Johnny Drille

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Johnny Drille

| image = Johnny Drille.jpg

| image_upright =

| image_size = 260

| landscape =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_name = John Ighodaro

| alias = Johnny Drille

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|07|05}}

| birth_place = Edo, Nigeria

| origin =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| genre = {{hlist|Folk|alternative rock}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer|sound engineer}}

| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|Piano}}

| years_active = 2012–present

| spouse = Rima Tahini

| label = Mavin Records

| associated_acts = {{flatlist|

| website =

}}

John Ighodaro (born July 5, 1990), professionally known as Johnny Drille, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He first came into the spotlight when he released a cover of "Awww" by Di'Ja. He is currently signed to Mavin Records.{{cite news |last1=Adelagun |first1=Oluwakemi |title=Why Nigerian musicians fall out with their record labels – Johnny Drille |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/music/279634-why-nigerian-musicians-fall-out-with-their-record-labels-johnny-drille.html |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |work=Premium Times |date=August 10, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Odoh |first1=Chux |title=HEADIES 2018: 'It Only Gets Better From Here' – Johnny Drille Speaks on Headies Loss |url=http://thenet.ng/headies-2018-gets-better-johnny-drille-speaks-headies-loss/ |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=The Net |date=May 6, 2018}}{{Cite web |title=Johnny Drille songs ⭐ Download latest MP3 music — mdundo.com |url=https://mdundo.com/a/150984 |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=mdundo.com |language=en}}

Early life and education

Johnny Drille was born and raised in Edo State, Nigeria. His father is a school principal and clergyman. He has four siblings.{{Cite web |title=Johnny Drille turns 29 |url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/07/05/johnny-drille-turns-29/ |access-date=2024-12-21 |language=en-US}}

He started singing in his father's church at an early age. He attended the University of Benin, Benin City, where he studied English and Literature.{{cite news |last1=Ibori |first1=Diana |title=Johnny Drille's biography and career achievements |url=https://www.naija.ng/amp/1141618-johnny-drilles-biography-career-achievements.html |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |publisher=Naija.ng |date=January 15, 2018 |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821223152/https://www.naija.ng/amp/1141618-johnny-drilles-biography-career-achievements.html |url-status=dead }}[https://naijapickup.com/music/artistes/johnny-drille/ Johnny Drille Biography & Net Worth]

Career

Johnny Drille began his musical career in church. He was one of the contestants on the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa in 2013.{{cite news |last1=Amade |first1=Alex |title=16 contestants enters MTN project fame season 6 academy |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/08/16-contestants-enters-mtn-project-fame-season-6-academy/amp/ |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=Vanguard |date=August 3, 2013}}{{cite news |last1=Adetu |first1=Bayo |title=MTN Project Fame Season 6 Contestants Unveiled |url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/08/02/mtn-project-fame-season-6-contestants-unveiled/amp/ |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=PM News Nigeria |date=August 2, 2013}} In 2015, he released a cover of Di'Ja's "Awww", which caught the attention of Mavin's CEO Don Jazzy.

His debut single "Wait for Me" was released in 2015. It was nominated for Best Alternative Song at The Headies 2016. He teamed up with Niniola, a fellow season 6 contestant, to record "Start All Over" in 2016.{{cite news |last1=Solanke |first1=Abiola |title=New Music Niniola, Johnny Drille – 'Start all over' |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/new-music-niniola-johnny-drille-start-all-over-id5110385.html |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |publisher=Pulse Nigeria |date=June 3, 2016}}

In February 2017, he signed a record deal with Mavin Records.{{Cite web|url=https://mavinrecords.com/M/johnny-drille/|title = Johnny Drille}}{{cite news |last1=Young |title=Johnny Drille Explains How He Got A Record Deal with Mavin |url=https://www.informationng.com/2018/07/johnny-drille-explains-how-he-got-a-record-deal-with-mavin.html/amp |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=Information Nigeria |date=July 7, 2018}}

On September 3, 2021, he released his debut album, a fourteen track project,{{Cite web|date=2021-09-03|title=DOWNLOAD: Johnny Drille drops ‘Before We Fall Asleep’ album|url=http://lifestyle.thecable.ng/download-johnny-drille-before-we-fall-asleep-album/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=TheCable Lifestyle|language=en-US}} titled 'Before We Fall Asleep' featuring Nigerian artists Ayra Starr, Ladipoe, Lagos community choir, Don Jazzy, Chylde, Kwitte, Cilsoul and the classic afro R&B group, Styl-Plus under the label Mavin Records.

