Shellz makes no bones about who’s responsible for the music, writing, story and casting for the video of her latest single, ‘Slide’. It was all done by her. Those who already know about the Boston-born Haitian-American singer, rapper, and songwriter won’t be surprised in the slightest. Her acclaimed 2018 mixtape,’No Category’ had self-assertion as its major theme, and with ‘Slide’, her statements of purpose are even stronger.
Independently released, ‘Slide’ has seen play on urban stations across the US, with more and more programmers catching onto this dazzling new voice. It’s currently the #1 most-added track on college radio stations, and Shellz sings with authority and flexibility as she sings seductively through artful vocal processing, before spitting out rhymes against a rapid trap beat. Shellz was previously a DJ before she became a recording artist, and has always had the gift of being able to synthesise style. She puts her skilled ears to work on her new single, fusing pop, RnB, hip hop, along with a smattering of Island music sounds.
Directed by JaeStar, the clip for ‘Slide’ is crisply made, and presents Shellz as a camera-ready and charismatic screen presence. The video dramatises the narrative of the song, with Shellz torn between her desire to assert her independence, and her attachment to a boyfriend, who seems to be putting his work before their relationship. As the hours go by and her text messages go unanswered, she heads to the studio where her boyfriend works, where their differences are resolved.
Find out more about Shellz online on her website and on Instagram.
