Nigerian singer and songwriter Simisola Kosoko, popularly known as Simi, has spoken openly about the health and personal challenges that delayed the release of her song Where You Dey, featuring fellow singer Chike.
In a personal statement shared on her X page on Friday, Simi revealed that she initially planned to release the song in 2025 after a snippet generated massive excitement among fans. However, she explained that serious health issues made it impossible to follow through with the plan.
According to her, she was constantly sick, weak, nauseous and exhausted during that period, adding that her body simply could not respond the way she wanted. She disclosed that even while shooting the snippet video, she was unwell but still pushed herself to give her best.
Simi also praised Chike, describing him as the perfect collaborator for the song. She said she had admired his voice and professionalism for a long time and was confident he would deliver. Although Chike was initially out of town, she revealed that he came straight to her studio immediately after returning, without knowing that she was pregnant and struggling physically at the time.
Reflecting on the studio sessions, the singer admitted she is still surprised by the level of energy she displayed in the recorded video, considering how unwell she felt.
She further disclosed that she personally handled the mixing and mastering of the song, despite disliking the mastering process, due to the circumstances surrounding the project. She admitted she does not even know what motivated her to take on that task at the time.
Simi expressed disappointment over missing the original release date, especially since many fans had already connected deeply with the song and were eagerly waiting for its official release. She explained that her health condition left her without the strength to properly promote the record or even remember parts of the content creation process.
Addressing long-standing speculation about her career, Simi added that the release of the song also serves as a response to critics who claim she abandoned her music career because of marriage.
