Fast-rising Nigerian music sensation Qing Madi has shared a raw and revealing glimpse into the challenges she faces in the entertainment industry, calling it “dark” and emotionally draining — especially for a young artist still trying to find her footing.
In a candid interview on the LagosMeetsLondon podcast, Qing Madi reflected on the pressures of early fame, the toxic side of the business, and how her personal life often feels like it’s slipping through her fingers.
“I’ve had so many contract issues, so many problems with professionals in the industry,” she said. “Sometimes I just want to go to school. I don’t want to be reading contracts all the time. I just want to live.”
The 17-year-old artist, known for her soulful sound and introspective lyrics, revealed that her journey into music wasn’t planned as a full-blown career — at least not this soon.
“I came into the industry accidentally. I just wanted to write music, earn some money, go to school, and be fine,” she said. “But people started connecting with my songs, so I kept going. But some people’s motives are not pure, and that changes how you work as a creative.”
Qing Madi described the industry as a space filled with people “out for themselves” — where greed and manipulation are all too common, especially when dealing with young, inexperienced talents.
Despite her rising fame, she says her mother remains a grounding force, frequently reminding her of her humanity amid the chaos. “My mom tries to keep me normal. She’ll still ask me to do chores at home, just to remind me, ‘You’re still a kid. You’re still a human being.’”
Describing moments of burnout and emotional exhaustion, Qing Madi admitted: “Sometimes it doesn’t even feel human. It’s like you’re a machine, and everyone’s just looking at you like a product, trying to figure out how to use you. And I’m just like, ‘Please, I wanna go home.’”
With the pressure mounting and little room for normalcy, she confessed to feeling overwhelmed: “I don’t know if I’m ready for all of this. It’s crazy. Honestly, I’m just winging it right now.”
Qing Madi’s honesty sheds light on the often-hidden emotional toll of the music industry — especially for young artists who rise to fame quickly, without the time or tools to process it all. Her vulnerability is already resonating with fans, many of whom have praised her for speaking truth to power in an industry known for its silence.
