{
  "id": 11280239,
  "title": "E.L reveals why he stepped away from spotlight after Artiste of the Year win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/e-l-reveals-why-he-stepped-away-from-spotlight-after-artiste-of-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-01T20:59:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/e-l-reveals-why-he-stepped-away-from-spotlight-after-artiste-of-the-year-win/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "E.L has shared his reasons for stepping away from the music spotlight following his 2016 Artiste of the Year win. Unlike many artists who capitalize on such a major career achievement, E.L chose a different path. He opted to take time away from the constant public scrutiny, traveling, living abroad, and experiencing life outside of the music industry's demands. The award-winning artiste revealed that the constant visibility and need to maintain a public persona eventually became overwhelming and exhausting. \"I was traveling a lot. I'm the type of artist that I like to experience different things,\" he said. E.L admitted that the pressure of always being in the public eye was a lot to handle and that he sometimes wished he wasn't known so intensely. The break allowed him to live like an ordinary person again, able to cross the street or take a day off without being recognized. Importantly, E.L continued to make music during his hiatus, working privately from his own studio rather than releasing music regularly or maintaining a visible presence in the industry. He acknowledged that this long break had financial implications, especially at the height of his career. However, the decision was primarily driven by the need to prioritize his mental health. E.L emphasized that his contemporaries in the industry understand that mental health comes first. He expressed humility at the continued support for his music despite the long absence from the spotlight, noting that his extensive catalogue remains relevant to fans even during periods when he was not actively promoting new releases.",
  "summary": "E.L has finally opened up about the decision to step away from the music spotlight after winning the coveted Artiste of the Year award in 2016. At a time when many artistes would have been looking to build on the momentum of such a major career milestone, E.L chose a different path. Rather than remain […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}