Q&A: The Summer Belongs to Emerging Hip-Hop Star Shelailai
THIS SUMMER BELONGS TO SHELAILAI AND WE ARE LOVING IT — On June 11, Shelailai unleashed her summer anthem, “GOODTIME,” an undeniably catchy and infectious tune that is guaranteed to have everyone up on their feet and dancing carefree. This sun-soaked track is not only vibrant and truly a “good time,” it’s an absorbing debut.
The LA–based, Vancouver raised multidimensional artist is a force to be reckoned with. Outside of being an exciting emerging rapper, Shelailai is an award-winning stop motion animator and a content creator. On TikTok, she has gained a whopping 170K followers who love her videos showcasing her fast-flowing rhymes and poetic flair. Her sound is often lovingly compared to that of other iconic female rappers such as Doja Cat and Nicki Minaj, and these are comparisons Shelailai happily embraces.
Having been born to two DJ parents, Shelailai grew up listening to a variety of music, ranging from Amy Winehouse and Erykah Badu to Jay Z and A Tribe Called Quest. As a result, the rapper never tries to limit her sound or try to fit into a particular genre. Instead, she cites female rappers who are often lauded for their artistic innovation, experimental production, and vocal versatility, such as Missy Elliot, Doja Cat, and Noname, as her influences.
Her inspirations and upbringing have shaped her sound and artistry, encouraging her to take more risks and be more liberated sonically.
Produced by Zach and Roger, who previously worked with 2Chainz and A$AP Rocky, her debut single invites her audience to join her in a vivid world of music. “GOODTIME” is a succinct display of her impressive skills and promising future as an artist. She has since dropped an immersive visualiser of the track and is currently working on new music with some amazing producers, including Oscar Scheller (NewJeans, Pinkpantheress) and Slush Puppy (Nessa Barrett, Dorian Electra).
We sat down with Shelailai to talk about her journey in music, her influences, and her hopes for her future. Read our conversation below.
Photo Credit: Savanna Ruedy
LUNA: What made you pursue music?
SHELAILAI: Music has always played an important role in my life. Expressing myself through music has been an outlet for me growing up. I only believed it would be possible to pursue when my online freestyle rap videos started to gain attention — that’s when I actually started to take it [seriously] as a possible career.
LUNA: You cite influences like Noname, Missy Elliot, and Doja Cat. How do you blend their styles with your own to make your music so different?
SHELAILAI: I've always felt super inspired by Noname's poetic and intricate lyricism. Not only is the content of her music deep and meaningful, but it’s also beautifully pleasing to the ear; the way she flows so seamlessly is something I try to emulate in my own music. I find similar qualities in Missy and Doja, but I’m also inspired by their fun goofy lyricism. It’s not always easy to make a goofy song without it being somewhat corny, but they never fail to find the right balance.
LUNA: Your lyrics are known for their clever wordplay and complex rhyme schemes. What inspires your writing process, and how do you approach crafting your lyricism?
SHELAILAI: I rarely go into writing sessions with a theme, topic, or rhyme scheme. I prefer to hear the instrumental first and that usually draws out a certain melody that turns into lyrics, and it usually just comes together on the spot. I’ll start with a mumble flow that sounds cool and rolls off the tongue, then I’ll attach words with a similar intonation.
LUNA: As an emerging artist in hip-hop, what message do you want to convey through your art, and what impact do you hope to make on the genre?
SHELAILAI: Music is my personal therapy so I’m always trying to mentor myself through my songs, whether that be relationships, self-doubt, or insecurities. I write to uplift and feel confident.
Photo Credit: Savanna Ruedy
LUNA: Your parents were both DJs — how did their influence shape your musical tastes and aspirations?
SHELAILAI: My parents being DJs had a huge influence on the diversity of my music taste, from hip-hop to jazz to Motown. Having that range makes it easier to bend and blend genres when I want to experiment with different sounds
LUNA: What was your favourite part about making “GOODTIME”?
SHELAILAI: It was fun to make it all around. I enjoyed telling a little story at the beginning. I'm sure a lot of people can relate to guys trying to sympathy flirt on the streets, who perhaps aren’t exactly in your league but they still try. My favorite part of the song would have to be when I’m spelling out the words — the whole song is pretty fast so it was nice to slow it down and spell things out for a second.
LUNA: You started with playing instruments and then moved to rap battles on TikTok. Can you tell us about that journey and how it helped you develop your unique style?
SHELAILIA: I mainly played the flute in high school and had a lot of solos, especially in jazz band, so I had to come up with a lot of melodies on the fly. This definitely helped with finding cool unique flows and melodies.
LUNA: What's next for Shelailai? Any upcoming projects or releases that you're excited about?
SHELAILAI: My next single, “BY YOU,” is coming very soon, with more music to follow after that. I've been looking forward to finally sharing my music for a long time. Every song has its own unique style and vibe so it’s definitely something to look out for!
