in: where

After she performed “Light of the World” and “Phenomenal Woman” in the cold November night for IN:WHERE Performances, we head to a sushi restaurant to film another episode of ‘On The Way’. We order some vegetarian sushi after learning Shanuka is vegetarian and start the interview.

Today I’m here with:

Shanuka, hi guys. I’m a singer-songwriter from Scarborough
Yeah, I’m excited to be here.

One question that we always ask our, the people that come on the show is, to get to know them even better is
what inspired you to become an artist? And was this something that you’ve always wanted to do?

I think I was always like from when I was old enough to take in music, I feel like I always loved it. And then, I don’t know, I just started singing at home, singing along to songs. And then I started playing piano, I kind of taught myself how to play songs that I love. Yeah, so it started when I was really young. And then when I got into high school, I got more interested in making my own music. Yeah, and from there, I just never stopped.

Who were your biggest influences, as you were making music, were like, sort of inspired you to become an artist?
When I was starting off, definitely, I was in the SoundCloud era, I was that girl. I really liked Steve Lacey, Kali Uchis, like even Tyler, The creator, even though maybe my music doesn’t sound like his. I was kind of into that kind of vibe, like Jorja Smith, when she was starting off too, that was like a lot of stuff, I was listening, Willow Smith too, yeah.

So you mentioned the SoundCloud era, and I did a deep dive into you, and I saw that you started releasing music
in SoundCloud eight years ago. Could you describe that era of yourself, and like, what was the process? And I saw that you were like, producing everything yourself. I was wondering, like, what was that process for you making music ?

When I was, I don’t claim that I’m a producer at all. Like, it was just, I don’t know, I think I was just interested in making my own music, so I’d mess around on GarageBand, and it was pretty easy to kind of navigate, especially with my like, I guess, skills of learning piano. Yeah, like, it was fun, it was really new to me, and it was fun, and it was fun to see
how I am as a writer too, like how I’m able to write and kind of put these thoughts and feelings on paper. And then through that, like, when I started putting on SoundCloud, more people, people actually started listening. It was only kind of for me and my friends and family. Like, it was just for fun. And then people actually, I was gaining some followers on SoundCloud, people like commenting. A lot of my older stuff have like, kind of a lot of streams for SoundCloud. And then people told me to upload to like, streaming, and like, Spotify and stuff. And then, yeah, I started meeting more producers that way, kind of putting myself out there. Yeah, and then working with people that are way better at producing than me, so, yeah.

And then, you know, while we’re still in that era, from ‘To Space’, from ‘Teenage Feelings’ to ‘Tranquility’, and many more that you released on SoundCloud. Which one was your favorite, like, song, and was like, this was the quintessential, like, Shanuka of that era?

I’d say, like, I have a song called ‘Endless Time’, also, in that, like, whole era. That’s probably one of my favorites, where I think the production was like, I kind of stepped it up as much as I could. But Teenage Feelings, that’s also one of my favorites, too. Because I think that one, a lot of people resonated to, I felt like, in that time of my life, it was what I was feeling, so, yeah.

And then moving on to today, where when people listen to your releases, like, Do You Ever Wonder, Phenomenal Woman, even Wicked, one of my favorites, the common themes in those songs are, femininity, self-empowerment, embracing who you are.
What sort of like, inspired you to write about that, and why do you think that’s so important to write about those things, to you, at least?

Yeah, no, I love that question. I appreciate you catching on to those themes, too, it’s cool. Like, but I think it’s just being a woman in this world, and kind of, I guess, going through, you know, transitioning into adulthood, and like, healing from past things, you know everyone goes through stuff, I think it was, I wanted to kind of make music that I wish I heard more of when I was younger, especially coming from like, a brown woman, like, I didn’t see a lot of representation, so I’m like, I don’t know, this is like, what I’m feeling, and I hope I can empower other women, just like me, you know, you don’t have to be brown, you know, like all women, but, yeah, like, through my truth, I guess, and I’ve always been someone that like, wrote from like, kind of like, deep within, like what I’m feeling and stuff like that, and through like, deep introspection, so, yeah, it just kind of authentically comes.

And then, one song that you recently dropped, I think a month ago, at the time of this filming, was “Light of The World.” For those that don’t read the YouTube descriptions, like I do, can you tell us more about the inspiration and how the song came to life?

Yeah, yeah, like you said, just like bringing up the things that go on in this world, and I think there’s a lot of darkness happening, and it’s a weird time where we’re all kind of seeing all these things happen, like live, right, through the digital world, and…. I don’t know, I just feel like a lot of people are so desensitized by it almost, and like, they’re so distracted by everything else also, but thinking social media is real, I don’t know. It’s very complex feeling, but I felt like I wish more bigger artists would kind of speak on these things, like, you know, like real issues that are happening, so, yeah, I just, it’s something that I want to speak more and be more vocal and use my voice, and my – whatever platform I have, to kind of bring focus and light to these things, and letting people know it’s okay to be angry and feel what you’re feeling, you know?

