Afrobeats star Simi has shared the personal and health challenges she faced while working on her latest single, Where You Dey, a collaboration with singer Chike.
The vocalist revealed that the song was originally meant for release last year but had to be delayed after health issues left her physically drained and unable to complete the project as planned.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Simi explained that although she was excited about the track, the period was overwhelming both physically and emotionally.
“I really, really, really wanted to drop this song last year. When I first put out the snippet, I was so excited — but it was hard to finish it on time because everything was a blur,” she wrote.
She disclosed that she was dealing with illness, exhaustion, and nausea while trying to push through the creative process, including during the recording of the song’s snippet video.
“I was sick and weak and nauseous and tired and my body just wouldn’t do what I wanted it to. Even in the snippet video, I wasn’t feeling great. I was just trying my best,” she added.
Simi also commended Chike’s professionalism, saying his dedication to the collaboration exceeded her expectations.
“I adore Chike’s voice and I knew it was him that had to be on the song with me. When I asked him to give me a verse, he was so ready to go. As soon as he came back into town, he came over to my studio the next day. I’ve got a lot of respect for him,” she said.
According to the singer, Chike was unaware of her condition at the time, and watching the studio footage later made her reflect on how she managed to complete the session.
Beyond recording, Simi said she also faced difficulties during post-production, particularly with mixing and mastering the track, eventually choosing to handle the mastering herself despite her dislike for the process.
“When the song was done, I struggled to mix it. Even so, I decided to master it myself. I hate mastering, so I don’t know what I was thinking,” she wrote.
She admitted feeling disappointed about missing her intended release schedule and not being able to promote the song as much as she had hoped.
“Everyone had fallen in love with the song and was asking me to put it out. I didn’t have the energy to make content. Given how much I love this song, I’m a little bummed I couldn’t give it the energy it deserves,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Simi encouraged fans to receive the song with understanding, explaining that it was created with “a lot of love and resilience.”
She also addressed claims that marriage slowed down her career, stating that Where You Dey reflects her continued passion for music and dedication to her craft.
