Deborah Oluwaseyi Joshua
Seyi or Shay
Singer, songwriter, performer, actress
2001
Professionally known by her stage name Seyi Shay.
She wrote and produced three songs for the soundtrack to Konami’s video game, Crime Life: Gang Wars (2005).She also wrote “You Will See”, a song that was included on Melanie C’s third studio album, Beautiful Intentions (2005). Shay wrote “White Lies”, a song from Chip’s Transition album. In 2008, she became the lead singer for the now defunct pop girl group From Above.
The group signed a recording deal with Sony’s Columbia Records and was managed by Mathew Knowles’ Music World Entertainment company.In November 2013, she signed an endorsement deal with telecommunications service provider Etisalat.In July 2015, Shay signed a record deal with Island Records.She released her debut studio album, Seyi or Shay, in November 2015. It was supported by the promotional singles “Irawo”, “Ragga Ragga”, and “Chairman”.
Her music career took an upswing when she signed her first ever record deal with No Apology, a record company affiliated with George Martin (commonly referred to as the “Fifth Beatle”). In 2006, Shay formed a girl band in the UK called Boadicea; they were managed by Ron Tom, the founder and manager of All Saints and Sugababes. The band separated after two years, and Shay decided to partake in the From Above UK singing audition. After the conclusion of the audition, she emerged as the lead vocalist for the aforementioned defunct group. The group consisted of five girls, including Shay.
They got signed to Mathew Knowles’ management company after performing for him. They were taken to Houston to undergo energetic vocal and dance training. The group supported Beyoncé while she was in the UK for her I Am… World Tour. They presented an award at the 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards and had their own MTV reality show called Breaking From Above, which aired in over 166 countries around the world. The group later disassembled and Shay had an opportunity to continue her management deal with Mathew Knowles, as well as secure a recording contract with Sony. Shay decided to join Flytime Music after getting an offer from them. Shay has worked with a number of musicians, including Justin Timberlake, Brian Michael Cox, Darey, Bilal, Michelle Williams, Chip, Rob Knoxx, H-Money, and Cameron Wallace.