No, that’s great, like I think what I’m getting from you
is like, you wear your heart on your sleeve this way,
and you put it out there, right?

Yeah, I like to say I wear my heart on my chest. I actually have a heart tattoo on my chest.

I think we’ll see that in the music video, right?
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, you do see it in the music video, I want to wear it, and like, spread love to everyone, whatever way I can.

And then I saw that you recently performed at Put Me On Toronto earlier this year. One question we always ask our viewers is, what are your pre-show rituals?

I like to meditate sometimes, Okay. even for like, it’s for a minute, two minutes, close my eyes. I, something I recently learned that I like to do is I like to just be alone, like, when I pull up to the show, I actually like to pull up by myself. Yeah, which is weird, like, I used to pull up with people, like, back in the day, but now I’m, like, comfortable. I don’t think there’s anything where I’m pulling up by yourself, but I like to pull up by myself in my car, and I’ll, like, practice in my car. I don’t know, like, I’ll just play the instrumental or whatever, if I’m not performing with the band.

What else do I do?
I don’t know, I just like to say, like, words of affirmation, just finding myself, like, I’m doing this for a reason, you know, like, I have something to share with people. Like, I used to get really nervous and think of the worst case, but now I’m more, like, excited…There’s still, like, an anxiousness,
but I’m more excited than, like, nervous, I guess.

Being from Scarborough and Toronto. You can give me a hot take about each place or one or the other, which one you feel.
Yeah, I think Scarborough has the realest people. The East End for life. But I think Scarborough, like, I always claim Scarborough and I take full pride in being from Scarborough, but I think there’s, like, so much talent in Scarborough, there’s so much talent all around Toronto,
but I think Scarborough specifically, there’s, like, this kind
of vibe or, like, culture, like, kind of drive that I find within people…when I, sometimes I meet someone and I, like, can tell they’re from Scarborough, I don’t know, and then, like, or we can–
It’s giving off that Scarborough vibe.
Yeah, I don’t know, like, it’s interesting. I feel like there’s a lot of cool people from Scarborough and, yeah, where, you know, I hope everyone makes it. Out of Scarborough.

If you had to live in one neighborhood, it could be in Scarborough, Toronto. What neighborhood would it be in?
I don’t know, I never, like, thought about that, I guess, because I’m still in Scarborough, but I guess when I’m in the city, I do like being around, like, Kensington vibes.
I don’t know if I would, like, move there, but I do like, kind of, being there, so…I actually meet, sometimes when I go by myself, I end up making friends while I’m there.

Really? Every time?
Not every time, but it’s like.

How do you meet them? Like, you just walk to,
you just bump into them?

Some people working there, like, I made some friends where they were, they’re artists and they’re, like, displaying their art. And I just started chatting with them, and then they, I ended, one of them ended up drawing a portrait of me. And then I was just talking to them for a minute after, like, I think we were smoking, whatever, and I seen him again recently, like, this summer, and I was like, “Hey,” and he remembered me, and he remembered my name, and so. Yeah, so it was cool.

Do you have any hot takes about music?
I think that, what, a hot take, or maybe, like, a controversial take, I don’t know. I think, I wish more of these very talented artists, like I said before, just, I guess, spoke more on
just things that will bring more, like, light and positivity into
people’s life, you know? I know a lot of the music, it’s very, like, surface level, like, the right, it’s just all fun, and then it’s cool, you know, like, now everything has to be deep. Yeah, very, like, commercial, or, how do you say it? Yeah, but I think I just wish more of these artists would kind of talk about, like, real issues and deeper issues. Yeah, and just how people awaken their hearts and their souls, because it’s a weird time.

but I think talent is talent, you know? There’s a lot of, I like how now, a lot of new, it’s like the genre, it’s like sub-genres, you know? It’s all like, like, R&B pop, it’s like, everyone’s so experimental now.

And one new question that we’re always asking people now is, “Stuck on an island [with] your iPod Nano,” for those that know what that is, “Unlimited Power,” but you’re gonna have five artists in that iPod Nano. Who would you pick?

Okay, easy. 1. Bob Marley, Top… probably like, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse. I’ve been like, really, I really like Leon Thomas, like one of the newer ones. Like, I think I can
listen to every single, I’ve been listening to him before he like, blew up, but like, every single project of his is good. So, Leon Thomas, Fifth… I don’t know. I wanna say a woman, but like, there’s so many artists, but I’ll say Damian Marley, I say Bob Marley’s son. Damien Marley, okay. I really f— with Damian

And then last question, we wanna know, your fans wanna know, do you have anything coming up in the near future, anything that we should be looking out for?

Yeah, so I’ll speak to you guys. [Looks at the camera]
I’m working on an album right now, so I don’t know when it’s gonna come out, but hopefully next year, but it’s a lot, I think it’s just some of like, the best music I’ve written and created, and I’m excited, I’m excited. I think I’ve been kind of
running from a place of my truth and like, what I wanna
speak about and share, so yeah.