"Music needs a lot of blind faith and money that we don't get back," singer Shourtie speaks

A return, also known as a financial return, in its simplest terms, is the money made or lost on an investment over some time.

Many musicians have always had a challenge when it comes to finances and this is not much different with Kenyan singer Shourtie who is arguably among the best vocalists and stage performers in the region.

We had a conversation with her with regard her new release with Nigerian singer Johhny Benx and this is what she had to say;

What’s the one thing people need to know about Shourtie?

They need to know that I'm here to stay. I want to break barriers and stereotypes about Kenyan music. I know that I  have so much to offer, I'm just hoping that they keep an open mind when they listen to my music because I have a lot in store. 

Can you describe a time when you had to adapt your musical style or approach to suit a specific project or audience?

A while back I was in the studio with two very dope female rappers. These ladies have mastered their craft and for a second I felt very intimidated.

I had to step out of my comfort zone and do some rapping here and there. I think I did a good job.

Have you ever faced a technical difficulty or malfunction during a performance? How did you handle the situation, and what actions did you take to resolve the issue?

Not yet, I pray that it doesn't happen to me lol but if it did happen I can always improvise and do acapella. I was born ready.

Can you explain how you approach creating a new piece of music and walk us through your creative process?

So I do it in two different ways; sometimes I can get an idea(mostly melody), record it on my phone, write to it a little later then record it in the studio. 

Option two is just winging it.; I'll go to the studio, ask the producer what vibe he's in on that day then I'll write to that then record it.

I have been a Songwriter for a while now so it makes the process a little bit easier. I still like a good challenge from time to time though. 

How do you handle pressure and deadlines when it comes to music production or songwriting?

I don't mean to brag but I take my job seriously so I always deliver.

I have extreme anxiety so I make sure I don't miss out on deadlines to avoid putting myself in uncomfortable positions. 

I experience a few hiccups from time to time from others but I've learned to manage my expectations and accept that we're human beings and we're prone to error.

Who's your ideal musician to collaborate with and why?

This is a tough one but I would pick Simi since I like her style of music, it is so different and you never know what to expect from her.

Also, the fact that she's a producer is a plus, we would create magic and I'd learn a lot from her.

Describe your favorite and least favorite part about being a musician.

My favorite part is creating and getting to see how people interpret my music and the impact that it has on them.

My least favorite part is the pressure from the fans about releases. I don't think most of them understand that these things need finances, planning, and a lot of blind faith. We invest money but we don't necessarily get it back for a long time. Which derails the process sometimes cause you need time to reboot.

Your new release “Money” featuring Johnny Benzx is out, describe it in 10 words

Refreshing, dope, motivational, delusional (in a good way), timeless, promising, genius, entertaining art

That's all I've got 🤣

Are there any musicians who inspire you? What qualities do you admire about them?

A lot of artists inspire me but my top  3 are Tiwa Savage, Cindy Sanyu, and Fena Gitu.

I admire how they write their music, vocal prowess, and style.

If you listen to my music then you know for sure that each of these women has heavily influenced my creativity in different ways.

What's the best piece of advice another musician ever gave you? Who was the musician?

Don't be scared to explore your artistic potential, you will go far and I don't remember who told me that though I know it's one of my musical friends.

Shourtie has a new song "Money" featuring Nigerian singer Johnny Benzx out now on YouTube