Seyi Shay Opens Up on How Sound Sultan’s Death Changed Her Journey
Singer and songwriter Seyi Shay has shared how the loss of her mentor, Sound Sultan, deeply affected both her career and her personal life.
In a recent interview with TVC, she revealed that after his passing, she lost the drive to continue making music. Around the same period, she became pregnant with her daughter, a turning point that encouraged her to step back and focus on her well-being away from the pressures of the industry.
“During the filming of Nigerian Idol, my mentor, best friend, and father figure — Sound Sultan — passed away. He was the one who brought me into the Nigerian music scene,” she said.
Seyi recalled living with Sound Sultan and his wife in FESTAC for a year when she first moved to Nigeria. “He co-signed me, introduced me to everyone, and made sure people looked out for me. When he passed, it was hard to even finish filming. The hardest part was not getting to see him before he died. I was meant to fly out that weekend to New York, to see him and bring him something he specifically asked for. Missing that moment broke me.”
She admitted that the grief left her without the will to continue. “I felt like I couldn’t do music without him. For my peace of mind and mental health, I decided to take a break.”
That break became even more necessary when she learned she was expecting. “I told myself I couldn’t raise my child in such a toxic industry, under constant scrutiny. So, I chose to step away and focus on family,” she explained.
