The Nigerian music industry continues to serve as a thriving launchpad for daring, talented creatives. Among this year’s promising rising acts is Evado, a dynamic artiste who specialises in rap, Afro-fusion, and street-hop.

Born Emmanuel Njoku Chidubem with roots in Ebonyi and Enugu State, Evado represents a new wave of emerging Nigerian artistes. He started by growing a catalogue of singles, freestyles, and collaborations. His collaborations with notable artistes, including Phyno, Jeriq, DanDizzy, and others, further indicate his growing influence.

Evado's debut album project, ‘Promise Land’, marked a significant milestone in his music career. It debuted and peaked at No. 5 on the Official Top 100 Albums charts, remaining there for two weeks and accumulating over 7.1 million on-demand streams. He achieved another milestone with “By Now”, a single which debuted at No. 54, climbed to a new peak of No. 45, and recorded 1.6 million streams during its two-week chart run. This is Evado’s first appearance on both the Official Singles and Albums charts.

This has earned Udeh Divine Ifunanya (Angel), who is Evado’s artiste manager, the executive of the week title.

In this exclusive interview with TurnTable, Udeh Divine Ifunanya (Angel) shares insights into their working relationship, Evado’s persistence and creative collaborations, as well as practical advice for navigating the evolving music industry.

TTC: Kindly introduce yourself to us. How did you venture into artiste management?

ANGEL: I have always been in the picture. You can say that I was here when it all started.  I have this very deep passion for Trap music. As early as 2021,  I would always make several videos of myself  vibing to the trap music of uprising artistes in the scene at the time. I was at every function, show or trap event. I think that gave me a spotlight and I got to attract the attention of  the growing but small industry. This was my first headstart into artiste management.

TTC: Could you explain how you assumed your role as Evado’s manager? How has the experience been?

ANGEL: To be honest, 2023 was when it all started for me with Evado.When his single “Ekpere” started blowing up. Before then, I have always shared a thing or two with Evado about his musical trajectory. But officially a month before “Ekpere”, he told me to be his manager. It is not easy being a female manager from where I come from.  You have to battle with so many pressures and difficulties you never knew existed. But I have always believed in the process and I am glad things are turning out pretty amazing.

TTC: You're Executive of the Week because the “By Now” single by Evado debuted at No. 54 on the Official Nigeria Top 100 Chart and has now reached the Top 40. This is remarkable, and “By Now” will be Evado’s first entry on the official singles chart in Nigeria. Can you walk us through the production process?

ANGEL: I have to give a big shout-out to Enaps Empire — Evado’s longtime collaborator and producer. He understands him perfectly. You know the Chinese philosophy of “Yin and Yang” meaning balance and equality. This best describes the two of them.

The production process was quite special. Enaps called Evado one fateful afternoon and told him about the beat. It took Evado about 20 minutes to make “By Now.” During the album preparation, we all agreed that “By Now” should make the album.

TTC: “By Now” is a single from Evado’s Debut album, ‘Promise Land’, which debuted and peaked at No. 5 on the Official Top 100 Albums chart. Was the success of the song, and consequently the album, expected?

ANGEL: You never really know with music. You never know what the reaction would be like. The fans decide at the end of the day. However, I was certain about “By Now”. I remember telling Legal, Evado’s lawyer at  Effect Distro studio, that “By Now” is the one. There was just something about the song. It has this soul touching feel that resonates with you deeply. Infact, I think I believed more than everyone that “By Now ” is THE hit. The album blew my expectations. It went crazy on all music platforms. 

TTC: The “ILU AGHA” track featuring Phyno was also one of the most popular records off the album. Would you shed some light on how that record came to be?

ANGEL: The collaboration with Phyno is a dream come true. You could imagine how it feels to collaborate with an idol you have idolized your entire life. It happened in a flash. Shoutout to Phyno, the Godfather for believing in Evado and giving him a verse. 

TTC: Behind the scenes, what were some of the key decisions your team made that helped position “By Now” to reach this level?

ANGEL: Big shout out to our distribution company, Effect Distro. Their painstaking belief in the process and working together with us to achieve this great feat has to be noted.

We actually had no focus track initially from the album. We gave the fans three days to decide their favorite. When we discovered the track with the most motion was “By Now”, we tapped in almost immediately. Our first strategy was TikTok and the vibe around the song was self explanatory. It was plain soul and pain music. We tapped into that and currently “By Now” has nearly 150,000 videos on TikTok. 

TTC: As this marks the first major chart milestone, what does this moment mean for Evado’s career path?

ANGEL: As this marks the first major chart milestone, it represents a defining moment in Evado’s career. It validates years of hard work, consistency, and belief in his sound. More importantly, it signals that his music is resonating with a wider audience beyond his core fan base.

TTC: How do you plan to build on the momentum of “By Now” so this moment becomes more than just a stepping stone for the next phase of Evado’s career?

ANGEL: Definitely, we are working on something. I believe everyone will soon see what we have been working on. But it is great!

TTC: Working alongside an act can be quite demanding; how do you manage to achieve tangible results and also overcome certain blockages and frustrations?

ANGEL: First thing first, you have to be a big fan of the artiste. You have to be a supporter, an avid one. A believer. My belief in his talent and the possibilities of what is ahead keeps me locked in no matter the situation or setback.

TTC: Are there any collaborations, stage performances, or future releases expected from Evado in the near future? 

ANGEL: We have a whole lot. A lot is coming. We are working hard behind the scenes. We are doing a European tour soon. Then, our city is up. 042!