Singer and songwriter Shekhinah chats to us about her debut album titled Rose Gold. By Kwanele Mathebula
Images: Shekhinah’s IG
1. The success of my single Back to the Beach inspired me to release an album. After high school and Idols, I moved to Johannesburg. This was hard because I was alone, and didn’t know anyone. I spent a lot of time in the studio recording, and then went back home to Durban. While there, I met fellow Idols contestant Kyle Deutsch, and we wrote and recorded Back to the Beach. I poured out my frustrations in the song, and it was well-received. I realised that all the things I went through that year were a building block for me.
2. It took a year to complete my album. After my hit single, I continued to make music while studying. By the time I graduated, I felt ready to release a full album. Its sound is a mix of Pop, RnB and Soul. I included Pop because I have a lot of songs in that genre, the RnB comes from listening to it while growing up, and the Soul because I have a soulful voice.
3. I knew who I wanted to collaborate with from the start. I’ve always looked up to fellow female singers who also do the kind of music I wanted to make. So, I collaborated with Mariechan Luiters from RnB group Jamali on a song called Different. This is because I love her voice, and had met her in 2014 when I wrote a song for her. This was one of the hardest songs to finish because we performed it live before the album was released. I felt that something was missing, so I went back to the studio to fix it and it came out better than I expected.
4. My song-writing process has evolved. In the beginning, I would write songs before listening to the beats or melodies. That changed after getting exposed to different producers and sounds. I started listening to the melodies and beats first. But, the one thing that hasn’t changed is the inspiration for my music – my life, people and real stories.
5. The reception to my album has been overwhelming. I am grateful that people love my work and are enjoying it. The response was unexpected, and I am glad that the album lived up to everyone’s expectations. This is just the beginning, and I am looking forward to the future.
6. I am excited to start planning my shows. I want to create my own platforms where I can perform my music the way that I want to. I want my music to shine, and the audience to experience this.