Personal life

Johnny is married to music executive Rima Tahini.{{Cite web |last=Akinyode |first=Peace |date=2023-07-04 |title=Social media abuzz as Johnny Drille's wedding pictures go viral |url=https://punchng.com/social-media-abuzz-as-johnny-drilles-wedding-pictures-go-viral/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Punch Newspapers |language=en-US}} In November 2023, they announced the birth of their daughter Amaris Esohe Ighodaro.{{Cite web |date=December 28, 2023 |title=Johnny Drille and Rima welcome baby girl |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2023/12/johnny-drille-and-rima-welcome-baby-girl/ |website=Bellanaija Ng}}

Discography

=Album=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of studio albums with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:11em;"\| Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"\| Album details !Ref.
scope="row"\| Before We Fall Asleep \| Released: September 3, 2021 Label: Mavin Records Formats: Digital download, streaming \|{{Cite web \|last=Alake \|first=Motolani \|date=2021-09-10 \|title=Johnny Drille’s ‘Before We Fall Asleep’ is worth its ‘wait’ in needed evolution [Pulse Album Review] \|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-johnny-drille-before-we-fall-asleep-album/qv4b5t1 \|access-date=2023-11-08 \|website=Pulse Nigeria \|language=en}}{{Cite web \|date=2021-09-03 \|title=Johnny Drille - ‘Before We Fall Asleep’ - Track By Track \|url=https://1883magazine.com/johnny-drille-before-we-fall-asleep-track-by-track/ \|access-date=2023-11-08 \|website=1883 Magazine \|language=en-GB}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of studio albums with selected details

! scope="col" style="width:11em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Album details

!Ref.

scope="row"| Before We Fall Asleep

Released: September 3, 2021
Label: Mavin Records
Formats: Digital download, streaming

|{{Cite web |last=Alake |first=Motolani |date=2021-09-10 |title=Johnny Drille’s ‘Before We Fall Asleep’ is worth its ‘wait’ in needed evolution [Pulse Album Review] |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/review-johnny-drille-before-we-fall-asleep-album/qv4b5t1 |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Pulse Nigeria |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-03 |title=Johnny Drille - ‘Before We Fall Asleep’ - Track By Track |url=https://1883magazine.com/johnny-drille-before-we-fall-asleep-track-by-track/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=1883 Magazine |language=en-GB}}

=EP=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ List of extended plays, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"\| Details ! scope="col" colspan="1"\| Peak chart positions
scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"\| NG {{cite web \|title=Nigeria Top 50 Albums \|url=https://turntablecharts.com/charts/2 \|website=www.turntablecharts.com \|publisher=TurnTable \|access-date=11 November 2022}}
scope="row"\| Home{{Cite web \|date=2022-10-28 \|title=New EP + Video: Johnny Drille – Home \|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2022/10/johnny-drille-home-ep/ \|access-date=2023-11-08 \|website=BellaNaija \|language=en-US}} \| Released: October 28, 2022 Label: Mavin Records Formats: Digital download, streaming \|12
scope="row"\| Hard Guy Confessions (with Don Jazzy){{cite web \|title=Johnny Drille & Don Jazzy Debut “Hard Guy Confessions” EP–You Might Rethink Love \|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2024/11/johnny-drille-don-jazzy-hard-guy-confessions-ep/ \|website=BellaNaija \|access-date=30 November 2024}} \| Released: November 13, 2024 Label: Mavin Records Formats: Digital download, streaming

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ List of extended plays, with selected details and chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Details

! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions

scope="col" style="width:2.8em;font-size:90%;"| NG
{{cite web |title=Nigeria Top 50 Albums |url=https://turntablecharts.com/charts/2 |website=www.turntablecharts.com |publisher=TurnTable |access-date=11 November 2022}}

scope="row"| Home{{Cite web |date=2022-10-28 |title=New EP + Video: Johnny Drille – Home |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2022/10/johnny-drille-home-ep/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=BellaNaija |language=en-US}}

Released: October 28, 2022
Label: Mavin Records
Formats: Digital download, streaming

|12

scope="row"| Hard Guy Confessions (with Don Jazzy){{cite web |title=Johnny Drille & Don Jazzy Debut “Hard Guy Confessions” EP–You Might Rethink Love |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2024/11/johnny-drille-don-jazzy-hard-guy-confessions-ep/ |website=BellaNaija |access-date=30 November 2024}}

Released: November 13, 2024
Label: Mavin Records
Formats: Digital download, streaming

