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My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay - Nairaland / General - Nairaland

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My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay by ChynoBEATS: 7:52am On Dec 13, 2014
In just two years, Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua
aka Seyi Shay, has achieved what many who
have been in the music industry for a long
time can only dream of. She has travelled all
across Africa performing to thousands of
fans, and she is also a brand ambassador for
companies such as Hollandia and Baccardi
Breezer. In this chat with Us, she speaks on
her career, early years, and other issues.
Excerpts…
How did your music career begin?
My interest in music started from a very
young age. I remember being five years
old and living in a house full of different
musical influences. However
professionally, I began by going on a
three week tour to Japan with the London
Community Gospel Choir when I was 14. It
was my first paid gig – I got £4500 – and
while we were there, we visited 13 cities.
To cut a long story short, I started my
music career in church. My mom and
sister were both choristers and my
brother was a radio and club DJ while I
sang in church and for the school gospel
choir.
Were your parents supportive of your music
career?

When I first told my mother that I wanted
to venture into the entertainment
industry, she wasn’t really impressed
because she wanted me to be an
academic. I went to university where I
studied Music Business Management so
it’s always been music for me really. I
understand the business side of music
too, so I can read through my own
contracts, do my own deals and know
what is good for me and what is bad for
me. Sadly she passed on in 2006 and it
wasn’t until a day before she passed away
that she told me, “Maybe you should just
give music a shot, I think you will make it
in Nigeria.” My parents have been
divorced for many years now but when I
moved back to Nigeria, my Dad and I had
a little chat and he was very supportive of
my choice of career.
How would you describe your music?
I would say my music is probably
contemporary afro beat.
What inspires you?
My music is inspired by day to day
happenings, real life experiences, things I
see, things I feel and whatever I come
across generally. The contemporary side
comes from the fact that I am not so into
the afro pop but more into the afro beat
rhythm.
Why did you relocate to Nigeria?
I moved back to Nigeria because the time
I had spent with my former girl group
‘From Above,’ which was managed by
Matthew Knowles, had come to an end.
We amicably broke up. Some of the girls
didn’t want to be in the group anymore. I
was the only one who really wanted to do
music. Sound Sultan was in London that
year and he heard some of my demos. He
convinced me to head back to Nigeria and
launch my music career.
How has your career been since you moved
back to Nigeria?

A lot of people will not believe this
because of the amount of things I have
done so far but frankly my career in
Nigeria is only two years old. However I
have been doing music for over ten years.
I have literary been on every single stage
in Nigeria. I have supported international
acts that have come in like Wale, Chris
Brown, Rick Ross, and Mary J Blige. I just
feel like I have been really blessed having
done all these things in such a short span
of time.
Has it been challenging penetrating the
music industry in Nigeria?

It’s not easy because there are so many
female artistes, and we really don’t have
that recognition or power that male
artistes do yet. Hopefully, it will change
soon. It’s not been easy but thank God I
have been blessed enough to bring
something a bit different to the table
which is my performances on stage. It’s
been bumpy, I have had to do so many
shows for free and fight for my voice to be
heard. People think I just came and
started doing this, but it’s because I am a
proactive person. I get up and do what I
have to do.
What do you consider your greatest
achievement in music to date?

I can definitely name a few heights. One
of them is obviously supporting Beyonce
Knowles during her “I am” UK tour in
2009/10. Working for Coca-Cola has been a
dream of mine since I was eight years old,
so being featured on Coke Studio season
two was definitely a dream come true.
The next is having my own reality show
on TV which went to over 166 countries
and finally, being on CNN’s African Voices.
To be honest I think everything I have
done have been memorable for me.
How would you describe the Nigerian music
industry at the moment?

I really feel like it’s a diamond in the
rough. The industry has a long way to go,
but we are definitely getting there as
musicians. However, I do think there
needs to be a bit more structure where
the artistes can get their royalties paid to
them. Once that’s settled, I think we will
be able to compete with some of the
international acts out there.
What message do you have for upcoming
artistes out there?

You need to remember that in anything
you are doing, especially music, you need
to exercise tenacity. You need to have to
have a thick skin, and you also have to be
honest with yourself.
Re: My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay by dotG(m): 7:55am On Dec 13, 2014
shocked
Re: My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay by Teespice(f): 7:59am On Dec 13, 2014
misleading topic.
Re: My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay by lumzybo: 8:14am On Dec 13, 2014
Which kain topic be this 1 na? Is the OP saying she dated Beyonce papa or what? Cos going thru the post, I dint c anything like that.

Kk make I dey observe #incase
Re: My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay by Mrwhalex(m): 8:22am On Dec 13, 2014
There is God o...
Re: My Affairs With Beyonce’s Dad Before I Came To Nigeria – Seyi Shay by ChynoBEATS: 9:38am On Dec 13, 2014
lumzybo:
Which kain topic be this 1 na? Is the OP saying she dated Beyonce papa or what? Cos going thru the post, I dint c anything like that.

Kk make I dey observe #incase


Una sef don see wetin me'sef I see..... Was surfing the net dis morning.... Dint even know what took me 2 naijaPALs .. N I stumbled on this Misleading ish...... So I decided to C/P it here so ya'll can see the diff Between NL n NP ..... Those peeps there ehn.... Their HEADER's can lead one To hEll ... angry angry angry angry ......n som bunch of ignoramus Would say NP is beta than NL ... Mxcheew I wonder y such ish would make FP over there ..

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