British soul R&B singer/songwriter Shaya Ritchie shares her powerful new single ‘Hurt No More’, out on all streaming platforms on 28 January.
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.
We caught up with Shaya to learn more about how the single came about, the message behind it, and more.
Aditya – Hey Shaya, Happy new year! Glad to have you for the interview. How was 2021 for you?
Shaya – Hey! Thanks for having me! 2021 was an interesting year despite the hurdles caused by the Pandemic. However, it was indeed a productive one as I managed to finally get married (it was cancelled twice in 2020!) and bought a new house with my Husband. I also had more time to really try and focus on my music, so can’t complain!
Aditya – Your latest single ‘Hurt No More’ is just out, and it sounds beautiful, can you share the creative process of the track?
Shaya – Thank you, and glad you like it. A lot of time and effort was put in for the track, and 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. I must say that the whole process came together quite well and worked naturally in the studio!
Aditya – The track is very well produced, can you share some insights on the production?
Shaya – The producer of this track is Lo-Fi Lenny who is an extremely talented producer specialising in Lo-Fi and chill type music.
Aditya – What’s your message behind this track?
Shaya – 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.
Aditya – Who are your biggest influences and why?
Shaya – I have always enjoyed the Soul and R&B scene from the 90s and 00s, and I would say that my biggest influences include Toni Braxton, Alicia Keys, Ella Mai, Jorja Smith and Sabrina Claudio just to name a few. I find that these powerful artists have powerful voices and really paved the way for others.
Aditya – How do you begin to write music? Do you pen it down?
Shaya – I first like to really connect with the instrumental track, and take my time to understand the different tones and melodies. I would then try and develop an idea or theme for the type of lyrics and from here I try to let the process flow as naturally as possible so that it fits in well with the melodies without forcing it. It could come to me within an hour or days, or when I am out, shopping, walking or socialising! I then tend to type or write the lyrics out there and then so I don’t miss out on that special moment.
Aditya – What kind of singer would you classify yourself as?
Shaya – That’s a hard one! But I like to think of myself as a Soulful and R&B artist with a mix of both Alto and Soprano tones!
Aditya – When did you begin to sing?
Shaya – Ever since I could talk I guess! Haha. I was always surrounded by different musical genres and cultures which has really influenced my choice of music today, especially because of my family who are all heavily into music. I fell in love with the sound of music as soon as I could appreciate the different harmonies and melodies, and started to write my own songs and singing covers at a very young age.
Aditya – Top 5 tracks you’re listening to on repeat?
Shaya – I like to consider myself eclectic with my song choices, but I would say the main songs I listen to on repeat are:
Sabrina Claudio – Belong to you
Cleo Sol – Sweet Blue
Toni Braxton – Talking in his sleep
Alicia Keys – Secret
Jorja Smith – Beautiful little fools
Aditya – Lastly, what do you look forward to in 2022?
Shaya – 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, and I hope my music reaches a far wider audience this year.
