INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY — SHAE UNIVERSE
Shae Universe is a soul, R&B powerhouse, with her Mariah Carey level highs, her voice would appear to have no bounds. She originally received a lot of praise for her covers that she would share on Twitter. However, nowadays, the singer-songwriter has had hit after hit with her 5 singles, standouts like No Stallin’! Her newest track with Kojey Radical royalty, a friend and collaborator, this tune is nothing short of an EPIC track!
Interview by SOPHIE EMMETT
Photographs by EVA PENTEL
Special thanks Clarks Originals
“For women’s international day 2021, I choose to challenge gender stereotypes and homophobia”
— SHAE UNIVERSE
HI SHAE, I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT YOUR GIG BACK IN FEBRUARY 2020, WAS THE LAST TIME I SAW LIVE MUSIC, ACTUALLY QUITE AMAZING THAT IT WAS AND I GOT TO WITNESS THAT VOICE OF YOURS IN PERSON. HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY YOU MUST BE MISSING PERFORMING LIVE?
Hello :), Well I just found out I’ve landed my first ever film soundtrack trailer so I literally feel over the moon right now. I’m most definitely missing performing live. I didn’t realise how precious that February show truly was until I was deprived of the ability to perform. When lockdown is over that will be one of the first agendas on my list.
IN THIS LOOK: SHAE UNIVERSE WEARS, ALL GARMENTS, PRETTY LITTLE THING, SHOES, CLARKS ORIGINALS Wallabee Pink
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATION JOURNEY THROUGHOUT LOCKDOWN, HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING LOTS, PERHAPS YOUR DEBUT ALBUM?
My inspiration has been inconsistent during lockdown to be honest. I’ve had periods where I felt super motivated and others where I’ve felt the complete opposite, but overall I’m in a good place. I also wrote 90% of my upcoming debut project within a month in lockdown so that’s good I guess lol
YOUR MOST RECENT RELEASE ROYALTY WITH KOJEY RADICAL HOW DID THIS COLLABORATION COME ABOUT?
Kojey Radical and I have been good friends for a couple of years now. We met through music and outside of being his friend I’m also a huge fan of his work and drive. We first collaborated together on his song ‘700 Pennies’ in 2017 and so I thought it would only be right to bring it all full circle with the release of Royalty.
THE PICTURES OF YOU IN THE GOLD LOOK (FIRE FYI) ON YOUR INSTAGRAM, ARE THESE SNIPPETS OF WHAT WE CAN EXPECT IN THE MUSIC VIDEO?
They’re actually not indications of the video. The music video is due to be 10x more fire than those pictures ;)
BACK IN 2018 ONE OF YOUR FIRST GIGS WAS OPENING FOR EMINEM’S UK SHOW, FIRSTLY WOW WHAT AN EXPERIENCE THAT MUST OF BEEN! WHAT WAS SOMETHING YOU LEARNED THAT NIGHT, THAT YOU’VE IMPLEMENTED INTO YOU’RE YOUR PERFORMANCES SINCE?
It was definitely a great and valuable experience! That experience taught me that It’s better to over-prepare than be underprepared.
YOU’VE BEEN CALLED AN RNB POWERHOUSE WITH A VOCAL RANGE THAT’S BEEN COMPARED TO MARIAH CAREY! KNOWING THAT YOU STARTED SINGING IN CHURCH WHEN WAS THE MOMENT THAT MADE YOU STOP AND THINK ‘WAIT I WANT TO DO THIS FOR A CAREER?”
Haha wow, that’s a huge compliment. I knew I wanted to be a singer from as young as 7. It’s always something I dreamed of as a little girl. However, I’d say I started to take it super seriously in 2015 when I started releasing covers online.
PHOTOS ABOVE: 2 PIECE, KOY & VICTORIA, SUNGLASSES, SHOES, CLARKS ORIGINALS Wallabee ELVTD Black
BACK IN 2019, NO STALLIN’ BLEW UP AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH ROYALTY HAS DONE THE SAME, AS A SONGWRITER CAN YOU TALK ME THROUGH WHAT YOU THINK MAKES A SONG A HIT?
Honestly, I don’t really believe that hits have a formula. I feel like how a song makes you feel is ultimately what makes it a hit and that vibe can come from any genre/type of song. I just take my time and write heartfelt music.
YOU’VE BEEN HAILED AS AN ARTIST WHO’S CREATING ANTHEMS FOR WOMEN AND CHAMPIONING BLACK FEMALE EMPOWERMENT. HAVE YOU FACED ANY CHALLENGES IN BEING UNAPOLOGETICALLY YOURSELF THUS FAR IN THE INDUSTRY?
I’ve faced countless challenges and some of those challenges even hindered me from being able to be myself unapologetically at times. However, no challenge was too big and that reflection has become my main focus. I’m grateful to be at a place now where I’m surrounded by everyone I need, free to be my unapologetic self, and have the most loving support systems that accept and celebrate me as I am. One day I’ll go into the challenges in-depth but today I just feel to be grateful.
WITH LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCE UP IN THE AIR, WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACHIEVE IN 2021, OTHER THAN BEING ABLE TO LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN EXERCISE AND WORK?
In 2021 I aim to release my first ever project, spend some time out in America, breakthrough as a global artist, and be at utmost peace.
WOMEN, THAT INSPIRE YOU IN MUSIC AND IN LIFE?
My mother and sister. Brandy, Jazmine Sullivan, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, Rihanna, Cher, Missy Elliott, Issa Rae, Michaela Coel and so many more!
FOLLOW SHAE UNIVERSE
CREATIVE TEAM
CREATIVE DIRECTION — SOPHIE EMMETT
PHOTOGRAPHER — EVA PENTEL
VIDEOGRAPHER — COREE VAJON
FASHION STYLIST — JEN ELETO
SPECIAL THANKS CLARKS ORIGINALS
Thanks to @lethally for gifting all of the team and talent!
Big ups to @nanadosuk & @wrayandnephew + @cakesbydaisy for supplying all the beverages on the day.