April 1, 2022 |
A distinct mixture of silky vocals and delicate melodies has come to define the genre-defying style that Shaé Universe has crafted over the past five years. Her debut single, dubbed “Big Mistake”, caused waves amongst the London music scene with her harmonic blend of R&B and drill, or as she calls it, “R&Dril”. Ever since, the artist has presented one banger after another, all while navigating the industry and staying true to herself and her ambitions.
Dropping today, Universe’s debut EP, Unorthodox, unites her unruly confidence and enchanting vocals with the inspirational lyrics that have come to represent her sound. The 7 track release sees the artist both rap and sing alongside a variety of buzzy collaborators, including Enny and Kojey Radical. Here, we grab Universe for a quick chin-wag.
- Who is Shaé Universe?
“Shaé Universe is a versatile, limitless R&B singer and businesswoman on a mission to conquer the music scene globally.”
- If your sound came with a scent, what would it smell like?
“J’adore Dior.”
- What was your favourite song from Unorthodox to record?
“That’s a really hard question, but I think it has to be “Wicked Ways”. That’s the rawest song I’ve ever written.”
- Your sound blends R&B and drill, who from both genres have been your biggest inspirations?
“Wow, I’ve never been asked that before. R&B-wise, I’d say Brandy has influenced me a lot. Drill-wise, I don’t think I’ve taken any inspiration from drill artists as they’re usually straight drill and that has a completely different feel even down to the lyrical content.”
- How was working with Enny and Kojey Radical on the project?
“Working with both Enny and Kojey felt so natural and organic. It was the easiest process you could imagine and our musical chemistries were just in perfect sync.”
- What’s the perfect song to introduce new listeners to your sound?
“Hmmm, I think “111”.”
- If you could have any brand make-over your wardrobe, who would you pick?
“There are too many but I’d go with Rouhi! I just love everything they put out and I’m all about supporting black-owned brands.”
- Do you have any phobias?
“Seeing a lot of holes/dots close together. It makes my skin crawl!”
- What is your go-to karaoke song?
“Sweet Love” by Anita Baker.”
- What can we expect from Shaé Universe for the rest of 2022?
“Global expansion!”
Stream ‘Unorthodox’ on all major streaming platforms now.
