Finding truly transcendent, genre-less artists seems harder than ever nowadays, not for lack of talent, but mainly because there’s just so many ways to be boxed in. That’s why finding and listening to an artist like Brooklyn’s Shalom is all the more special. Fearless and unable to be confined with any one descriptor, her debut singles tell a fascinating story.
A true polymath and unbridled creative, Shalom went between Maryland and South Africa growing up, spending time in New Jersey at Rutgers University while honing her unique artistry in order to tell her story as a first-generation woman of color, and a college student in a predominately white space. Ultimately ending up in Brooklyn, her roundabout journey helped steep her music in all the unique flavor and flair that it’s come to possess today. Her debut release, “Bad To The Bone” and “Agnes” are bold and engaging exhibitions of a unique artist who hasn’t even begun to make her mark.
Make no mistake, “Bad To The Bone” and Glass Animals‘ cover “Agnes” are both a-sides. Each track is a perfect showcase for the electric sonic chemistry between Shalom and acclaimed producer Ryan Hemsworth (whose credits include Tinashe, Joji, Tory Lanez, and Ambré). It isn’t often that an artist and producer can link so perfectly right from the start but these introductory songs clearly make the case that Hemsworth and Shalom were perfect collaborators.
After signing to taste-making and eclectic label Saddle Creek, Shalom’s debut album (slated for 2023) is an entire collaboration with Hemsworth and if these two tracks are anything to go off of, it will be a landmark project in bold, boundless alternative music.
Connect with Shalom: Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud | Spotify | Apple Music
