Nigerian singer Kosisochukwa Gospel Peters, professionally known as Salle, recently sat with Chude Jideonwo, host of the viral show #WithChude, where she discussed the truth behind the viral video that launched her career, her upbringing, and her journey to Lagos.

Salle addressed the misconceptions surrounding the viral video that brought her widespread attention. I wasnt hawking, she clarifies. Though you know, its hard to explain right now. Because literally, thats what it looks like. When the person who made that video made that video, he took my permission, yes. He wanted to make that video in my mums shop; my mum sells food in the east. My mum said no. She doesnt want a camera, and she doesnt want herself out there on social media. She doesnt want her property on social media, and we should go somewhere else. So the guy who made the video was like, ˜I need something that would make people know that this is your background, something that will represent who you are. I dont just want people to just watch a random video. So you pick something from your mums shop to represent who you are. The tray I was holding, when people from the street behind my mums shop order food and they dont have the strength to come, you know, to probably eat or pick it up, I go to serve them the food with the tray. The guy was like, ˜Why not pick this tray? At least is a good symbol of everything. That was how it happened. I wasnt hawking; I serve food for my mum.

Salle further expressed her pride in her mothers business. It wasnt uncomfortable for me because I was very proud of my mothers business. It wasnt too big, and it wasnt too small either, and I know the kind of people who walk into that shop to eat. So it wasnt something to be, though yes, somehow Im like, Im a big girl, you know, but I was still washing plates, I was still selling pure water, and I was still serving people across the street. Its something that if I dont do it, who will? I just had to.

Salle shared the story of how her talent was discovered. He was a music-minded person. He has good ears for music. He heard me singing while I was washing plates in my mums shop. He was a customer in the shop. He was like, ˜I want the world to hear what Im hearing right now. I like what Im hearing. I knew I could sing, but I did not know there was something like videos going viral. If you could sing, then put yourself on social media. It was because I wasnt inclined then. I was just going about finishing school, then going on with my trade and finishing my trade. That was it.

Reflecting on the support she received after going viral, Salle recounted: I was in my shop, on my machine making a cloth, when my mom called me, that people have been calling her. They said I was trending on social media. I didnt have a phone then; he posted the video on his own device. I had to ask my colleague that my mom just said something to me and I needed to check it. So at first, I think I was on 35,000 followers already. I was surprised.

The guy posted it on his own handle, and from there, King Tunde Ednut, shout out to him by the way, reposted the video, and that was when the guy said, ˜You know, you need to open an Instagram account so that they can tag you. That was when I made the Instagram account; no, I had an old Instagram account; I just had to go find it, she added.

Discussing her move to Lagos, Salle says, I came to Lagos on the invitation of Don Jazzy. I wasnt really prepared. I was just with a few of my stuff. After meeting Don Jazzy, he said so many motivational things to me. He gave me a strong word. I told myself, ˜Why do I need to go back to the East? I can just start off here. That was why I stayed back. I was staying in one room by myself. I was very close to going back to my family house, but I was already interested and involved. I wanted to make music for real, meet my colleagues, and work with different people. I knew Lagos was a very big center for that, and going back, I didnt want to go and start sewing clothes again and neglect music.

Salle discussed her decision to sign with Black Butter Records. [The guest] When I put out Icon, thats my single, I got a lot of reach out and deals from different record labels and management companies. Black Butter stood out. Thats Black Butter Records. Everything was very flexible and much in my favor, and that was the best I could work with. And they believed in the kind of music I make. Black Butter is under Sony. They saw the song on TikTok because it was really big on TikTok. Right now, I take TikTok seriously because it's my number one.