Shady in her debut album takes personifying her album literally!
Having started her career in 2016, talent Shady is finally ready to release her debut album and showcase her abilities in one offering. Having featured South African star Bong’z earlier this year, the singers shares her journey with unwrap.online that lead to the final product, her album that is soon to be released. In a question and answer session, she shares the journey that she says was difficult and full of late nights as a self-managed artist.
unwrap.online (UN): Let’s reflect on the journey that got you here.
Shady (S): I have been doing music all my life. Firstly under the management of my father, then school choirs, KCAC choir, then Dotcom and then I decided to go solo because all I ever wanted was to make my music dream come true, my way, my terms. What realized was managing yourself and being the artist is a tough cookie but I had to chew it and sip tea at the end of that. Lol. So it’s worth it, it’s me, it’s my product, my uniqueness.
UN: What made you decide to only release your album this year?
S: I have been postponing and this time I decided to put myself first, my happiness. For years in my personal life, I’d put other people first and their happiness.
UN: Why did you opt to manage yourself and how has that been for you?
S: It’s tough. It’s no joke but an awesome challenge cause I love challenging myself, that way I learn something new about myself and say “hey I did that and I nailed it” or ” hey I did that, didn’t work but let’s try it this way”. I decided to manage myself cause I know what I want exactly and I know how to get it done so why not just do it myself. This way I have learned a lot about the music industry but I didn’t do it alone. I have Araffath that is my advisor and Sunny Boy also gave me a few pointers. Simbarshe has been on the solo artist’s journey with from the start and he would book for shows.
UN: What can we anticipate from the album so far?
S: The album titled is Yemaya. For me, an album is art like any painter will name the piece they painted. I am an artist so naming my album should be art on its own. So I sat down and I profiled myself, researched and I found Yemaya. When I read about her, I saw the similarities. Things we have in common. She is a sea goddess. The album has 12 tracks and features Reeziana, Moses, Premithias, Bonginkosi Mthombeni and J Black.
UN: What would advise a younger you about what you know that you didn’t know to help make your career and journey easier?
S: I’d tell myself to stop making excuses, belief in myself, be confident in who you are and your art, don’t listen to everyone cause sometimes the people who you think have good intentions for you can also advise you to dim your light. Listen to advice but chose for yourself what is best for you and be brave to make that decision. Your life, your rules.
