The sensuality of good R&B music is truly magical, a genre fuelled by intense emotions with feelings of both joy and pain. We’ve made love to R&B music, we’ve cried to it as well. If we had to create a soundtrack for some of our most heartfelt life experiences, R&B tracks would lace the playlist from top to bottom. In the 90’s we were spoilt for choice, we had an array of melodic voices depicting in depth scenarios, which would perfectly relate to our very own experiences of lust, love and heartbreak. In 2019, there is still an array of incredible R&B acts as the likes of Jorja Smith, Normani and Summer Walker currently sit comfortably in the UK top 40 however, lets ‘Be Honest’ (see what I did there), pop infused R&B is not what I’m talking about here although let me not deny, Summer Walker is in fact doing the damn thing!

It takes a while for the rawest of talents to be discovered by the masses however, this is also the beauty of real and authentic creativity, only a few of us are even in the know. Since February of this year, Swedish singer-songwriter Shenie Fogo has been dropping a string of 90’s influenced R&B singles, leading up to her debut EP ‘Self’ which was released last Friday 18th September. The six-track project will transport any R&B lover right back to the 90’s, with stripped back vocals layered onto smooth and sultry productions by Swedish music producer and songwriter iSHi, who’s worked with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32, Lupe Fiasco, French Montana and Pusha T. Sonically, the pair who met through a mutual friend make an extremely powerful music duo. iSHi was in need of a vocal for a track submission to Rihanna and as a fan of Shenie’s vocal, he asked her to demo the song, “we clicked in the studio and I felt like iSHi, he really brings out the best of me,” shares Shenie. “I was like OK, I want him to do my project, my songs and my album so yea, that happened and now we’re here.”

Shenie’s arrival at the studio for her shoot was quite honestly a jaw dropping moment. She is absolutely stunning; model tall with the most angelic face. I’m convinced there is something in the Swedish water because the country literally produces some of the most beautiful looking people. Go to Sweden and tell me I’m lying, don’t worry I’ll wait. Shooting Shenie was an absolute pleasure and it was evident her beauty wasn’t just skin deep. She oozed softness with every word she spoke and she was genuinely excited to try out whatever Jeff, the stylist and Mike, the photographer suggested creatively, “this was such an experience,” shares Shenie. “I love getting you know, make-up done and hair done and I love the looks. That’s exactly how I would style myself if I was like, OK I’m gonna look fresh. I’m so happy.” It was her first professional shoot for her own project, with a full production, “I like to style myself a lot and do my own make-up and hair and stuff but this is the first with make-up done, hair done and everything,” explains Shenie.

Born to a Swedish mother and a British Jamaican father, Shenie’s mixed heritage has developed a yearning to discover more about herself and culture outside of Sweden, “I’m still trying to find myself,” admits Shenie. “I was born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden and right now I just feel like I want to leave. I’ve been there for too long, I just want to explore the world and I feel like I have so much more waiting for me out there.” She loves London and actually visits the UK often as her father’s side of the family is based in Nottingham. I wondered and asked if she had ever been to Jamaica, “no but my sister is there right now as we speak,” Shenie tells me. “It’s her first time, I haven’t been there and my Dad went there for the first time last year.” She’s super keen to visit Jamaica and explains there are family members there whom she’s not yet met, “I want to explore where I come from,” says Shenie. As a child growing up and visiting her cousins in Nottingham, UK, Shenie didn’t even realise she had Jamaican heritage, “I was never thinking ‘oh I’m Jamaican’ when I was little. It was probably when I was twelve or something that I was like oh, am I Jamaican? I thought that I was English because I was going there all the time,” she explains with laughter.

