Shenseea On Her Second Album, Real Life Inspiration Behind Her Songs & More | Billboard News

It’s just like me coming back stronger than ever because I’ve been through a lot for the past two years. I’m about to be riding a dragon. Don’t tell nobody. Hey guys, it’s your girl Shenzi and you’re watching Billboard news. Hey, it’s Tetris with Billboard news. I am being blinded by the star power today for my girl. You picked a great time to come by. Yes, your new album is about to come out very soon. How you feeling? I’m feeling really good, You know, I’m excited. It’s my second project, so a little bit nervous, but you know, because, you know, you set a tone with the first one and you should always try to be the first one. So it’s a little bit pressuring, but I’m still excited and just going with it nonetheless. Well, let’s talk about the title first. Never gets laid here. What is that referencing? It means to me timeless music you can put on this album and it just never gets old, you know? It’s pretty deep and I love timeless music. That’s the type of music that I grew up on and that’s the type of music I think that lasts and really inspires great artists to come. And I want to be able to do that as well because I’ve been inspired by many great artists. So that’s a great goal to set out on. Yes. And what would you say are the like overall themes of the project? Well, it’s the year of the dragon, as you know, and the dragon has been my logo from the very start of my career. You know, it represents strength, you know, and I’m half Asian as well. So I think it it, it’s authentic to me. And this year I’m going to be like bringing you into this world where it’s more nature, it’s more serenity, it’s it’s so calm. You just relaxing. You just vibe and listen to great music. See, I like that. You said the serenity and you talked about how you’ve been through a lot the last two years. So Alpha came out in 2022. So that’s been two years. So how would you say your life has changed in those two years that makes this project different than Alpha? It makes it different because I I’ve had to manoeuvre between my sound and trying to find the right direction of where I actually want to take my career next. You know, because I’m not an artist where I want to be doing the same thing over and over again. I want to represent in a way where it’s still Shenzi. I’m keeping it authentic. But you don’t get bored. It’s not the same thing as you’ve heard on Alpha. So it’s been pretty challenging because I’ve done so many songs just trying to figure out the right pitch and the right vibe and the right tone of what I want to set next. And so it has just been a lot on my mental health. I’ve been just changing over and over doing different, different vibes and not sticking with, you know, I make a decision today and change it tomorrow. So it has been pretty challenging where that has been concerned. But you know, I’m more confident now. I have more hotspot. It’s here, so let’s hope for the best. Now you said you’re more confident now. So when do you know, like this track is finished, this album is done. It’s in the book. When I have no more changes to make, you know, I can sit and I listen to it over 10 times and I’m satisfied. I pray one day somebody keep your company. Well, let’s talk about some of the tracks on the album. I want to go through them. So hit and run. You put out back in jail January, and it was all about, you know, that big accident you had where you left them in the street. I’m just messing with you. But the seagull was obviously about being trapped in a relationship, so why did you feel like that was the first offering you wanted to put out? I feel like I always speak through my music to stuff that women are shy to speak on. You know, you need them to feel empowered, and I’ve always given that in my music. You know what? Even rebel, you know, some women, they feel how they feel. But I feel like the pressure of the society that we’re living in these days, it’s just like, you know, it’s hard to speak up. Me as an artist. I’m the voice and I’m supposed to speak for other people and supposed to empower them and make them feel confident and speak however they feel. Doesn’t matter who is watching or who is judging. If that’s you and it relates to you, you live in your truth and hit and run is just a song about being not locked down and trapped, as you say. And I think a lot of women can relate to that these days because relationships are so hard, you know, especially in these times, you try to settle with somebody and then they end up disappointing You are embarrassing you worst people, be embarrassing people. So, yeah. So I really feel like as much as we all would love to have a happy ending, it’s hard to find these days. And you just got to have fun for now until the right one comes. Also, you had Massacre and Die Genius on the song. The Genius. Yeah. How did you decide to use those collaborators? Well, the Genius and I have been working for a long time. You know, we have a couple of songs that we’ve done together in the past, and this is our third that’s out. And he was pretty excited about the song. We did that in LA and it was supposed to be a solo song. I was supposed to drop another song first and it didn’t get to come out because we have had a lot of stuff going on behind closed doors so you couldn’t get to drop. But before that, I’ve turned this song into a collaboration because I I was like, my first song should be a solo and then