By Miz
Hailing up strong and independent women within the music industry is such an important thing to do, especially considering the struggles creatives can endure along their journey. That’s why when you come across an amazing person who supports amazing women by doing amazing things, you just have to shout about it. So, I decided to sit down with the inspirational Queen of Art herself, Shay D, to speak about her beginnings, her works, her goals and her future.
How long have you been making music?
I have been making music for a long while, like well over ten years! I was spitting on pirate radio from Heat FM days, to youth clubs, all the way to now. BUT I stopped and wasn’t taking it as serious or taking up opportunities as I had so much life stuff to deal with. Music has never been LIFE or death for me, it’s something I enjoy doing that I CAN’T NOT do. I write poems, raps, stories, whether it is going out there or not, to keep me healthy and I just pick up a pen when I feel to. I have been doing it professionally for around 6 years now.
What inspired you to become an artist and poet?
My grandad was a poet, always reciting at home. My friends in school were spitting, my older cousin Davill was spitting, my other cousin was hosting Garage and Grime sets in his bedroom with about 20 man in there cyphering, so I naturally just gave it a go and people were really encouraging. I have always listened to Rap and R&B from a young age so it never felt weird to not try it. I love saying what I think and standing up for people or making issues known through art. It’s quite a statement for me.
How did you pick your name?
My cousin named me Lady Shady when I was MCing. I loved Eminem and I’m pretty sure she jacked that and was like you’re like the female version, LOL. But I never told anyone that I rap and I was VERY shy growing up so everyone would be like “rah your Shady”. Then I swapped the letters round and people cut it down to Shay, and it stuck.
Would you say your background and culture has given you inspiration?
My heritage and being Perisan, brought up by two strong women – my mum and grandma, have played a HUGE role on how I’m shaped as a person and ultimately me as an artist. I was an only child as well for around 12 years before my dad had other kids, so I used to have to keep myself busy with creating scenarios and writing scripts and poems. Also poets such as Ruminator and Hafiz are in all Persian households and their writings had a big significance on my beliefs and how I use art to tell stories. Being a woman around Middle Eastern women also ignited a fire as there are many boundaries we break, such as rapping. Iranian women don’t tend to rap. I was a big tomboy growing up too, and was finding identities in people like Queen Latifah, Missy Elliot, Da Brat and Aaliyah, and was able to relate to them, how they dressed and how they carried themselves.
What was your thought process behind creating the Queens of Art Tour?
I just wanted to tour my album, Human Writes, initially, as it was quite popular amongst my fanbase and I wanted to connect with them through-out the UK. But I thought, why not take other women, my friends, talented females in the scene with me. I see guys all the time bringing their friends, and guys collaborating but it seems with women, they always wanna make a space for just like the “top two”, and its so dumb as there is SO MANY talented women. I thought if the guys are doing this, why don’t we? And instead of talking about it or moaning on Twitter, I thought let me do something about it! It’s been amazing.
When did you decide to make the dream a reality, and how hard was it to kickstart?
It is VERY HARD WORK I’m not gonna lie! I firstly do this independently so I had to sit for hours between other work such as youth work and running my monthly event. I was calling up venues, looking up travel and hotels, contacting artists to even see if they would put this on and how much it would cost. I started seeing how crazy expensive it would be as I wanted everyone to get paid and be comfortable during the tour. I was approached by someone at my event and she said why don’t you get Arts Council Funding toward it. So I went online and spoke to them, did the form which was SO LONG but you just have to work at it. We got the grant and then I was able to start putting it into practise!
How does it feel being able to do a Round 2 of the tour and to give more women this opportunity?
It felt amazing, I cried when I got the mail because I was having a tiring long day and felt everything was going wrong and then got the mail to say that we had got the funding. I was so happy to connect with another 20 women. It’s so amazing to connect with women we wouldn’t normally have a chance to and also the women all get to know each other and everyone raises each others profiles. It’s so magical!
Do you think it’s important to make connections nationally and internationally, in regards to collaborations and touring?
It’s vital. Saying yes and collaborating with others is what makes things happen. There is enough for everyone to eat. Moving around the world opens up opportunities, there are over 7 billion humans in the world. Imagine not connecting with them! Think of what happens when you meet someone who can exchange something with you that you may not have access to.
Being a youth mentor, what advice would you give young people looking to enter the music or creative industry?
I would say, be prepared for a long haul, especially if you want to be timeless. If it is purely for money and fame, there are shortcuts and things you can do, but if this is something you want to do for ages, you gotta put in the work. I would say don’t be shy, go to places even if you’re alone, speak to others, don’t trust everyone, and MAKE REALLY GOOD MUSIC.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I would like to be touring internationally, I would love for my music to be streamed worldwide and just have a great connection with my audience. I also would love to be putting on my own festival, have a podcast and continue doing the amazing youth work we do. I just wanna travel through my music and look after my family and friends from doing what I love.
You can see Shay D perform live multiple times during this month of March, as her Queens of Art tour is in full swing. Keep updated by following her social media and checking out her website.
Tickets for the Queens of Art tour are promoted through her Twitter, and some can also be found on the website below.
https://www.seetickets.com/tour/queens-of-art
Twitter: @ShayDRap
Instagram: @shaydrap
Website: ShayDMusic.com