From the very first moments of Wonderlove, Chase Shakur’s debut album, it’s clear that we’re getting into a realm the place darkish alt-R&B tones mesh seamlessly with an undercurrent of vibrant power. The opening monitor, which Shakur describes as “at all times intentional” in reflecting his relationship with God, units a reflective, nearly prayerful temper for the journey forward. It seems like an intimate act of confession—one which reveals the artist’s deep introspection and vulnerability. Shakur’s voice dips between smoky whispers and uncooked emotional pleas, illustrating how non secular grounding and creative honesty go hand-in-hand in his world.
Over the previous yr, Shakur has been steadily releasing singles that showcase his distinctive fusion of moody digital beats and confessional lyrics. Followers have been keen for a bigger physique of labor, however as he instructed EBONY, he usually wrestles with the truth of that anticipation. “A whole lot of instances I’m actual laborious on myself, so I don’t really feel prefer it’s anticipated,” he admitted with a humble snort. It’s a glimpse into the psyche of a younger expertise who as soon as needed to imagine in himself when nobody else did. Now, with “Khalid listening to a music” and “basketball gamers” tuning in, Shakur finds himself experiencing what he calls “evening and day” in comparison with the place he began—proof that the regulation of attraction has really been at work.
The lead single, “Limerence,” digs into that near-obsessive longing that feels unshakable—an emotional state Shakur insists doesn’t hinder his creativity however somewhat fuels it. “It’s simply life shit for actual,” he laughed, explaining how his love life and late-night contemplations spill over into the music. The undertaking additionally attracts from sudden sources just like the movie Stomach and the anime sequence Cowboy Bebop, which encourage his retro-futuristic visuals and atmospheric storytelling. Even earlier than he began making music, Shakur was exploring self-expression by modeling—a incontrovertible fact that explains the tastefully shadowed, half-concealed strategy to his album art work and music movies.
But for all of the genre-bending model and refined mystique, it’s the uncooked honesty that actually ties Wonderlove collectively. Shakur overtly addresses how, earlier in his profession, he hesitated to “go all the best way there” with private feelings. Now, he proudly admits, “I don’t give a fuck,” and lays all of it out on the monitor—an ethos that underscores the album’s emotional weight. This unfiltered vulnerability, paired with brooding manufacturing and vibrant pulses of power, stands as a testomony to his artistry. Wonderlove doesn’t simply announce a brand new R&B participant; it reveals a layered storyteller unafraid to current his unpolished fact, one fascinating monitor at a time.
You’ve been steadily releasing singles and preserving your followers fed. How does it really feel to see that this album is extremely anticipated? A whole lot of instances with new artists, you need to get folks to care.
Chase Shakur: A whole lot of instances, I’m actual laborious on myself, so I don’t really feel prefer it’s anticipated. I’m heavy in my head about it. Nevertheless it does really feel good to have folks which might be excited to listen to what you been going by and need to discuss it. It’s a blessing as a result of it’s like evening and day [of where I once was]. I’m a agency believer of the regulation of attraction. I labored from believing folks had been anticipating [my music] when nobody cared [laughs]. Now it’s the different approach round. So, it’s an exquisite blessing.
A whole lot of instances you should be like the most important believer in your music. How does it really feel to see a few of your friends and folks that you just respect discover you extra and get deeper into that artist neighborhood?
It’s hearth, bro. It’s at all times sudden to see who listens since you by no means actually know who listens. The opposite day, I noticed Khalid listening to a music, and it was simply loopy. I feel some basketball gamers had been listening too. It was wild. These moments that remind me of the place issues are actually.
It’s humorous as a result of the place you might be proper now on this second, you by no means actually get an opportunity to return again to this, what I imply? It solely will get increasingly intense. With that in thoughts, how has your private life modified by way of the way you join with your pals?
I’m nonetheless form of getting used to that. It’s one thing that’s perpetually rising. Particularly with me being 25, and my associates are additionally of their mid-twenties and shit like that. They graduated school and so they’re getting their profession began. They’ve youngsters. So typically it seems like I’m a superhero, with an alternate life, what I’m saying? However the private life is cool, it’s one thing that like, I gotta readjust to.
The opening monitor on Wonderlove is a spoken phrase poem, a prayer nearly. If you thought of how, to open your debut album, was it intentional to speak about your relationship with God or set that non secular tone in any respect?
Yeah, I at all times had it in my music.
Has your relationship with God been one thing that you just’ve leaned on in troublesome instances? Do you pray? Is that one thing that’s form of part of your routine?
My grandma used to take me to gospel live shows like Lee Williams.
The lead single to your debut album is “Limerence.” For individuals who don’t know, limerence is an obsessive, nearly psychotic need to be with somebody. Most individuals have seemingly skilled some type of that. Does that impression your capacity to be targeted on the music and the artwork? Do you ever end up battling between experiences that you just put into the music after which truly like, executing and going to the studio and creating?
It doesn’t hinder my productiveness. However , it’s simply life shit for actual [laughs]. what I’m saying? I exploit music as like occasion to speak about it and get by it.
Do you pull from any non-music associated inspirations? Are you into any anime or TV reveals that encourage you?
Yeah, whereas I used to be engaged on this album, I used to be watching a variety of Stomach, and I used to be taking a look at a variety of Cowboy Bebop for inspiration for the movies. Cowboy Bebop is about bounty hunters, and they stay in house. It’s like this earth that’s different, proper? It doesn’t appear like common Earth. In order that they go round to completely different planets, and so they wish to kill folks for bounty. It was mad retro.
When taking a look at your visuals and your art work, there’s this ingredient of mystique, and typically half of your face is exhibiting, or heavy shadows. Is it intentional or simply form of the way you’ve naturally at all times been?
I feel it’s simply one thing I’ve at all times finished as a result of I used to mannequin earlier than the music. I nonetheless was posing with shades, shadows and all that. That’s, like, at all times been my vibe.
There’s been a dialog round R&B a couple of lack of craving and being really weak. Do you ever fear about notion versus simply kinda laying all of it on the monitor and simply being your self?
I used to. I really feel like all people was form of scared to love go all the best way there at the beginning of their profession. However now I simply lay all of it out. Like, a variety of instances, I was scared to share my perspective on how they made me really feel. what I’m saying? However I don’t give a fuck [laughs]
Do you will have any need because the music turns into extra established and extra widespread? Might you see your self on a present like Energy or one thing like that?
I do need to give it a shot at the least one time. I used to be into performing like as a teen. I used to be into every part, like artwork golf equipment and performing golf equipment.
How does your loved ones really feel seeing you elevate, turn into extra seen and doing all of the issues that you just stated you’d do?
It’s so humorous. Every time my mother freaks out, it was humorous. It’s simply cute to observe for actual. It’s candy. I grew up round a variety of love in my household. Once I first began, as regular dad and mom can be, they’d be slightly skeptical. However as I acquired older, and issues began to [progress], it wasn’t prefer it simply shot out the rocket ship. It was steps. what I’m saying? It was all like steps.
