Award-winning pop/R&B artist Shekhinah has come a long way since her introduction on Idols Season 8 in 2012. Twelve years and two chart-topping albums later, along with numerous awards under her belt, Shekhinah stands as one of Mzansi’s inspirational figures, proving that with passion and perseverance, one can break barriers and achieve greatness in the music industry.
She describes her journey thus far as nothing she would have imagined. “Nothing but a blessing thus far,” she said.
The 29-year-old teased fans with two singles released this year after her 4-year hiatus since her last album release, with her latest being “Steady,” which is described as a follow-up story from the first release, “Risk.”. Both singles form a foundation for her upcoming third studio album that will be released by the end of the year and continue telling stories through song.
This particular album captures a lot of what happened to her in 2021, she shares.
“I believe that we all have similar life stories—parallel lives, whether we would admit it or not—and when a story is narrated through a song, the interpretation will differ. So I view songwriting as someone being real with themselves first; tap into what you own feelings, and the more honest you are, you’ll find that there are many more people going through the same thing,” she said.
“(in terms of capturing true feelings) I felt like this, especially with the two songs that I just released; they speak about everyday life. Taking the risk every day in decision-making, in exploring something new—anything. It’s a risk. And then Steadyspeaks to what happens within the risk, striving for that stability and all the ups and downs in it. So all I had to do is tell my own story, and the rest will fall into place,” she said.
Amid life’s highs and lows and the unpredictable nature of the music industry, Shekhinah confesses she still can’t fathom why, time and again, she chooses music as her unwavering path.
“I ask myself the same question every day,” she said, laughing. “But when you go to sleep thinking about something and still wake up mulling over it, I think that’s your task. And that’s me and music,” she said.
But the journey, like any, hasn’t been an easy one.
“I think the biggest challenge to any artist is time. The longer you survive in this industry, the more difficult it gets because you are just constantly fighting through so much—through changing trends, the new talent that emerges, etc. Personally, I am always trying to prove to myself why people still stream my music because I do sometimes doubt myself and think I just don’t have it in me like I did before. I am obviously more tired now as I grow older, with less energy nowadays,” she said, giggling.
“But music still calls my name, and I still show up. Music is such a passion-driven calling; it is not salary-based, so I have to convince myself time and time again of why I am here,” she confessed.
The passion-driven artist is always surrounded by music but has since learned the importance of taking off to live so she can come back with a story to tell.
In the beginning of her career, she shares how she lived a public life but later realized that privacy is key and now only uses music as the only window into her life.
“When I started my music journey, I think with every year that passed I had to figure out what my brand stands for. But the one thing I realized to be important is to compartmentalize my life. But what I do know is that womanhood is at the center of what I stand for. That has somehow become the purpose and the mission.
“Right now, where I am in life, I feel like the industry has given me so much that I want to pour back into other artists. I want to be there for the underdogs, all the people that don’t have access to tools that are crucial to making it. Somehow, if I can be of assistance in that regard, that would be amazing,” something that she didn’t have when she started off.
“I don’t care if it’s 2024, but women are still not respected enough in the industry, and that is also based on the way I am treated in regards to other people. There are so many women that I don’t think are being represented the best way possible, and I believe that women shouldn’t work so hard just to gain respect. Respect should just be extended based on us being humans,” she said, adding that she is a girl through and through.
Even with life’s roller coaster, and without alluding to it being easy, Shekhinah shares that she’s in a more calmer and peaceful place in her life.
“I don’t think I am fighting for my life,” she said laughing. “And that will be communicated in the upcoming album release (title to be communicated in due time) about being at peace with who I am, where I am, what I need to do, etc. Maybe that comes with age, but I freak out less with what I can’t control, and it took forever to get here.”
