Liya also revealed that the challenges she faced during her period at DMW affected her presence on social media.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Afrobeats singer and songwriter Abdulsalam Suliyat Modasola, better known as Liya, has explained why she opted to leave the Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) label, stating that her decision was driven by a desire for personal and professional growth.
She made this known recently during an appearance on the latest edition of the show Wahala with Josy Anne.
Liya, who became the first female artist signed to Davido’s record label in October 2020, officially parted ways with the label in 2023. She gained significant recognition after joining the stable, releasing popular tracks such as “Melo,” “Adua,” and “Lakiriboto.”
Speaking on her departure from the label that brought her fame, the 27-year-old artist shared that her time at DMW brought emotional challenges that significantly affected her well-being.
She added that the period was marked by depression, exhaustion, and health struggles, which ultimately pushed her to make the difficult decision to step away.
“Why did I leave? I just wanted more for myself, as a person and as an artist. It was sad, it was depressing, I was tired, I was sick, but it was a decision that I had to make for myself,” Liya said.
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She went on to address the public criticism she faced while signed to the label, noting that many people misunderstood her situation and accused her of being unproductive.
“They called me names; people were saying she’s lazy, she doesn’t know what she’s doing. They’re just pouring money into her, and she’s not doing anything,” she said.
Liya further revealed that these challenges had affected her social media presence, explaining that she did not personally manage her Instagram account for more than two years.
Despite the difficulties, the singer expressed gratitude to her manager for his patience and support throughout that time.
“He was tired, but I’m so glad he understood. He never pushed me or forced me,” she added.
