Nigerian singer and songwriter, Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua, popularly known as Seyi Shay, has revealed how the passing of her mentor, Sound Sultan, deeply affected her passion for music.

In an interview with TVC, the Your Matter crooner admitted she lost the drive to continue her career following the tragic loss of the late singer, whom she described as a father figure and her strongest supporter in the industry.

“During the filming of Nigerian Idol, my mentor, my best friend, and father figure—Sound Sultan—passed away,” she recalled. “When I first came to Nigeria, I lived with him and his wife in FESTAC for a year. He co-signed me, introduced me to the industry, and made sure his people looked out for me. So, when he died, it broke me. I didn’t even get to see him before he passed. I was supposed to fly to New York that weekend with something he had asked me to bring. That pain made me feel like I couldn’t continue music without him. For my peace of mind and mental health, I chose to step back.”

The singer further explained that her pregnancy around the same period also influenced her decision to take a break from the limelight.

“Not long after, I got pregnant,” she said. “I told myself there was no way I was going to raise my child in such a toxic industry under constant scrutiny. That gave me another reason to pause my music career and focus on myself.”

Seyi Shay emphasized that the combination of personal loss and motherhood pushed her into a reflective break, one she felt was necessary for her well-being.