Seyi Shay has opened up in a heartfelt interview about the deep emotional toll the death of music icon Sound Sultan had on her life and career, revealing that the loss nearly drove her to walk away from music entirely.
Speaking with TVC, she described Sound Sultan as not just a mentor, but also a father figure and best friend, saying his passing during the filming of Nigerian Idol was one of the most painful moments of her life.
“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,” she shared. “When I first came to Nigeria, I was living with him and his wife in Festac for a year.”
Sound Sultan, who passed away on July 11, 2021, after a prolonged battle with blood cancer, played a pivotal role in launching Seyi Shay’s career in Nigeria. According to her, he not only gave her a place to stay but also personally introduced her to major industry figures, helping her find her footing in a competitive landscape.
His death, however, left her emotionally devastated. “What hurt the most was that I didn’t get to see him before he passed away,” she said, revealing that she had planned to visit him in New York during a break in the show’s filming. “He asked me to bring him something specifically. It just tore me apart.”
The grief, Seyi Shay said, impacted her mental health so deeply that she considered leaving the music industry altogether. “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.”
