Afrobeats singer Liya has opened up about her exit from Davido Music Worldwide (DMW), revealing that a lack of support for her career was a major factor in her decision.
Speaking on The Wahala Podcast, Liya, the first female artiste signed to the label owned by Davido, said she left in pursuit of both personal and professional growth.
“I left years ago. I left because I wanted more for myself, both as a person and as an artist,” she said.
The singer noted that despite releasing songs like Lakiriboto and Melo during her time at DMW, she felt her career was not receiving the guidance or attention it deserved.
“It was sad, it was depressing. I was tired, I was sick, but it was a decision I had to make for myself. It was a strong decision because people thought I had it all figured out. They called me names, said I was lazy and didn’t know what I was doing—that money was being spent on me and I wasn’t doing anything.”
Liya also spoke about the intense pressure she faced, particularly on social media, which affected her confidence and visibility.
“For over a year or two, people kept saying I didn’t know what I was doing. I even started blaming myself. I didn’t know how to post anymore because there was so much pressure. Two weeks ago when I posted, someone was shocked and asked if my account had been hacked. I told him I posted it myself,” she added.
The singer’s revelations provide insight into the challenges of being a young artiste in the competitive Nigerian music industry, highlighting the importance of support and guidance for emerging talent.
“There was no support,” she concluded, summarising her experience at the label and the reasons that led to her departure.