Nigerian singer Liya has opened up about the reasons behind her departure from Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) in 2023, citing the need for both personal and artistic development.
The artiste, who made history as the label’s first female signee after joining in October 2020, said her decision to leave was driven by a desire to grow beyond her circumstances at the time.
During an appearance on Wahala with Josy Anne, Liya spoke candidly about battling depression and emotional exhaustion, which left her feeling overwhelmed and dependent on her manager.
“Why did I leave? I just wanted more for myself, as a person and as an artist. I wanted more for myself. It was sad, it was depressing, I was tired, I was sick, but it was a decision that I had to make for myself. Yeah, because everyone thought I had it all figured out,” she said.
She revealed that she also faced public criticism during her time at the label, with some accusing her of not making good use of the opportunities available to her.
““They called me names. People saying, Oh, she’s just lazy. She doesn’t know what she’s doing. They’re just pouring money on her, and she’s not doing anything for over a year or two years. They’d just be like, oh, yeah, you just don’t know what you’re doing. It was my fault,” she said.
According to Liya, the situation took such a toll that she stopped managing her own social media accounts for an extended period, leaving the responsibility to her manager.
“And all that period, I just did not know how to post by myself. For the past two or three years. I never posted myself on Instagram. Yeah. I always have my manager post for me. I mean, we’ll put the pictures and stuff together, slides and everything. But then I just send everything to him. Oh, this is the first slide, second slide,” she said.
Despite the challenges, the singer commended her manager for his understanding and patience throughout the difficult period.
“He was tired, but I’m so glad he understood. He was very patient with me. He never pushed me or forced me to post myself,” she added.
