The 2025 Make Music Shutdown Concert will go down as one for the books for everything that happened backstage.
Last year, we competed in the Battle of the Bands and proudly walked away as second-place winners. This year, we turned up to show support, connect, and soak in the vibe of a festival that’s become a key marker in our journey.
From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warmth, hugs and handshakes. People remembered the energy, the message, the sound from our 2024 performance. Music truly leaves footprints.
Green Room Moments
We were honoured to be invited into the Green Room, reserved for the evening’s guest artists and headliners.
First, we met Johnny Drille who lit up when he saw us. “I remember seeing your performance last year and saying to myself, who the hell are these guys?!” He gave each of us a hug and shared how refreshing it was to see musicians sticking to their truth, creating meaningful, quality music instead of chasing trends or bending to industry pressure. Coming from Johnny, an artist whose work we deeply respect, that meant a lot to us.
Then came our encounter with Chike, who was effortlessly cool. When he asked if we were performing and learned we weren’t, he genuinely looked disappointed. He asked us to share our music with him — and we sent him our full discography.
Enter: MI Abaga.
Now this was the full-circle moment we didn’t see coming. MI is a legend. We grew up on his music, memorizing bars and feeling seen through his lyrics. One of our favorite lines from his track ‘Epic’ has always been, “Waiting on your heroes, and they’re now your peers.”
And that’s exactly what it felt like. He had already checked out our IG before we even walked in.He listened, asked questions, and vibed with the ethos behind our music.
Before we left, he told us, “I just got back from an international tour, and believe me when I say — your fans are out there waiting for you.”
The Performances That Reminded Us Why
The live performances were nothing short of masterful. Chike blew us away — live vocals that sounded just like the record, every note clean and controlled. Watching him was a masterclass in precision and presence.Johnny Drille brought all the emotion as always, serenading the crowd with favorites like ‘Hallelujah’ and ‘How Are You My Friend’. The connection he builds with a crowd is unmatched.
And MI? He brought the house down. Old school, new school, classics — the entire audience, from teens to elders, screamed every word like their lives depended on it.
As the night wound down, we were reminded of how far we’ve come and how much further we were ready to go.
To everyone who showed love that night — thank you. To those who have just discovered us, we’re just getting started.
With love,
The Recurrence