Top & Trousers by Arela, Glasses by Vintzshop Optical

Shenie went on to tell me that she’s been singing, writing music and even dancing since she can remember. Her sister Nikisha Fogo is a professional ballerina and as kids, they were always being creative together. “During those early stages when we were small and experimenting being creative, we kind of just new. She could dance and I could sing,” Shenie explained. She also admitted being an introvert and very shy therefore, being creative was her way of communicating and bringing her true self to the surface. “That was always my escape or my way to express myself,” Shenie detailed further. “Growing up, it was hard for me to speak up or tell people what I want so my way of expressing myself was through music. It means a lot to me.” Shenie continued to share her introverted experiences at school. She told me that she wouldn’t say a word in class and was known to be the quiet one but as soon as there was an opportunity to perform, she would completely surprise her teachers. “Obviously my parents knew about that and they really encouraged me to sing more,“ states Shenie. “They put me in singing and dancing classes so I started very young.”

Shenie is only 22 years of age but she tells me she feels old, “I feel like because I’ve been doing music for so long, I’m just getting older,” she laughs and explains that all the new artists are now 18/19 years of age. “I’m not worried at all because you have to trust timing, I say that to myself all the time,” shares Shenie. “You have to enjoy the process, you have to be willing to go through everything to get the reward so yea, I’m enjoying every step.” Patience is everything when it comes to the music game and Shenie understands the importance of this. She showed great maturity recognising that there was an insecurity attached to the fact she’s getting older, yet it’s not something she will allow to become a hindrance, “I know it’s just in my head,” Shenie admits which is a powerful realisation of self. I then asked Shenie if she could tell me one struggle she’s had to overcome and also something she feels she still needs to learn as a 22 year old woman. She tells me appreciating herself was a struggle she had to overcome, “everyone comes to one point in their life when they have to face themselves, for some people it happens much earlier and for some people it happens late,” Shenie explains. “My moment was pretty early. I had to look myself through all ages that I’ve been, the little Shenie, the teenager Shenie, the young adult Shenie and be like who do I want to be and what am I doing every day to reach that.” She also added that it’s really important to put time into yourself and invest in your own health, especially your mental health. As for what Shenie still needs to learn, she admits there are a lot of things, “I love to see what I can work on because only then will I grow.” Shenie further details that the ability to speak her truth is very important to her, “its so easy for people to assume things and be like OK, you’re going to do that, that’s who you are but actually looking inwards and being like no, do I actually want to do this?” She’s right, we live in a world where our thoughts and opinions are influenced on a daily basis and then we are sometimes put in positions, where other people are directly telling us how to live our lives. It’s so important for us all to really recognise what it is we want to do for ourselves. “Actually speaking my truth all the time,” states Shenie confidently. “It’s so easy for me being an introvert, to be like OK that’s fine but actually, no it’s not.”

Blazer by Luke 1977, Boots by Whyte Studio, Glasses by Vintzshop Optical and Jewellery by Dixiegraze & épifenē

Shenie has already been a featured artist on a couple of iSHi’s releases, including ‘Have Mercy’ which was released last year October and also features UK artist Maleek Berry. With over 1 Million streams gained on Spotify, the track’s chorus samples Diana King’s ‘Shy Guy,’ which was a huge global hit in 1995.

‘4 AM’ is the title of Shenie’s first solo single, released in February 2019 and it’s also the opening track on the EP. Shenie tells me that the track was actually recorded here in London, more than 18 months ago however, at that time they couldn’t get the chorus quite right and so kept it on hold until a year later and then worked on it some more. She tells me her third single ‘Make A Move’ was actually supposed to be her debut single however, as the track sampled lyrics from Brandy’s 1994 hit ‘I Wanna Be Down,’ it took some time to get the necessary clearance. “At first I was like no, I wanted to go with ‘Make A Move’ but now I’m so happy that ‘4 AM‘ came first,” shares Shenie. In April 2019, Shenie released her second single ‘Mood,’ a spontaneous number that she admits was made in iSHi’s living room. She loved the song so much and decided to release this ahead of ‘Make A Move,’ which was eventually released in June 2019. I told Shenie that I felt as though her tracks were released in the right order. Out of the three, ‘Make A Move’ is the most commercially sounding song and therefore, much better placed as the third single. She also agreed and said, “it just feels right, I’m really happy that the universe made it happen like that.”

