Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has opened up about the emotional void she experienced after leaving Mavin Records in 2019. The Afrobeats star admitted during an appearance on the Afrobeats Intelligence podcast that she deeply misses the family-like support system she once enjoyed under music executive Don Jazzy.
Tiwa Savage Reflects on Mavin's Emotional Support
Tiwa Savage, who joined Mavin Records in 2012 before exiting to sign with Universal Music Group, disclosed that she never fully understood the emotional support the label provided until after she left. She explained that record labels play a much bigger role in an artist's emotional well-being than many people realize.
During her time at Mavin, Tiwa often found comfort in Don Jazzy and fellow label mates whenever social media controversies or personal struggles overwhelmed her. The environment at Mavin felt more like a family than a workplace, she said.
"Whenever there's a controversy online, I'd run to Don Jazzy's room, sit on the floor or bed with other Mavin acts and we would talk about it," she recalled. Tiwa added that she could freely cry and express her emotions around them without fear of judgment. "I would cry if I had to cry and we would get through it," she said.
Life After Mavin: A Different Experience
However, life changed significantly after Tiwa moved to an international label structure. She noted that foreign record labels are often more business-focused and may not necessarily care about the emotional struggles of artists. "But being with a foreign label, they don't really care about your personal stuff. So, I can't really go to the Empire office and cry. I miss that part," she stated.
Advice to Upcoming Artists
Tiwa also advised upcoming artists to carefully examine the type of label they sign with. She warned that some companies only see artists as money-making machines. The singer stressed that emotional support and mental well-being are just as important as financial success in the entertainment industry.
Motherhood Struggles
In a previous interview on the FlowWithKorty podcast, Tiwa revealed how becoming a mother almost ruined her career. She explained that childbirth affected her emotionally and professionally. She admitted struggling to bond with her son after learning she was expecting a boy instead of a girl. The singer added that her body changes after childbirth, and losing a major Pepsi campaign deepened her struggles. However, she now describes her son, Jamil, as her best friend.
