She’s back! Pop sensation Shekhinah has finally dropped her highly-anticipated second studio album ‘Trouble In Paradise’. The project comes four years since the singer dropped her debut project ‘Rose Gold’ and takes fans on an emotional rollercoaster.
The 12-track project features singles ‘Fixate’ and ‘Tides’ – both of which became massive radio successes around the country.
Unlike ‘Rose Gold’ which was a more optimistic look at life, ‘Trouble In Paradise, as the name suggests, is a well-written tale of the rise and fall you experience when loving someone, being heartbroken and then learning that you should have always loved yourself first.
Shekhinah unapologetically takes us through waves of pain, loss, recovery, and, finally, the acceptance of what her life has become. The star steps up her game in terms of storytelling on this project as she continues on her journey to make music with meaning.
Vocally, Shekhinah sounds better than she has ever sounded. Her raspy vocal is beautifully controlled but is allowed to run free when the moment does present itself.
Sharing the inspiration behind the tracks on the record, Shekhinah admits that the trouble begins with the album opener, ‘Tides’, where she finds herself drowning and her partner is the only person that can save her. Track two, ‘Not Safe’, is symbolic of the bridges you burn to get to where she is, and her paradise is no longer a source of security for her anymore. This led her to feeling alone, ‘Miserable’ without her partner and surrounded by all the flames that she has sparked.
‘Fixate’ is a kind reminder to learn to love ourselves the way that you want others to love you. This is a key moment as she continues to learn from her past and focuses on being her biggest cheerleader, being a team player and no longer letting herself down. ‘Questions’, the next focus track off the album, explores all the different questions you have when going through a breakup. ‘Fall Apart’, ‘Pick Up’ and ‘Insecure’ go through the feeling of no longer needing them by your side but finding yourself reaching for your phone, hoping that they answer your heart’s call and the insecurity you are riddled with while going through this.
The album takes a turn on the ‘Diamonds Do Interlude’, where things become more romantic, signalling a move from single to wanting to be engaged. Her second last track, ‘Love it Here’, was written by none other than the Grammy Award Winner and local musician, Manana and celebrates some of Shekhinah’s favourite memories. ‘Beautiful’, Shekhinah’s favourite song from the album, closes off the entire story and reminds us that we are beautiful as we are, regardless of the path we have walked.
“This album was definitely impacted by COVID-19 in a positive way,” Shekhinah says of the project. “It kind of forced me to reconnect with being in studio. I think I was just really focused on doing shows, building Rosefest [the women’s empowerment festival she founded] and making an income. I was really avoiding the studio, and I think COVID-19 just quieted everything down so that I could [develop] tunnel vision [for] studio.”
Listen to ‘Trouble In Paradise’ below and read more music news here.
