Nigerian singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has revealed how the passing of her mentor, Sound Sultan, left a deep mark on her career and personal life.
Speaking in an interview with TVC, Shay admitted that she lost the drive to continue making music after the late singer’s death in 2021.
“During the filming of Nigerian Idol, my mentor, also my best friend, who is like a father figure to me, and also the person who brought me to the Nigerian music industry, died. He passed away; Sound Sultan,” she recalled.
The singer explained that Sound Sultan played a vital role in her early journey in Nigeria. “When I first came to Nigeria, I was living with him and his wife in FESTAC for a year. He was the one who co-signed me and introduced me to everybody in the industry to make sure that those who were his people look out for me,” she said.
She added that completing her role on Nigerian Idol during that difficult period was a struggle. “So, when he passed away, it was really hard for me to complete the filming but I made it to the end. What hurt the most is that I didn’t get to see him before he passed away. I was supposed to fly to see him in New York that weekend when we had a break. He asked me to bring him something specifically. It just torn me apart,” she shared.
The loss, according to Shay, deeply affected her mental health and her passion for music. “I felt like I didn’t have the will to continue to do music without Sound Sultan, my peace of mind, and my mental health. So, I decided to go on a little break,” she explained.
Around the same time, she became pregnant with her daughter, which further influenced her decision to step back from the spotlight. “Also, during that period, I got pregnant and I told myself there’s no way I’m going to have my child in the toxic music industry that I’m in and under the scrutiny that I was constantly under. So, I just thought I should take a break,” she said.
