Rising Indie R&B/ pop star Shenna, continues her color-themed releases with her new highly energetic single “Magenta.” Her previous projects include “Made of Gold” and “Dream in Color.” Shenna has been making major waves since she burst onto the scene having many of her singles appear on Bad Girls Club, Teen Mom, Finding Carter and Netflix film Miss Stevens. Her debut EP “Made of Gold” held the number 1 spot on Bandcamp in the DMV area for several months. Now with the release of her Bruno Mars inspired music video “Magenta,” Shenna is definitely taking her career to the next level.
Magenta
“When I wrote my song Magenta I was so inspired by the direction and vibe and Bruno’s latest album! He really made it feel old school yet new and I love the trend he started! I wanted make something new, fun yet different with Magenta. It was a style I never did before and it just felt right in that moment.”
Shenna’s vision for her latest music video came about when her and her producer Austin Bello were brainstorming, and she told him she was very inspired by Bruno Mars most recent studio album. She described the color Magenta as very vibrant and indescribable, which is what she wants the listener to feel when they hear the song. The colorful music video displays Magenta as a touch that makes a person feel sexy, confident and fun in that moment. Shenna explained that every time the magenta touches someone it changes their mood and makes them feel unstoppable and desirable.
Her Stance On Bruno Mars
Shenna believes that Bruno Mars totally deserved every single one of his Grammy wins. Despite people’s mixed feelings towards his Grammy sweep, she stated that he is one of the best artists out and is extremely multi-talented and creative.
Music Has Been Her Longtime Passion
Ever since the age of 7 Shenna has known that she was meant to be a performer. It was at that very young age that her mom to notice something in her and began putting her in showcases and choirs. One of her most vivid memories is locking herself in room for hours memorizing songs and practicing choreography as an Elementary school kid while other kids were playing outside.
“I grew up in a house with my cousins who loved putting on shows for the family. At a young age I would always dance around and sing with them but since I was little they would always have me sing background for them. My mom saw how passionate I was at a young age and started putting me into choirs and showcases around the age of 7 and as my cousins started taking different paths with their careers, my passion for music became more serious.”
The “So Low” songstress has been honing her skills for many years now developing her own sound. She describes her style of music as Indie-Pop infused with R&B. Shenna was raised on R&B but as she got older, she became drawn to pop music. She strongly believes that creating hit songs and staying current is important, but she wants people to hear her voice and know that its her.
Corrine Bailey is One of Her Influences
“My favorite artist is Corinne Bailey Rae. The first time I heard her I felt so refreshed and inspired by her music because it talked about life, growth, and happiness in a poetic way. I feel like she helped shape me into a songwriter. I would love to work with her on a songwriting level.”
She also cites Calvin Harris, Rihanna and Drake as people she would like to collaborate with.
Celebrity Influences
“Lady Gaga and Rihanna are both fearless and iconic. I believe being an artist is so much deeper than just music but also expressing who you are and what you stand for. I’m influenced by both of them to express myself no matter how outlandish it maybe. They know how to keep it classy and still make a statement when walking into a room.”
Shenna’s style is very trendy vintage and always tries to wear things that aren’t too common in her music videos.
Her Ethnic Background
Shenna’s ethnic background has played a major role in her life and has directly influenced her music and her fashion sense. She grew up in a very diverse household her father is Syrian and her mother is African American but was born in Germany. She credits her parents for helping to mold her into the person she is today.
“My father would always play popular songs and videos from Damascus when I was a kid and I grew up singing those songs at a young age. My mom sacrificed a lot for me growing up and always told me to embrace who I was and to never be afraid to be different.”
Currently Shenna is working on music and planning new tour stops for Spring/Summer 2018. Check out her music on Spotify.