Shenie’s fourth single ‘I’m Gone’ is probably my favourite from the project. It was also released the same day as our shoot and interview on Friday 23rd August 2019. Shenie tells me that this track was also made spontaneously, inspired from a weeklong streak of listening to Amerie, one of the R&B singers she grew up listening to along with Ashanti and Jennifer Lopez. It’s definitely one of those power anthems, fuelling one with the necessary strength to get rid of that waste man or woman in your life. For me, I get Keyshia Cole vibes from this track, especially because of the production. Intrigued to know more about her creative process, I ask Shenie if her music is based on her own life experiences which she then chooses to recite into song but she tells me she never actually plans to write about anything, she purely goes by how she feels in that moment, “it’s just like I feel the vibe and then whatever comes to me, just comes to me and that’s usually how it goes,” Shenie explains. It’s almost like she’s channeling content based on the emotion she feels from iSHi’s music production.

Top by Zsa Zsa Maria, Trousers by Carrier Company and Accessories/Jewellery by Dixiegraze & épifenē

It’s been a pretty busy year so far for Shenie and she’s definitely achieved a lot, especially as an independent artist. We get onto the topic of record labels and if there is any interest for her to sign with a major. Honestly, it seems as though she’s happy and content with how things are flowing, “whatever the universe has to offer that’s what I’m gonna do, it just has to feel right,” states Shenie. “Right now, even though it’s harder to be independent I feel like maybe that is what I’m supposed to do. It’s going great now and I also enjoy this process because I’m in control of everything.” Being independent does have its perks, you do not have to answer to anyone and you are fully aware of everything that’s going on. “I do my own content, artwork, visuals and everything,” shares Shenie. “I’ve also learnt so much throughout this process and I just like it that way.” Shenie definitely knows what she wants however, she makes it clear that she’s open to change if it’s the right thing to do, “if a label comes in the picture, I’ll definitely consider but I still like to have control of everything because it needs to be right,” details Shenie. She goes on to explain that she was once that person who wanted to be signed however, since she’s been doing things herself, it doesn’t actually seem necessary, “it feels amazing being in control and owning your own masters,” Shenie tells me.

Having attended a music school, Shenie was amongst friends who were signed to major record labels. Being 18 years old at the time, she tells me it was a huge deal back then however, it’s funny how just a few years later her perception has totally changed, “I’m doing exactly what they’re doing but I’m doing it on my own and I can do it, it’s not impossible,” shares Shenie. She further details that she actually thinks for some people, being in a major label situation works well for them but because she’s so creative, being independent feels right for her.

Shirt by Arela and Jewellery by Dixiegraze & épifenē

Good music always has a message and so I ask Shenie to explain what she’s intending to communicate through her music. I really liked the simplicity and honesty in her answer, “nowadays there’s so much music that’s coming out and most of it isn’t that good,” she states openly. “90’s R&B personally, I love it and I feel like it’s so pure. This EP is really inspired by the music that I grew up with, its how I started off loving music.” I ask Shenie if there is a particular artist she’s listening to right now or if there is anything that she’s currently inspired by, “my own feelings,” she tells me. “I have many moods and feelings so whenever I’m in a zone I like to explore that.” She asked if what she explained made sense and it did completely. Here stands a young woman who is learning to navigate and understand her own feelings, instead of searching outwards, she looks inwards and she invites us on this personal journey, with the release of her debut EP ‘Self.’

‘Self’ EP by Shenie Fogo is out now and available to stream on Spotify.

CREDITS

Photographer - Mike G Smith (Smith Town Studios)

Stylist - Jeff Maranon

Stylist Assistant - Nkemdilim Ezenekwe

MUA - Tahiyah Ali

Hair Stylist - Regina Meesen

Special thanks to Smith Town Studios

With the release of her debut EP ‘Self’ we get to know Swedish singer-songwriter Shenie Fogo and her love for 90’s R&B