By BigEyeUG Team
On Monday evening, social media was littered with stories of how singer Irene Ntale had finally quit the Muyenga based Swangz Avenue. To many, this was a shocker. To the least legion—analysts and media guys—this was an expected move.
Actually, stories of her departure started making rounds as early as August last Year, but she did not make the move then.
“Why now? Why not last year, why not a little bit longer in the camp?” These and many are the questions lingering on most people’s minds, but there seems to be little or no answers to them.
Today, BigEye.ug goes deep, further inches inside Swangz Avenue to decode and unearth all the untold truth about the matter.
Her road to fame
Irene was signed to the label in March 2013. She was reportedly scouted and picked by one of the managers at the label. Her career was a sparkle from the word go. Her lovely ballads, riding on her deep-husky voice were inescapable. Even if you didn’t know Ntale in person, it was inevitable to fall in love with her songs. Slowly, she got everyone’s attention. She made hits, most of which you all know.
Genesis of her troubles at Swangz
For the first two years at Swangz, Irene was a queen. She was this Rose flower everyone wanted to be close to. What happened then? Everyone would wonder.
Well, Winnie Nwagi was the first problem to happen.
Winnie, for starters was signed to Swangz Avenue in 2014, after her successful run in the coca Cola rated next competition. Her entry into the label was less of a hustle than that of Irene.
Problem 1: Winnie Nwagi’s career blossoms
Winnie was like a child musically to Irene Ntale until around October 2014 when she released ‘Embeera’, her fist single. The success of the song both on radio and happening places was a wake up call to the managers at Swangz Avenue. They realized, all along there was a talent just waiting to be unleashed to the public. From that day their attention and investment as regards production and promotion drifted towards Winnie.
This, was not really a shocker to Irene. She hoped Winnie would fail to sustain her stay on the charts.
However much they pretend about it, Winnie’s success ate into Irene’s career a lot. The managers looked at Irene like that grown kid, who needed less porridge than her siblings.
Problem 2: Ntale starts sleeping in bars
In retaliation, Irene Ntale decided to play the game her way. She developed this attitude that nothing else really mattered apart from her and the career.
She started absconding from work. Her visits to the studios became as rare as a horny nun.
Swangz on the other hand was so busy promoting Winnie’s career to realize the changes in Ntale’s career.
The worst came in her last days at the label when she developed a habit of sleeping in bars. She could hardly record anything at the studio as expected, but drink herself silly in bars. After getting high, she would become wild, and really untamable.
Swangz got more disappointed but of course kept covering her tracks and clearing bills for her.
Problem 3: Concert Money
Last year, Irene held a successful concert at the Sheraton gardens, dubbed ‘Date night with Irene’. It was a simple, classy and much attended show.
Shortly after the show, impressed by the turn up, she changed her social media information to ‘Former Artist at Swangz Avenue’. The issue arose when the singer received less than she expected after the concert.
Little knowing that the machinery and venue had to be cleared too, she expected to get the biggest percentage of the collection. However, Swangz remained in control of all the money until everything was cleared.
This, did not rub Ntale on the right side. She immediately sought advice from her close pals, including her sister Sandra, who advised her to first calm down and concentrate at Swangz. As advised, she decided to stay a little longer with hopes of their relationship getting better.
Problem 4: Former manager becomes singer
In her three year-stay at Swangz, Irene was directly managed by the petite Veronika aka Vero.
Issues came when Vero, inspired by the artists she has been managing, also decided to become an artist. Irene was cool with this, little knowing that Swangz Avenue was actually interested in pushing Vero aka Vinka, first.
On the work plan for 2017, pushing Vinka’s music was the first priority with a plot to make her a big artiste in the industry.
Irene Ntale could not hold this anymore. She immediately texted Julius Kyazze, the CEO with intentions to resign from the label.
To her shock, however, Julius said it was okay. She couldn’t believe it. She expected Julius to come up with all sorts of promises to keep her in the label.
All through the weekend, Irene was stressed, wondering what her next step would be. Good enough she had already planned for herself.
On Monday, according to impeccable sources inside Swangz, Irene again texted Julius Kyazze, asking if it was okay to post on social media about her departure from the label. Still, Julius said it was okay after discussions with other managers including Benon.
Sobbing and quite disappointed, Irene made the viral post, announcing her departure.
What next for Irene?
According to our moles close to the singer, Irene is opting for a solo career. That’s exactly the reason why she appointed her own sister Sandra as the manager.
Actually, from last year, Irene has been constructing her own studio somewhere in an undisclosed location. Sometimes, even during her days at Swangz, she would meet people and clients at this studio.
In a nutshell, she’s looking at her a self-driven solo career with no label behind her.