SHALOM: “MUSIC IS VERY MUCH THE REASON I’M STILL HERE”

VOCAL GIRLS get to know Brooklyn-based musician Shalom in a chat about her musical beginnings, inspirations, and her debut album Sublimation.

Born in Maryland, raised in South Africa, and currently residing in Brooklyn, Shalom has always looked to music and songwriting as fundamental vessels for navigating her experiences. Her debut album Sublimation is a personal and vulnerable record that bluntly explores heartbreak, self-destruction, and mental health, as well as the prospect of choosing love over fear. Speaking to VOCAL GIRLS, Shalom takes us through the ways in which music has impacted her life, what it was like to collaborate virtually with producer Ryan Hemsworth, and her varied inspirations. With a unique ability to communicate complex emotions through her music, Shalom’s natural flair for drawing art from the chaos of life makes her debut LP vivid, relatable, and apt for building a genuine community of listeners. 

Photo Credit: Aaron DuRall

Is there one thing that you could attribute to getting you into music?

Being a high-functioning, mentally ill adolescent, and the determination with which I asked for the little pink radio that I got for my 11th birthday.

If you had to pick three words to describe your music, what would they be?

Raw, real & rocking.

Has growing up living in different places informed your songwriting?

I’m sure it has, because environment plays a huge role in development, but I would say that it’s informed my experiences, which then inform my songwriting.

Your debut album Sublimation is a very personal and emotionally complex record, with songs like ‘Train Station’, ‘Lighter’ and ‘Nowadays’ detailing trauma, heartbreak, grief, and feeling like an outsider – what is it about writing music that helps you to navigate your experiences?

My life has been really intense for a long time, and music has helped me make sense of it. It is just so important to me on a fundamental level, because music is very much the reason I’m still here. It’s the fact that music doesn’t ask anything of me, except to be honest and feel my feelings and see what it sounds like when I’m done.

At university, you experimented in bands on the New Brunswick DIY scene, and the music video for 'Soccer Mommy' takes place in a DIY venue in New Brunswick - what was your favourite thing about the New Brunswick DIY scene?

The way the community shows up for each other.

Sublimation was the product of a year-long virtual collaboration with producer Ryan Hemsworth - what was the main challenge you came across?

This is funny because I didn’t really feel like there were any challenges that got in the way - no obstacles, really. It was just a good time through and through. Ryan and I get on really well so it just felt like building this world with a friend. Music lego, if you will.

You've spoken about how Soccer Mommy – who you even named a song after – has been an important artist to you, with her music helping you to overcome difficult times. Are there any other artists who really inspire you?

I’ve got a laundry list of inspirations, but I think the artists that make me reckon with myself and my existence through their writing are big songwriting inspirations for me. Some artists who make records that break my heart, fix it, and confirm my humanity include: Car Seat Headrest, Florence + The Machine, LCD Soundsystem, Lorde, Maggie Rogers, and Indigo De Souza.

What are you most excited about once the record is out? 

I am honestly beyond buzzing to talk to people about their listening experience after hearing it as a whole. It’s so much of me, and I have been wanting to talk about it (and I have been) for about two years, so more than anything I’m excited to have a community of listeners.

Sublimation is out on 10th March via Saddle Creek.