Seyi Shay Opens Up on Struggles After Sound Sultan’s Death
Kehinde Adeleye
Nigerian singer and songwriter, Seyi Shay, has revealed how the death of her mentor, Sound Sultan, deeply impacted her music career and pushed her to take a break from the industry.
In an interview with TVC, the singer explained that following Sound Sultan’s passing in 2021, she lost the motivation to continue making music.
“During the filming of Nigerian Idol, my mentor, also my best friend, who was like a father figure to me, passed away. Sound Sultan was the one who brought me into the Nigerian music industry. When I first came to Nigeria, I lived with him and his wife in FESTAC for a year. He co-signed me and introduced me to people who would look out for me,” she recalled.
Seyi Shay admitted it was difficult to complete the show after the tragic news, especially as she had planned to visit Sound Sultan in New York before his death.
“What hurt the most is that I didn’t get to see him before he passed away. He had even asked me to bring him something. It just tore me apart. I felt like I didn’t have the will to continue music without Sound Sultan. For the sake of my peace of mind and mental health, I decided to go on a break,” she said.
The singer also revealed that her pregnancy around the same period influenced her decision to step back, adding that she did not want to raise her child in what she described as a “toxic” music industry.