=Singles=

2015 - "Wait for Me"
2015 - "Love Don't Lie"
2016 - "My Beautiful Love"
2016 - "Start All Over (Featuring Niniola)
2017 - "Romeo & Juliet"
2018 - "Halleluya" (featuring Simi)
2018 - "Awa Love"
2019 - "Forever"
2019 - "Shine"
2019 - "Finding Efe"
2019 - "Papa"
2019 - "Dear Future Wife"
2019 - "Count on You"
2020 - "Something Better"
2020 - "Mystery Girl"
2021 - "Ova"
2021 - "Bad Dancer"
2021 - "Loving Is Harder"
2021 - "Odo"
2021 - "Sister"
2021 - "In the light"
2021 - "Sell my soul"
2022 - "How Are You (My Friend)"{{Cite web |last=Itodo |first=Sunny Green |date=2023-07-10 |title=Death of Don Jazzy's mum inspired my hit song - Johnny Drille |url=https://dailypost.ng/2023/07/10/death-of-don-jazzys-mum-inspired-my-hit-song-johnny-drille/ |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=Daily Post Nigeria |language=en-US}}
2022 - "All I'm saying"
2022 - " Love and life"
2022 - "Journey of our lives
2023 - "Believe me"
2023 - "The Best Part"
2023 - "Stay"
2023 - "Spending"
2024 - "`For You"
2024 - "Palava"
2024 - "Count My Blessings"

Awards and nominations

class ="wikitable"
Year !Event !Prize !Recipient !Result !Ref
2016 \|rowspan="7"\|The Headies \|Best Alternative Song \|"Wait for Me" \|{{nom}} \|{{cite news \|last1=Adelana \|first1=Oladolapo \|title=Full list of nominees for the 2016 Headies Awards \|url=https://www.ynaija.com/full-list-of-nominees-for-the-2016-headies-awards/amp/ \|accessdate=August 21, 2018 \|agency=YNaija \|date=November 9, 2016}}
rowspan="4"\|2018 \|Best Vocal Performance (Male) \|rowspan="3"\|"Romeo & Juliet" \|{{nom}} \|rowspan="4"\|{{cite news \|last1=Odoh \|first1=Chux \|title=HEADIES 2018: 'It Only Gets Better From Here' – Johnny Drille Speaks on Headies Loss \|url=http://thenet.ng/headies-2018-gets-better-johnny-drille-speaks-headies-loss/ \|accessdate=August 21, 2018 \|agency=The Net \|date=May 6, 2018}}{{cite news \|title=Headies 2018: Full list of nominees \|url=https://punchng.com/headies-2018-full-list-of-nominees/ \|accessdate=August 21, 2018 \|agency=Punch \|date=April 13, 2018}}
Best R&B Single \|{{nom}}
Best Alternative Song \|{{nom}}
Next Rated \|Himself \|{{nom}}
rowspan="2"\|2019 \|Best Alternative Song \|rowspan="2"\|"Finding Efe" \|{{won}} \|rowspan="2"\|{{cite web \|author1=Gbenga Bada \|title=Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13th edition of music award \|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/headies-2019-here-are-all-the-winners-at-13th-edition-of-music-award/peegxqv \|publisher=Pulse Nigeria \|accessdate=20 October 2019 \|date=October 20, 2019}}
Best Vocal Performance (Male) \|{{nom}}

class ="wikitable"

Year

!Event

!Prize

!Recipient

!Result

!Ref

2016

|rowspan="7"|The Headies

|Best Alternative Song

|"Wait for Me"

|{{nom}}

|{{cite news |last1=Adelana |first1=Oladolapo |title=Full list of nominees for the 2016 Headies Awards |url=https://www.ynaija.com/full-list-of-nominees-for-the-2016-headies-awards/amp/ |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=YNaija |date=November 9, 2016}}

rowspan="4"|2018

|Best Vocal Performance (Male)

|rowspan="3"|"Romeo & Juliet"

|{{nom}}

|rowspan="4"|{{cite news |last1=Odoh |first1=Chux |title=HEADIES 2018: 'It Only Gets Better From Here' – Johnny Drille Speaks on Headies Loss |url=http://thenet.ng/headies-2018-gets-better-johnny-drille-speaks-headies-loss/ |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=The Net |date=May 6, 2018}}{{cite news |title=Headies 2018: Full list of nominees |url=https://punchng.com/headies-2018-full-list-of-nominees/ |accessdate=August 21, 2018 |agency=Punch |date=April 13, 2018}}

Best R&B Single

|{{nom}}

Best Alternative Song

|{{nom}}

Next Rated

|Himself

|{{nom}}

rowspan="2"|2019

|Best Alternative Song

|rowspan="2"|"Finding Efe"

|{{won}}

|rowspan="2"|{{cite web |author1=Gbenga Bada |title=Headies 2019: Here are all the winners at the 13th edition of music award |url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/music/headies-2019-here-are-all-the-winners-at-13th-edition-of-music-award/peegxqv |publisher=Pulse Nigeria |accessdate=20 October 2019 |date=October 20, 2019}}

Best Vocal Performance (Male)

|{{nom}}

References

Category:1990 births

Category:People from Edo State

Category:Living people

Category:Nigerian male singer-songwriters

Category:Nigerian singer-songwriters

Category:University of Benin (Nigeria) alumni

Category:Nigerian alté singers