Shay Lia is a woman of the world. Born in France, raised in the tiny, lesser known East African country of Djibouti (on the northeast coast of the Horn of Africa) and currently residing in Montreal. The independent singer-songwriter’s intentional, soulful offerings smoothly pack multiple genres and effervescent movement into a concise, sonic + visual narrative of the artist’s self-discovery.
Shay Lia’s work relays the artist’s uncontained energy with an approach that is stylish, timeless and can be likened to the boundless energy of the sun. She’s an out-of-the-box thinker that refuses to be confined by a singular construct of an artist. Her self-assured approach shines particularly bright on her 2019 debut EP “Dangerous” – one that critics have called “meticulous” and “confidently succinct.”
Following the public acclaim and accolades (including a Polaris Prize nomination, #1 on the iTunes Canada charts and #2 iTunes South Africa charts) of her 7-track debut project in 2019 and an epic collaborative exchange with KAYTRANADA, Shay Lia owned the sound waves of 2020 by diversifying her artistic output while returning to the roots that are sure to resonate in a world that could always use a little more soulful sensuality. This came to life with her September 2020 EP, SOLARIS. Blending thoughtful cultural context with contemporary collective emotion, her work resonates globally with the likes of Pitchfork, Vogue, SSENSE, and others. Shay Lia is ripe with joy and vibrance and ready to show you just how versatile she is.