In a raw emotional interview, singer-songwriter Shena Skies has broken silence about the pain she’s been carrying behind the hit songs she writes for others yet her own do not even cross from the studios.
Known for penning songs that have catapulted other artists to stardom, Shena took to her platform this week to open up about the dark side of the industry — revealing how exploitation, betrayal, and lack of support have left her career stuck in neutral.
“Music is pay to play,” she said. “It’s not about how much you sing or how good you are. You’ve got to pay someone to play your music.”
Ouch. And it gets worse.
Shena didn’t drop names, but she made it very clear that some of the biggest names in Uganda have defaulted on paying her after she wrote hits for them. Yes, the same artists enjoying airplay, endorsements, and flashy bookings — while she fights to be heard.
“It’s not deliberate that I write for others and they shine while I stall. I’m just unlucky and I lack proper management,” she said tearfully.
You already know Shena Skies is one of Uganda’s most gifted pens. She’s written for Lydia Jazmine, Winnie Nwagi, and many more behind the curtain. But while others soar, she’s left trying to survive in an industry that feels more like a boys’ club with locked doors.
“Music is depressing me,” she confessed, hinting at emotional burnout and depression from constantly pouring into others but getting little back in return.
Watch her Frustration below:
View this post on Instagram