the second song should come out as a collaboration, something that people would love, would never expect. And so Masika and I have been trying to get one for years, ’cause we’ve both been in the industry for some time and we’re like, you know, we’re real friends, we have to get one together. And we just didn’t mention until I let him hear hit and run. And he was like, yo, just the one, the first line. He was like, this, the hit. This is a hit. This is it. He did not hear anything else. He’s like, I don’t need to hear anything else, isn’t it? So I put him on it and he tore it up and released it and boom. And now we’re going to talk about never, Never, which is going to be the next, like, introduction to the album. So why did you feel like this was the next representation of the full project? I love Never, never, Never Never is one of my absolute favourites. It’s something that I can really relate to. I think that people and all my fans look at me like a strong, confident woman. And this was a situation that I got trapped in where it broke down myself, confidence. It made me a bit insecure. It made me have anxiety. It’s like you can never see it ending. No matter how many times you try to leave. You know, it’s just still here, you know. And over time, as you know, you know, when it’s the right time to go, then we, you know, set apart when God says. But I’ve never been in a situation like that. And I think this one is the one that speaks to me the most from my whole album because it was so traumatic for me. And I’ve never been through it. I’ve always been like, F that, man, F that. And then, like, we don’t care. So for me to meet this person, it was just like, whoa, how do you break down this trend? And making me putting me in a position where I feel like I have to build back from the ground is insane. You know, I never could see myself in a certain position. But it happened. And this is the one where it’s like a real story, you know? It’s so real. And I know that so many women can relate to it, but I could never do a song like that for them before because I’ve never been through it. And I like that you actually said that because like a lot of times, artists can take something that maybe they haven’t been through, but you want the music to be authentic. Of course you. So you didn’t tell this story until it happened to you. Until it happened, I couldn’t tell it. I could not tell it. I’ve never been through it. So it’s like, girl, just get up. That is me just looking down on another woman. Be like, just stand up. But me being down there and be like, whoa, it’s not that easy. It gave me a whole different perspective and was like, whoa, let’s just take our time. Well, now that you’ve been on the other side when you used to tell somebody, just stand up. What advice would you give to somebody in like a toxic relationship? Now be patient with yourself and try to draw your hand out of Alliance mouth lowly. OK. Patience. Yeah. You teach a lessons today. Trust me. Me. Learn them. I’ve learned. I’ve learned all the lessons. Well, now we got to talk about loyalty because see the key lyrics and loyalty. I love my man and he loves me. You are the love of my life. No other one to you. So I think some feelings have changed around. Yeah. No, no, no. I’ve done that. I’ve did. I did that song quite a while back. But I know what that feels like. So I wrote that. I know what that feels like. I know how to feel like, oh, this is the one and you’re the one. This is that blah blah. And a lot of women can relate to as well. So that one wasn’t as hard for me because it’s like opposite of obviously what hit and run and what kind of like the other song standpoint. But I never said I was in a relationship when I’m in hitting and running though. Oh, OK OK Excuse me. I never said that. I’m going to say, you know, and would you say loyalty is one of your favorite songs on the album? Loyalty is one of my likeable songs. One of my favorite is faithful. And why does faithful speak to you? Because I’m faithful until you get me born, until you cheat on me, Then I’m not faithful anymore. But you know, and I’m going to let it know. It’s either I’m going to, it’s either I’m going to leave you or you’re going to get it right back as a liberal. Sorry. And I’d rather to leave because, yeah, I’d rather to leave. I don’t even have time. But if I don’t leave, you just know what is, what is up, you know? And we still got our class section seeing that too. We got the dancehall, of course, with flavor. It’s a good time of party song. Did you feel like that was something you needed to make sure your fans got from this album? Yes. It’s a bit more on the pop side and I integrated some dancehall accent in it as well. So that’s what I think makes it so unique. And I want my listeners to hear this track and be like, yo, this reminds me of food because this girl is always cooking, you know, So it’s still authentic too, you know. It’s just it’s all about the flavor. Like, nobody can complain about that because it’s still authentic. You say it’s like a pop song. So how do you feel like you approach genres when you’re creating these songs and you’re thinking about like, will it fit on this project? Can I mess with this sound or this sound? You know, actually just create freely afterwards? We decide, you know, I’m not trying to go in. I used to do that and it made stuff so much more complicated because you’re thinking too much when you’re creating and you can’t do that. You just have