November 25, (THEWILL) – Nigerian singer and performer, Terry Alexandar Ejeh, popularly known as Terry Apala, has disclosed the reasons behind his decision to decline offers from Don Jazzy’s Mavin Records and Burna Boy’s record label, Spaceship.
Apala, in a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, the media personality, mentioned that his mother advised him to be the face of any label he signs with.
He expressed that despite having opportunities with record producer, Michael Collins Ajereh, widely known as Don Jazzy and Damini Ogulu, better known as Burna Boy, he opted for Nelson Jack, a record label where he could take on the role of the main artiste.
According to him, “I was the problem, my mum said something to me, she said ‘your kind of music is different from what your colleagues are doing. If you are gonna be in any record label, you are to be the face.
“So I met Don Jazzy in 2015, like a week after we met he sent me the contract, but I could not sign it because I already knew where I was coming from.
“That same 2015 I got a call from Burna Boy’s mum, like Burna Boy is there already. I cannot be the second face, I have to be the face.
“So that same 2015, I got signed to Nelson Jack because I was the face. I had issues with the record label from the call, they said I am not allowed to drop songs I think for like a year or two.
“I was not allowed to do anything, no interviews, no shows, like I was not allowed to do anything.”
Terry embarked on his journey into entertainment at the age of 12 and was initially part of a dance group called ‘Mezo Soprano’, which performed at the launch of the ‘Kanu Heart Foundation’ in 2000. In 2022, Terry collaborated with Amzy B’s TMSN Records artist Kaylex to release a joint single project titled ‘Manya’ and later left the group to pursue a solo career. He introduced himself to the mainstream with his debut mixtape, ‘Champagne Shower,’ which garnered attention.
On April 14, 2017, he released a cover of English singer, Edward Christopher Sheeran, popularly known as Ed Sheeran single ‘Shape of You’, which earned him the Best Music Cover of the Year (International) award at the City People Music Awards in 2017. In that same year, he received a nomination for Apala Artiste of the Year.
