During a recent appearance on the Swift Conversations podcast, the “Johnny” hitmaker described her teenage years in the industry as a time when she believed raw talent and determination were all she needed. With limited financial resources and nothing more than “a promise” she made to herself, Alade said she continually pushed to be seen and heard.
According to her, those early attempts at accessing opportunities were overshadowed by a troubling pattern—industry gatekeepers who expressed interest not in her music, but in exploiting her vulnerability. She recalled that the misconduct often occurred in places meant to be professional: business meetings, studio sessions, and even encounters following award recognitions.
Alade recounted moments where senior executives blatantly crossed boundaries, including attempts to touch her inappropriately during meetings. As a teenager, she said the shock often left her speechless, forcing her to question whether pursuing music was worth the emotional toll.
Despite the discouragement, she emphasized that her resolve eventually became her anchor. She continued to show up for every opportunity available, walking away only when the environment became unsafe or demeaning.
Her breakthrough, she noted, came when she shifted her mindset—realizing that success sometimes required more than waiting for open doors. “I needed to stop walking through the doors and start breaking down the walls,” she said, reflecting on the transformation that helped redefine her journey and solidify her place as one of Africa’s prominent female artistes.