Nigerian singer and songwriter Simi has shared the personal and health challenges that delayed the release of her much-anticipated song, “Where You Dey” featuring Chike.
In a candid post on her X page on Friday, the award-winning artiste revealed that she had planned to drop the track last year after teasing fans with a snippet that generated massive excitement. However, severe physical challenges made it impossible.
“I was sick and weak and nauseous and tired, and my body just wouldn’t do what I wanted it to,” Simi disclosed, adding that she was already unwell during the snippet video shoot but still pushed herself to deliver.
The singer also spoke glowingly about Chike, noting that she had long admired his voice and work ethic and knew instantly that he was the right collaborator for the song. Although Chike was initially out of town, she revealed that he came straight to her studio upon returning — unaware that she was pregnant and struggling physically at the time.
Looking back at the recording sessions, Simi admitted she is still surprised by the level of energy she displayed in the video, given her condition. She also revealed that she personally handled the mixing and mastering of the track, despite her well-known dislike for mastering.
“I hate mastering, so I don’t know what I was thinking,” she added.
Simi expressed disappointment at missing the intended release timeline, especially as fans had already fallen in love with the song and were eagerly waiting for its official release. She explained that her health challenges left her without the strength to properly promote the record or even remember parts of the content creation process.
Addressing ongoing public speculation about her career, the singer noted pointedly that the release of “Where You Dey”also serves as a response to critics who claim she abandoned her music career for marriage.
