Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Shaliek embodies the establishment of a fresh vibe with classic soul. His family influence served as the early roots for Shaliek's love for music. The musical authority of legends Stevie Wonder, Donnie Hathaway, Michael Jackson, and Sam Cooke, serves as a backdrop to Shaliek's sound, which is one filled with old school passion, yet capturing new age flavor.
R&B Artist Shaliek hits our Nation’s Capital on Saturday, July 20th when he performs at the historic Howard Theater, 620 T Street NW, Washington, DC. Shaliek will set the tone for an evening of contemporary soul when he opens for Lyfe Jennings at 8:00pm.
We had the opportunity to interview this rising star, check it out!
TBUT: What inspired you to start singing?
Shaliek: My mother always followed me around the house with a video camera, and hearing voices like Donny Hathaway, Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Whitney Houston growing up, I guess I was always intrigued with these voices. I wanted to know more about the artist, and once I got into the artist and reading the credits and the back of cd’s, I told myself, I want to do this, I want to be a singer, I want to be an artist, I want to tour the world and let my music touch millions of people.
TBUT: How does your sound fit in with today’s industry?
Shaliek: I don’t know if the word fit in would describe my voice in my sound because I know that my influence is definitely from the 50s and 60s and The 70s. So I get a lot of how I sing from those guys. But of course today I listen to a lot of today’s music and I think my music will fit right along with today’s music it just has that classic soul edge to it. And people love that classic and soul feel.And I love big production and bands, I pulled a lot from back then but I keep it relevant to today.
TBUT: Who inspired your new single-The Past?
Shaliek: I chose this as the single because we played it for people and a lot of people loved and gravitated to it. We like it because it’s different than what’s on the radio, it’s a different approach. It stood out, the base line, and the way I sing it, it does touch a lot of people and they can relate to it-so we thought it was best for a single.
TBUT: You have a new album about to come out Blood Sweat and Tears, What direction is this album going in?
Shaliek: I was very concerned about keeping the album balanced—not making it to slow or too fast, but just having a balance of different feels, so it wouldn’t get boring or too monotonous. We do have different flavors on there—up-tempo, ballads.
TBUT: How was opening for Lyfe Jennings at the legendary BB Kings?
Shaliek: That was amazing. I love rocking out with my brother Lyfe. I’ve been doing it for years; we kinda came into the game together, well not at the same time, so I’ve watched his career blossom and grow. So that was good to rock out with him and I loved meeting and performing for his fans. A couple of his fans are becoming my fans as well. It was amazing—the energy was great, it was cool to see him and do our thing together.
TBUT: Who else have you worked with in the industry?
Shaliek: Alicia Keys, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, I worked with Ne-Yo before he was Ne-Yo actually; I worked with him when he was just Shaffer, before he grew up—we worked together. Scott Storch & The Underdoggs.
TBUT: So I heard you won Apollo?
Shaliek: Yes I won 1st place at the Apollo, I sung Stevie Wonder, Knocks Me off My Feet. That was a turning point in my career, people would notice me and I became a local celebrity when I was living in Charleston, South Carolina. And that’s what made me really want to peruse becoming an artist and doing this professionally.
TBUT: Apollo is a tough crowd, how was that experience?
Shaliek: It really is, I was like I hope these people don’t boo me. But one I hit the stage, once I started performing, I felt the energy from the crowd and I had to put on a show and I pulled it off…
Shaliek will be at Howard Theater this Saturday July 20th! Go like his Facebook fan page https://www.facebook.com/OfficialShaliek
Follow him on twitter @officialshaliek
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