to feel. So these days I’m like, let’s just create whatever comes outcomes out, you know, if it makes a project, it makes a project. If it doesn’t owe, well, I feel like I learned a lot of them today. You’re teaching these things true. All right. I’m going to have a book caution. See his advice? I’m just going to go by that. Let’s talk a little bit about your career and kind of like where you got started. So did you always know you wanted to be a singer? Always knew. I mean, these days. Now, though, it’s just like, so nobody couldn’t tell me said this. It comes with a lot more than the fun times. Yeah, because I’m now here figuring out, like, wait, I’m a little bit tired over here, But you all didn’t make this look, you know, this easy. This hard. I mean, but I’m not complaining. Once you love it, you will put up with anything that it comes with. You jump over the hurdles over and over again. And that’s what I’m doing now. Because ever since I was a kid, I always knew that I wanted to become an artist. And you said you wanted this since you were a kid. So what was some of your earliest memories of music? Oh, I remember singing Whitney Houston’s song for greatest love of all in church. That was my very first time performing in front of an audience. I almost pissed myself, but because I was like 8 or 7 years old. But it went really well. And yeah, in church, that was my favorite memory. And another one in church where I tried to do the choir, it was not working out. I tried to do the choir in school, it was not working out. I was like, I feel like I was born to become a lead singer. Oh, you were like, I can’t do this. I can’t do this. Like, I respect y’all, I respect the time. You’re sharp over there. You’re a little flat, but let let me, let me get my shine. So I’ve always felt like that until I joined another group which I held my own notes, which I either battle between like a Alto or a soprano or a tenor, while my other team members held their own notes as well. So each of us stood out in our own ways, and that’s how it made me learn to harmonize. And then you also started working on a lot of other artist projects like Christina Aguilera, Tyga, Major Lazer, Take it anywhere you are. How did that kind of part of your career start? I mean, it helps me to get over my nerves, you know, because I feel like artists, they’re easily intimidated by other success. You know, not to be bad minded, not like that vibe, but more of like intrigue, like, whoa, this is the pressure to hop on somebody like this. Who’s this successful in the industry? Like what do I bring to the table? But you’ll never know until you do it, you know, and just me doing it over time and just taking on the challenge over and over and just trying to be myself, it helps that there’s nothing I can’t take on, you know? And I mean, that was such a cool way to kind of start and get your career going, but what do you feel like was your big break? When do you feel like this was the moment I knew things changed? One of the moments I knew things changed was when I did the collaboration with Kanye. I felt like that opened a whole different type of doors, You know, fashion, hip hop, you know, different artists just reaching out, you know, because I think that Kanye is like, he’s cool, you know, as much as how he’s artistic. He’s a cool person to even look at, you know, always entertaining. So I feel like just me being associated with him, it has led me to a lot of open doors. You’re very strategic. Like you. I can tell you’re very thoughtful. I am too thoughtful about your career and your decision. So what would you feel like is the way you kind of like approach your own career when you think about planning your next steps, remember I just told you that I’ll be making decisions yesterday and change it tomorrow. Does your team love that? They hate it? There’s high, they’re frustrated and they can tell you, my whole team, but, you know, it makes me look at them with love because they’re still here, you know, many of them could be like, no, we tired. This girl is crazy. We out of here. But the fact that they’re still here, it really shows me that they’re supposed to be here because I would never rather to choose people who easy to bail on me to go where I’m going. I want people who are going to stay down to want the thicker things, you know, throw out the losses and the wins. And my team does that for me and I’m just super grateful. And I gotta talk to you about fashion today because I mean every single time I interview you, you just come pulled up like thank you snatched every time like just flawless and effortless. So tell me like what does part of this look today I wanted to come on your shiny like started I am. That look is from Stella McCartney. I love, I love, I love this brand always shiny because I’m a big fan of of glistening stuff but not too much. And I think that they always make it look so classy. This is what I chose today. My stylist and I OK, I need to take that into consideration for myself. It’s like, I like a bling, but not too much. Yeah, but not too much. And This is why we add the blazer. It’s a classy, it’s a classy, what does fashion mean to you? In general? I feel like it’s a part of expressing myself. I dress however I feel if I feel like to come on here with a Swiss today because I’m cold and I just want to be comfortable, then that’s what you’re going to see me in. It’s just like music. Fashion to me is an expression, you know, just put on what