afrohouse wasn’t widely accepted when she started.

READ MORE: “EFCC’s Crackdown On Yahoo Boys Fueled By American Government Funding” — Seun Kuti Alleges

“I have been an independent artiste for 10 years now, and it has its pros and cons. After I released my debut single in 2014, several record labels were calling me, but at the time, I was skeptical because I didn’t want anyone to take away my creative freedom,” she said.

“At the time, nobody was into my genre, Afrohouse, and you know how labels can say they investing in me and I have to do what they want, and I don’t want that happening to me.

“So, I wasn’t convinced enough to sign to a label. So my former manager, who has become my business partner, decided to set up a label, and that’s what we have been running together.

“Even all through the years, some deals have been coming, but I have not been comfortable with them.”

She described her music as a fusion of African rhythms, house beats, and her own distinctive style.

“Afrohouse is a combination of African style and house music, so that makes it Nini, bringing my own flair into house music,” she said.

“It feels good to be known as the queen of Afrohouse, and I have been able to carry on the genre because when I started, some people had concerns about the longevity and the language, because I sing in Yoruba.

“At the end of the day, I have seen that you just need to be yourself, pray, be thankful, and everything will fall into place.”

In 2013, Niniola took part in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa. She dropped her debut single, ‘Ibadi,’ in March 2014 and has since built a successful career with numerous music projects.

Watch her speak below…

The post “I Wanted Creative Freedom” – Niniola On Refusing Record Label Offers appeared first on Information Nigeria.