Darey Art Alade has worn many hats: award-winning artist, Project Fame runner-up turned host, judge on The Voice and Nigerian Idol, and co-founder of Livespot, one of Nigeria’s premier live music production companies. At his peak, Darey was among the architects of Afro-R&B, laying the groundwork for the sound many artists build on today.
Music runs in his blood. His father, Modupe Afolabi Jemi-Alade, better known as Art Alade, was a pioneering jazz musician, TV personality, and former Director of Programmes at NTA. He hosted the iconic Bar Beach Show and later founded Art’s Place, a live music venue in Lagos.
Following in these footsteps, Darey rose to fame on Project Fame Academy in 2004, finishing third before signing with Storm Records and releasing his debut From Me 2 U. With hits like “Fuji,” “Escalade,” and “Original Naija” (the theme for the first Big Brother Naija), the album established him as a force. His follow-up, unDAREYted (2009), released independently on his own imprint Soul Muzik, delivered “Not the Girl,” one of his biggest songs.
Over the years, he released more albums, staged three editions of Love Like A Movie (a spectacle featuring Kim Kardashian, Ciara, and Kelly Rowland), and transitioned into creative entrepreneurship. Today, as Creative Director of Livespot360, the agency he co-founded with his wife, Deola Art Alade, Darey exemplifies how Nigerian musicians can build businesses that strengthen the wider industry. His legacy is one of fusion, reinvention, and expanding the business of music beyond the stage.