Naming Alicia Keys, Ella Mai, Jorja Smith and Sabrina Claudio as her biggest inspirations, Shaya thrives on the ability to experiment with the feelings and emotions she’s able to convey through her music.
Drawing on her combined influences, she fuses classic soulful-R&B with beautiful melodies along with a powerful and deep tone, mirroring the nostalgic sound of the early 90s.
Speaking of the track, Shaya says, “With this track, I want my listeners to know that there is a limit to the pain and suffering caused by hurtful relationships and deceit, and that experiences and stories like this do exist for others to relate to. I hope that when people listen to my music, they will feel connected to it in some way and know that they are not alone.”
Growing up in West London with a Caribbean heritage, Shaya was always surrounded by different musical genres and cultures which has really influenced her musical sound today. She fell in love with the sound of music as soon as she was able to understand the different harmonies and melodies, and began to express herself by writing her own songs and singing covers at a very young age.
Shaya’s style has been influenced by some of the most iconic R&B and Soul artists over the years which have positively shaped her approach in the way she sings. She also holds a strong passion for Jazz, Classical and other instrumental music scenes, and has found her niche in combining her favourite sounds into one style of music, backed by the true sound of Soul.
Shaya Ritchie is set to make waves in the UK’s thriving R&B scene which is currently seeing a major revival, joining the ranks of other rising British artists such as Jorja Smith andMahalia. ‘Hurt No More’ is the first of a string of releases for Shaya in 2022.
What do you think is the most important aspect of your life right now?
I really want to make this the year for me by achieving all my goals and ambitions, and making all my dreams come true this year! I love making music and communicating my messages and experiences through my music for my listeners to really enjoy. Music is definitely the most important aspect right now and I hope my music reaches a far wider audience this year. Family is also an important aspect for me, especially during these harder times we have all recently found ourselves in.
What makes this song special in your opinion?
This song is very special as a lot of time and effort was put in for the track as I really wanted to make it perfect yet really meaningful given the sensitivity of the topic. I always try to share my own experiences and situations others can relate to in my music. When I first listened to the instrumental, I naturally felt that it would suit deep and meaningful lyrics reflecting hurt and pain caused by Love.
What inspired this release?
Given that I am nearer the start of my musical journey in terms of releases, I tried to focus on communicating my own experiences so my listeners can get to know me through my music, hence why I chose a personal topic for me to really connect with my listeners. This was a huge inspiration for this release.
What are some of the core messages here?
With this track, I want my listeners to know that there is a limit to the pain and suffering caused by hurtful relationships and deceit, and that experiences and stories like this do exist for others to relate to. I hope that when people listen to my music, they will feel connected to it in some way and know that they are not alone when experiencing situations like these.
How do you think tik tok and social media are contributing to change an artist’s career?
I think these platforms are great especially for new and upcoming artists to really connect with their fans and listeners, and it gives an insight into the artist’s life. I feel that these platforms can significantly increase an artist’s fan base by sharing awareness, whilst providing useful statistical data in terms of the target markets involved.
What excites you about your life?
I feel like I am definitely in a good place right now, finally managed to get married last year (as my wedding was cancelled twice in 2020 due to the Pandemic!), bought a new house last year with my Husband, and just focusing on family and music really excites me right now! I want to communicate more of my experiences and views of life this year by releasing more music!
What are some of your core values as a human being?
Keeping humble at all times is definitely key, whilst being kind, grateful and appreciative for all the positive things we have in life.
What are your projects for this year?
I want to focus on creating an EP as a start, by releasing a few more songs and creating more awareness of my music with the hope that I can connect with more listeners! I also hope to secure a few more live gigs given that more restrictions have been lifted, as I really feel that singing live is one of the best ways to communicate your songs plus it’s an enjoyable experience!
