W

W is an American fashion magazine created in 1972 by James Brady, the publisher of the sister magazine Women's Wear Daily (WWD). In 2022, they interview Jamaican singer-songwriter Shenseea.Wally, Maxine (May 20, 2022). "Shenseea's Pop Star Ambitions Know No Bounds". W.
== Personnel ==
* Maxine Wally writer
* Allia Alliata di Montereale stylist
* Fitch Lunar hair
* Armando Garcia makeup
* Nick Sethi photographer
* Jorge Solorzano, Nick Tooman, Chris Whitaker photo assistant
* D-Touch retouching
* Antonio Soto fashion assistant
* Alison DeMoss hair assistant
* Christina Roberson makeup assistant
* Kevin Carniero set assistant
* Irina Tshartaryan tailor
* Asher Gardner production assistant
== Interview ==
You've been a dancehall star since 2017, when you released your first hit, "Loodi," with Vybz Kartel. You've collaborated with the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and Tyga. Your first album, Alpha, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart in March. Why have you decided to make a pop push at this moment in your career?
I've already done a lot for dancehall. So now it's stage two of achieving my personal goals. Everybody used to ask me, "Where do you see yourself in five years?" I told them, "international." Five years is now. Where do I see myself during the next five years? Selling out arenas. By 35, I should be wrapping up music a little bit and doing some acting. That's why I can't allow anybody to get in the way of my vision, because I'm traveling on time. I'll retire around 40—I want to relax!
What music did you listen to when you were growing up?
Being raised in a Christian home, I wasn't allowed to listen to dancehall, which is considered raunchy and sexual. So I had no exposure to it until I had to take transportation by myself to get to high school. I would hear it in buses, taxis, on kids' phones in school. That's when I found out that I could rap. But I still wanted to be a pop star. I just could not start by doing pop: A Jamaican girl doing pop in Jamaica, they're going to look at you like, This is not our style of music.
Are you still religious?
To this day, I still read my Bible. I'm still praying; I still fast. When I was young, every morning I would have to get up at 4 to do prayer and worship before I went to school. I grew up with my aunt and uncle, and then on my own, because my mom did live-in jobs in a different town, so I would only see her every two weeks. Now I put my son [6-year-old Rajeiro Lee] in a stable home. When I can, I just bring him around the world.
You've said that he's got quite a musical ear.
He knows what sounds good. I remember when I was writing the second verse for "Hangover." He was like, "I like that melody, Mom. Keep that one."
You always make a point to pay homage to your dancehall and reggae predecessors in your music—you featured Sean Paul and Beenie Man on your album.
Wherever you're going, you should never forget where you're coming from. It was important for me to put the OGs on my album, because they have been doing it long before me. Sean Paul gave me strength when he put me in a song with him in the early, early stages of my career. I never forgot that. As for Beenie Man, he has proven that he's definitely the king of dancehall. He has a different energy that nobody else has.
Other collaborators on the record include 21 Savage and Megan Thee Stallion. How did you connect with them?
The majority of the time, they DM me. I speak to artists directly, so we can vibe. I didn't even pay for any features on my album, thanks be to god. Megan, I met her at an awards party. The day after, we exchanged numbers, and I sent her "Lick" and told her that she would sound really dope on it, and she hopped on.
"Lick" is widely regarded as pretty lewd.
People don't understand that it's doing exactly what I put it out to do: for you to talk, to stir up controversy. I've been making sexual music from the very first song I put out. I am allowed to embrace my sexuality. I want to show my booty sometimes. I want to show the little top of the girls sometimes. It's my body. Regardless of what you say about me, I already know who I am; I already know what I'm about. I'm an artist. I'm never going to stick to the same look for the rest of my life. I don't want nobody forgetting me.
== Gallery ==
File:Nick Sethi - Shenseea 2022.jpg
File:Nick Sethi - Shenseea 2022 (2).jpg
== References ==
Category:2022 interviews
Category:Magazines