Words by Art Jefferson
Images by Levi Armstrong, Blaow and courtesy of Shakka
Shakka is the guy right now. The The MOBO Award-winning singer, emcee, songwriter, producer and performer is a classic example of what one would describe as a renaissance man. His live shows are second to none, with the cheeky artist possessing the ability to capture a crowd with bare wit if he chose. Aside from storming the UK Charts with Wretch 32 for the 2013 hit single ‘Blackout’, his single ‘Say Nada’ featuring JME was an instant radio smash with Shakka supported by BBC Radio 1xtra. Multi-faceted in every sense of the word, he is a part of that specific heritage of well-rounded artists who only come around so many years in music.
Raised in the West London section of Notting Hill, Shakka Philip released his debut EP Foolishness Vol. 1 back in 2009. Whilst the project was a small glimpse into the window of his musical eclecticism, it was Shakka’s 2011 mixtape The Shakka Crown Affair that helped him get the attention and respect of a slew of industry big-wigs and artists including Rita Ora. The project magnified his entertaining charisma with Philip singing and rapping over a wide array of instrumentals by acts such as Coldplay, Q-Tip and more.
In 2012, Shakka took the idea of a mixtape to a higher level with his release The Shakkapellas. Recording a batch of covers which included Beyonce’s ‘End Of Time’ and Frank Ocean’s ‘Thinkin ‘Bout You’, each track was recorded without instruments but rather beatboxing and vocal harmonies. Shakka also participated in The Great British Art Debate held at the Tate Museum, performing an acoustic set as well as discussing the influence of identity and family in terms of creating art.
With four years of steam behind him, 2013 was the year that Shakka saw mainstream success with his feature of Wretch 32’s hit ‘Blackout’. The track shot straight up the charts reaching number 3 on the UK Dance and UK Indie Chart, whilst landing at number 6 on the UK Singles Chart. ‘Blackout’ was nominated for ‘Best Song’ at the 2013 MOBO Awards. Keeping the momentum going, Shakka unleashed his 2013 EP Tribe, a perfectly polished dealing of pop, soul, RnB and indie which spawned the single ‘Just Want To See You’. As well as performing on BBC’s Introducing stage at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival, Shakka was also featured in the Nadia Fall play Home, which ran at the National Theatre.
2015 proved to be another big year for Shakka with the entertainer setting a blaze with his rework of Ten Walls’ ‘Walking With Elephants’ featuring Frisco and then dropping another big single entitled ‘Say Nada’ featuring Boy Better Know’s JME. The same year Shakka released his EP The Lost Boys, featured on Lethal Bizzle’s ‘Playground’, performed at the massive Wireless Festival and ultimately rounded out the year as winner of the 2015 MOBO Award for ‘Best RnB/Soul’ act.
With 2016 simply being a continuation of Shakka’s musical take-over, the West Londoner has again blasted-off with his hit ‘You Don’t Know What You Do To Me’ featuring Chip. He has performed at the Great Escape Festival, will be performing at the 2016 Wireless Festival,s supporting RnB star Brandy and playing the El Dorado Festival in Ledbury – happening July 1 – 3rd. At this point Shakka is clearly grabbing the world by his hand, and holding on with a firm grip.
You’re one those artists who I can say is truly eclectic. You were singing and rapping on various styles of music going back to your 2009 EP Foolishness Vol. 1 and The Shakka Crown Affair mixtape which you dropped in 2011. Although I’m sure you had many, who were some of your influences growing up?
Shakka – Outkast, Dennis Brown Biggie Smalls, Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder, Dizzee Rascal.
You have loads of personality when singing and emceeing. Which one did you first begin honing your craft in or were they both always side by side?
Shakka – Firstly, I would say singing but I didn’t really see much of a difference between either. I was fascinated by how Stevie Wonder would sing and write the music that he made and that’s what made me start and so I studied him just to see if I could sing better than him – it didn’t work haha, but I got to a good enough point to be here today.
What inspired the concept for The Shakkapellas project you did back in 2012.? That was definitely a unique and creative take on covers that, in my opinion, no one has really topped yet.
Shakka – Theres a lady by the name of Synthia Erivo who plays the lead in The Color Purple in NYC; when we were in the studio together a couple years back, to make a rough guide of the song I would beatbox every layer which took about 5 to 10 mins. She told me that I was a ‘freak of nature’ and a light bulb appeared over my head…a year later The Shakkapellas were born.
How did you and Wretch 32 come together for ‘Blackout’ and did you immediately know off the top that you guys had created smash hit when the recording was done?
Shakka – I didn’t think. It was all around the time about a year after I released The Shakka Crown Affair. We had congregated at Labrinth’s dinner and Wretch was sitting next to me, he then sang every word of the song ‘Take’ – fast forward about 8 months later and the team sent me the instrumental for the song and I recorded the chorus, 4 months later it was in the bloody charts! The same recording from my bedroom! Life is full of wonderful surprises.
Your song ‘Say Nada’ was another one of those cuts that just instantly tore the roof off the building. JME is featured on the track. Can you talk about how that collab came about?
Shakka – I got his number at the Red Bull Music Academy in 2014. At NHC I met Skepta and Frisco when I was doing a gig with the Basement Jaxx, they showed love and then I was lucky enough to jump in the studio with Frisco to do ‘The Elephants’ further down the line. I put ‘Say Nada’ on Soundcloud, JME went mad and it was about the same time he dropped Integrity and I humbly asked him if we can go to the studio and if he could jump on the ‘Say Nada’ remix and there it is…history.
Your EP The Lost Boys was a heavy-hitter from track to track. How meticulous are you when it comes to putting everything together for your releases? From the sound to the order of how the songs are arranged, everything is highly detailed and sonically logical.
Shakka – It just needs to be engaging, that’s all it is. I know when I watch stuff, I don’t have time to be force-fed something that I don’t care about, and I know my fans are the same so I just want to give them something they’re excited to talk about and if it’s not then it doesn’t make the cut. Simples.
Can you describe your feeling at the time of winning the MOBO Award? You were among the recipients which included Skepta, Ella Eyre, FKA twigs and Stormzy, just to name a few.
Shakka – Winning the award was more for my family and close friends that made me, then it was for me because I got to jump on the stage with a mic in my hand and show them that all their hard work and efforts to keep me on this path were worth it. Plus I got to say ‘hi mum’ on live TV. The people who I remember winning this same award are Destiny’s Child and Beverly Knight, so to even insinuate that I am in the same league as them is nothing short of humbling. Plus Lenny Henry is a fan which is a bonus.
For a number of years now you have been championed by the likes of presenters such as MistaJam, supported by BBC Radio 1xtra, worked with giants in the industry, performed at large festivals such as Wireless and more. You have accomplished quite a bit in a few years. What are a couple of things that you would still like to achieve?
Shakka – Wembley stadium, the Super Bowl, MainStage, Mount Fuji Festival and a Nobel Peace Prize for services to the arts, and to direct a movie with Idris in the lead. I want to be in the next James Bond movie and I want to get my mum a house in Maida Vale, and I want to have a pet panda named Chi-cho!
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