Singer, songwriter and music producer Alex Okoroigwe, popularly known as Alex O, has revealed that he got four job offers after performing at a club in Singapore the first day he arrived in the Asian country from Nigeria.
In a recent interview with QEDNG publisher Olumide Iyanda, Alex O discussed his experience his experience on the Nigerian music scene before relocating in 1998.
He recounted his journey which began with a series of hit songs in the late 80s including ‘She’s So Pretty.’ ‘Celebrate,’ ‘Banana,’ and ‘In the Name of Love.’ Despite his success, Alex O sought ways to improve his fortunes and craft outside Nigeria.
“My career peaked after those hit songs, and I started thinking about my next steps. All I wanted was to become famous through music,” he said. “I decided to make another album and see what happens.”
At that time, Alex O was already considering travelling to further his education and upgrade his skills. He completed an eight-track album and presented it to Premier Music, but the company declined due to insufficient resources. With the music industry struggling with issues like piracy, Alex O decided it was time to explore new opportunities abroad.
“So, when they couldn’t take the album, I thought maybe it’s time to travel and see what I can do,” he explained.
Although he left Nigeria, Alex O remained active in music, performing and producing, but he didn’t release new songs. “The only thing I wasn’t doing was producing new songs,” he added.
Alex O said he first travelled to Singapore with a friend and they visited a nightclub. “I didn’t even take off my jacket. We just went to the club,” he recalled.
Upon arrival at the club, he said a man approached him and asked him to sing. “They asked, ‘What kind of song can you sing with us?’ I replied, ‘Do you know ‘Don’t Look Any Further’ by Dennis Edwards?’ and they said ‘Yes.'”
Alex O recounted how he took the microphone and delivered an electrifying performance. “I took the mic and exploded in that club—a very big club. That same night, I received four job offers to work as a singer,” he said.
In addition to his music career, Alex O revealed that he studied film animation production and has been involved in movie production, both in Nollywood and internationally.
