For DonboyDML, making music has never been a cheap dream.

Before listeners hear the finished record, before the streams, before the recognition, there is a reality that many independent artists know too well: finding the money to keep creating.

For the Port Harcourt-based emerging artist, that reality became so difficult that he sold some of the things he owned to finance his music.

“I have sold my bed frame before, and at one point, I even had to sell my TV and laptop for my music,” he said.

It took him about four months to raise enough money.

CLICK HERE TO STREAM DONBOY DML’S MUSIC ON JOSPLAY

His story is a reminder that behind every independent release is often a personal investment that audiences never see.

DonboyDML said his first single cost about ₦60,000 to record, mix and master. Studio costs in Port Harcourt, he explained, can be quite high, while promotion adds another layer of expense. A single promotional campaign can cost more than ₦100,000, with no guarantee that the resulting streams are genuine.

So he learned to cut costs wherever possible, including designing his own artwork.

But the financial pressure extends beyond music.

“Every day of my life is a challenge because I am always trying to figure out how to push my music and at the same time trying to feed myself and my siblings,” he said.

Still, he kept going.

That persistence eventually put him in a position to compete for Josplay’s Rise Fund Vol. 2, where more than 300 artists applied for funding.

DonboyDML emerged as the third-place finisher. This achievement earned him a $200 prize and placed him among the top three artists in a highly competitive field.

For an artist accustomed to sacrificing personal belongings just to fund a recording session, the money was more than a prize.

“Winning the Rise Fund really helped me out. Although it was unexpected, it definitely helped cover the production costs. I can’t lie about that; the Rise Fund prize money lifted a massive weight off my shoulders,” he said.

The amount may look modest from the outside. But for an independent artist carrying the cost of production, promotion and everyday life, even targeted support can create room to breathe.