Singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has reflected on a difficult season in her career, revealing that the death of her mentor, Sound Sultan, in 2021 left her deeply shaken and forced her to take a step back from the industry.
Speaking in an interview with TVC, the singer explained how Sultan’s passing coincided with her time as a judge on Nigerian Idol.
“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 said.
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She went on to describe how instrumental the late singer was in helping her settle 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 recounted.
The singer admitted it was emotionally draining to continue with Nigerian Idol after the loss. “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,” Shay shared.
The loss, she said, had a huge effect on her passion and mental well-being. “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 revealed.
At the same time, she discovered she was expecting her daughter, a development that further strengthened her resolve to step away. “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 added.
