BEAUTIFUL and talented singer Seyi Shay (30) has taken the music 
industry by storm.
The Nigerian star shifted her career into top gear and turned the volume up with her debut album, Seyi or Shay.
Many know her through her hit single Murda, featuring Patoranking and
Shaydee.
Born Oluwaseyi (which means God created this) Joshua to Nigerian parents in London, the star has always known that music was her calling.
Speaking to Sunday Sun, she said: “To me, music is the lifeblood of everything that exists. It’s my life!”
They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Seyi’s late mum sang in a church choir, her sister was a music scorer and her brother was a DJ.
Her musical journey began in school with the London Community Gospel Choir. Seyi began professional life in 2005 and her break came in 2008.
She was part of a girl band called From Above with four other girls. It was managed by Matthew Knowles,
Beyonce’s dad.
They dropped their debut album, Breaking From Above, scored their own reality show and supported Beyonce during her I AM tour in 2009/2010.
Seyi said: “I was 20 when I joined the band, the opportunity was fantastic, but very hard as it was a development
process for me.
“From living a normal life, to
constantly having cameras in your space, was a big challenge.”
She’s no stranger to superstars,
having worked with Dirty Money,
Justin Timberlake and Bilal.
The girl group split when she was 24 and Seyi had to find her own feet again, by going back to Nigeria.
Sharing a memory of her late mum, she said: “She had wanted me to do something academic, but she was supportive.
The day before she died she told me she knew I’d make it – and
advised me to return to Nigeria. Little did she know that was already my plan.”
Seyi returned to her home country where everything fell into place.
This led to a new album in which she collaborated with Femi Kuti, Wizkid, D’Banj and Banky W.
Infused with world music, the album also draws elements from reggae music.
According to Seyi, the album depicts the way you view yourself.
Seyi is currently signed with Island Records in the United Kingdom and would love to work with SA stars, AKA and Bucie.