Sound Sultan’s Death Shattered My Spirit – Seyi Shay Opens Up On Losing Passion For Music

Nigerian singer and songwriter, Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, popularly known as Seyi Shay, has revealed how the death of her mentor, Sound Sultan, deeply impacted her music journey.

In an interview with TVC, the Your Matter crooner admitted that she lost the drive to continue making music after the tragic passing of the late music icon.

According to her, the heartbreak coincided with her pregnancy, which further influenced her decision to step away from the industry due to what she described as its “toxic nature.”

She recounted:

“During the filming of Nigerian Idol, I lost my mentor, my best friend, and father figure — the person who actually brought me into the Nigerian music industry, Sound Sultan. He passed away.

When I first came to Nigeria, I lived with him and his wife in FESTAC for a year. He was the one who co-signed me, introduced me to everyone, and ensured people in the industry looked out for me.

His death broke me. I was supposed to visit him in New York during a filming break, and he even asked me to bring him something. Not being able to see him before he passed away shattered me. I felt like I had no will to continue music without Sound Sultan. For my peace of mind and mental health, I decided to step back.”

Seyi Shay further explained that getting pregnant around the same period made her even more determined to protect herself and her child:

“I told myself there was no way I would raise my child in the toxic environment of the music industry, under constant scrutiny. So, I chose to take a break.”