you want to put on and wear it to your best. You also might be passing a little bit of the fashion off to the sun. Yeah. Heard you might have had him at a fashion show. Oh, yes, yes, yes, yes. So how is he with fashion and do you like dressing him up? I do love dressing him up. And what I do with Rogero is I allow him to be free within his own sense of style. I will tell him that I don’t like that fit. And he’s like, OK, I’m going to change it. Then he just chooses his own fit and be like, what you think about this? OK, there you go. Do you trust him? Do you let him go with whatever he Yeah, yeah, yeah. As long as he’s not going to look too crazy. Depends. It depends on the occasion. I will let him be a kid sometimes and just throw on some rainbow stuff. But in other times I’m like, Nah, that’s not the vibes. Go change it. And he will do so. And he’s really good at it too. I’m glad he is because I even when I see kids in the store, sometimes I’m like, did the parent just say, you know what I have? I’m not doing this today. No, I don’t play that with my child. Like I love when my child is put together. I think my child represents me as well and me as a parent. And it shows that I really care that I’m not going to let my kids step out the house any type of way. You know, I take pride in that as a mom. And one of my favorite things we talked about last time was your cooking. So now when I ask you, does he love your cooking? He does. He does. He used to not be a fan of it because he likes all that chicken Nuggets and that fries. But yes, but he’s growing up now. He loves to cook as well. Hello, guys. I’m going to be making breakfast for my mom. He was standing and watch me cook or my auntie and I did some on the other day for him. He doesn’t normally like anything with gravy or ketchup. He likes his food like dry. So I did cream some on the other day that I posted and he ate everything. I’m like even the gravy okay. I like that you’re growing up. He’s like that someone is bum. Oh my God, that’s so cute. What would you say is your favorite dish to prepare for at home with him or without him? Like, what’s the number one? I love any type of fish. Yeah, I love to prepare fish or seafood overall. And I know, of course, obviously you have the Jamaican roots that are, I’m sure, inspiring your cooking. But what other, you know, I would say culinary like countries or flavors do you like to bring into your dishes? I want to step more into the Asian cuisine. OK, I’ve heard about this. Is it Korean BBQ? I need to try it. First of all, go over to Cape Town. Yeah, I’m yet to do so. Like, I’ve heard too many good things about this Korean BBQ. I need to go and have a taste for myself. And then I just thought of something, just because it’s it’s a current contemporary thing that’s happening right now, The Marley movie. So what’s your thoughts? I my, my team just told me that it was a two hour and a half running movie and I was like, was it because I was in the theatre And I was like, why did this end so soon? It was such a great movie. I did not want it to end. And I’m not joking. Like it made me feel like I really wanted to meet this man. And for him to, you know, pass away at 36 is just sad. Too sad. And do you feel like it represents Jamaica in a good way? Yes, Yes, it did. Because as soon as we heard him talk, we’re like, okay, Thank God the accent is there. It doesn’t sound fake. Yeah, he’s British, right? Yeah. And I must come in the actor because he actually made me feel like, Nah, this is Bob, which is crazy. And it’s no disrespect to Bob either. It’s just like he played the role so good they couldn’t have choose anyone better. And I mean of course you’ve seen the film because you were involved in the Marley soundtrack. So how does that feel? Did I remember when we used to see Oh my God, I feel so honored. You know how hard it is to get into something like that, you know? You know, Marley’s are like the royalty of my country when it comes on to like music and just pioneers, you know. So I’m super grateful that they allowed me to be a part of this movement, a part of this historic movement. And how did you feel when they, like, assigned you a song and you had to, like, go in the studio and record it? Like, what was that process like? You know, it’s so weird that I didn’t really think much about it. I just said that I’m going to have fun, you know, if this is for me, it’s for me. There’s no way I can mess it up. It’s mine. However I choose to sing it, you know. Well, you said it’s mine. I will say that. Vicky said he was like every artist that’s on the soundtrack really made it their own and that’s what he loved about it, that they didn’t just copy his dad. Oh yeah, yeah, that’s what I’m saying. Like I I didn’t go in there with the intention to copy Bob at all. I was like, this is a great song and I want to sing it in my way and make people love it just the same. And then now that, you know your second project’s coming out, your fans are here. They’re excited to hear you. What take away do you want to tell your fans as this new project’s coming out? I just want him to be open minded, you know, and be mindful that I’m an artist and I make music for everyone, you know, not just myself, not just one diaspora. I want everyone to enjoy my music. It’s a very friendly album. There’s something for everybody on it, so there’s nothing to complain about. Well, I’m so excited and thank you for coming out and hanging at the studio for having me.