After recently returning with her stunning comeback single 'Fair Play' earlier this year, Rotterdam-based artist Shaynah continues her vibrant ascent once again on the shimmering new offering 'Let That Go'.
Featuring guest vocals from Tiffany Gouché and lifted from her forthcoming new EP 'NAKED', which is set to drop early next year, 'Let That Go' makes for an incredibly warm and dreamy listen. With her sublime R&B-inspired aesthetic perfectly set to her wondrous voice throughout, she continues to cement herself as a true visionary on the rise today.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her background and what has been inspiring her most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I first fell in love with (and am still heavily enamoured by) the piano.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I loved ‘90s R&B-neo-soul and was a big fan of Latina legend Selena since I was about 2 years old. I still know all her songs by heart.
What was the first album you remember owning?
An album by Fantasia I think. I used to make my own mixtapes with favourites and don’t really remember what the first proper album I bought was.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Basically everything Victoria Monet writes. I’m lowkey jealous I didn’t write Waterfall Out Of Love (from her hand).
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I usually get lyrical about subject ideas quite randomly. There sometimes is a melody attached to it right away, or I sit down to write melodies or really “listen” to the silence to feel what melodies feel natural for the subject I chose to write about. I do have a particular “vibe” in my studio for writing (ease, rest, tea), recording (low lights, no clutter, homey vibe) and producing (natural light, snacks). The first thing I always do when I enter my studio is tidying up and watering my plants to ease into my workflow.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Halle, LOONEY, Brasstracks and Tiana Major9 have been on repeat this week.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Oohh definitely H.E.R. because she has helped me embrace being a multi-instrumentalist by not picking one instrument but excelling at multiple. My ultimate dream was to open for or play with Prince, but that is hard to do now that he has passed.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part for me is to have a language without words. I can put stuff that I can’t find the words to talk about into my music and feel at ease in a community with the feeling we can share, let go and just be; through music.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I think the most frustrating part is making a career from my passion. The music business is not the easiest industry to work in mentally and having to monetise and sell your art that usually is born out of passion and necessity to express pain is something I struggle with on a regular basis.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Somebody told me that learning is my superpower and that I should try to lean into more. It sounds cheesy but it inspired me to keep following my curiosity and to “just be me”. There is so much to learn and so much to perfect as a musician, but embracing the process of getting better with every song I write or produce instead of trying to make the perfect song now has taken so much pressure off me and helped me enjoy creating so much more.
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Shaynah's new single 'Let That Go' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.