Nigerian singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has revealed the profound impact of her mentor Sound Sultan’s death on her career, describing how the loss drained her motivation to continue in music.
In an interview with TVC, Shay recounted that the passing of Sound Sultan in 2021 coincided with the filming of Nigerian Idol, making it difficult for her to carry on.
“During the filming of Nigerian Idol, my mentor, also my best friend, who is like a father figure to me, and the person who brought me into the Nigerian music industry, died. He passed away; Sound Sultan,” she said.
Shay explained that Sound Sultan had been instrumental in her early career, even hosting her in his FESTAC home for a year and introducing her to key figures in the industry.
“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 tore me apart,” she added.
The singer also revealed that she became pregnant around the same period, which further influenced her decision to step back.
“I felt like I didn’t have the will to continue doing music without Sound Sultan, my peace of mind, and my mental health. So, I decided to go on a little break,” she said.
Shay described the music industry as “toxic” and emphasized her desire to protect herself and her child from undue scrutiny.
“During that period, I got pregnant and 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 explained.
Her candid reflections shed light on the emotional toll the industry can have, even on established artists, and the importance of mentorship and mental health in navigating a challenging career.
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