Akiyana opens up about her tough journey in the music industry

Ghanaian singer Akiyana has opened up about her journey in the music industry, revealing why she prefers being an independent artiste after parting ways with her former record label.

Speaking in an interview with Anita Akuffo on TV3 on June 22, 2026, the musician described herself as someone who enjoys attention and is not afraid to stand out.

“I think I’m a daring person. I like attention so much and I like to walk in a room and everybody just looks at me and say yes, that’s her,” she said.

Reflecting on her career, Akiyana admitted that her journey has not been easy, especially after her exit from a record label she was previously signed to.

“My journey has been tough. I was with a record label, but things happened, so I’m no longer under any label,” she stated.

Although she declined to reveal the exact reasons behind her departure, Akiyana explained that confidentiality agreements often prevent artistes from publicly discussing such matters.

“We don’t like to talk about the reason for leaving a label because we sign an NDA. You don’t want people to know what exactly went on with you behind closed doors, so it’s better we keep the reasons to ourselves,” she shared.

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The singer further noted that while record labels can be beneficial, they often have significant control over an artiste's career, including decisions regarding music releases and promotions.

“With the record label, they decide when you release, they decide when they want to promote you and when there’s a hiccup somewhere, they just put you aside and people might think you’re lazy,” she explained.

According to Akiyana, being signed to a label can sometimes leave fans with the wrong impression when an artiste becomes inactive due to circumstances beyond their control.

“If they don’t hear from you or see you release songs, they would be wondering and probably be thinking you’re not doing anything. You’re the only one who would know what you’re dealing with,” she noted.

Despite the challenges that come with working independently, Akiyana believes the freedom it offers outweighs the limitations of being under a label.

“I would choose being an independent artiste all day. Being an independent artiste, you have the free will to do whatever you want to do. You can wake up and decide to release a song and no one will question you,” she added.

FG/EB

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