62 In-spire
LS
I'm always interested to find out what
emerging UK artists think of the scene they
are trying to break into. With radio stations
acting as the gate keeper for what the masses
hear, it's unfortunate that there isn't much
variation in what they send out across the
airwaves. Shea, echoes this frustration by
saying, "We are force-fed music," but also
acknowledges that there are a lot of new and
exciting acts out there that could change the
landscape of things, citing Laura Mvula as an
example.
Laura Mvula, Adele and Emeli Sande are proof
that you don't always have to `fit the mould'
in order to achieve mainstream success, but
there is no denying that there are pressures on
females to look a certain way in the industry.
Shea, tells me that there was a time when she
was starting out that she was told that her hair
had to be straight for her to be considered
pretty and that there was an emphasis on
looking `sophisticated'. However, a confident
Shea says, "As I've got older I've been like `no
who am I trying to please?' I'm not trying to
sell myself and how I look...if people don't like
how I look; the fact that I've got natural hair or
that I don't walk around naked in my shoots
then that's not my problem".
If you think that means Shea, is an unkempt,
burka wearing prude, you have got it all
wrong. Although not diva-ish in her approach
to her personal appearance, she is not adverse
to donning dresses and MAC makeup on
stage. Shea, is probably also solely responsible
for keeping the nail varnish industry afloat
as her album title suggests. Living her life in
Technicolor is not just limited to her talons
I'm told, "I love colours, it makes me feel more
confident and more relaxed, I feel really myself
when I am wearing lots of colours".
With her not so distant future looking
incredibly bright, I ask Shea what we can
expect from her in the coming months.
I'm reliably informed that there will be the
release of a single or two; and perhaps some
collaborations, "I would love to work with
Shakka, I'm really feeling his vibe. I've also
always liked Maverick Sabre. My ultimate
person would be John Legend; I love his voice
so much, that would be my ultimate".
Here's to hoping Shea's Barry M'd nails are able
to leave their mark on Britain's greyscale music
scene.
Shea Online
www.facebook.com/officialsheasoul
@SheaSoul
www.thisisshea.com/
Shea on what makes women amazing
"I love the fact that we listen and support each other. If we love each other we will
always be there for each other and give each other emotional support and boost each
other up. Men are not really like that. Everyone needs that in their life."
Shea's most inspirational females
Lauryn Hill: She has inspired me. She is so real. People say she is crazy, but it's because
she is so real.
Oprah Winfrey: What she has managed to achieve as a black woman is so inspirational.
Ourselves: I think it's important for women to look at themselves and see they can be what
they want to be. Sometimes we have to inspire ourselves because that's all you can do
.