From the very first moments of Wonderlove, Chase Shakur’s debut album, it’s clear that we’re coming into a realm the place darkish alt-R&B tones mesh seamlessly with an undercurrent of vibrant vitality. The opening monitor, which Shakur describes as “all the time intentional” in reflecting his relationship with God, units a reflective, virtually 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 variety of instances I’m actual onerous 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 tune” 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 moderately 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 challenge additionally attracts from surprising sources just like the movie Stomach and the anime collection Cowboy Bebop, which encourage his retro-futuristic visuals and atmospheric storytelling. Even earlier than he began making music, Shakur was exploring self-expression via modeling—a indisputable fact that explains the tastefully shadowed, half-concealed strategy to his album paintings 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 way in which 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 vivid pulses of vitality, 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 reality, one charming 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 variety of instances with new artists, it’s important to get folks to care.
Chase Shakur: A variety of instances, I’m actual onerous 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 via and need to speak about 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 manner round. So, it’s a wonderful blessing.
A variety of instances you have to be like the largest believer in your music. How does it really feel to see a few of your friends and other people that you just respect discover you extra and get deeper into that artist neighborhood?
It’s fireplace, bro. It’s all the time surprising to see who listens since you by no means actually know who listens. The opposite day, I noticed Khalid listening to a tune, and it was simply loopy. I believe 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’re proper now on this second, you by no means actually get an opportunity to come back again to this, you recognize what I imply? It solely will get increasingly more intense. With that in thoughts, how has your private life modified when it comes to the way you join with your folks?
I’m nonetheless type of getting used to that. It’s one thing that’s without end rising. Particularly with me being 25, and my buddies are additionally of their mid-twenties and shit like that. They graduated school they usually’re getting their profession began. They’ve youngsters. So typically it seems like I’m a superhero, with an alternate life, you recognize 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 virtually. While 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 all the time had it in my music.
Has your relationship with God been one thing that you just’ve leaned on in tough instances? Do you pray? Is that one thing that’s type of part of your routine?
My grandma used to take me to gospel live shows like Lee Williams.
The lead single in your debut album is “Limerence.” For individuals who don’t know, limerence is an obsessive, virtually psychotic want to be with somebody. Most individuals have doubtless skilled some type of that. Does that influence your capacity to be centered on the music and the artwork? Do you ever end up battling between experiences that you just put into the music after which really like, executing and going to the studio and creating?
It doesn’t hinder my productiveness. However you recognize, it’s simply life shit for actual [laughs]. You realize what I’m saying? I take advantage of music as like occasion to speak about it and get via 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 number of Stomach, and I used to be taking a look at a number of Cowboy Bebop for inspiration for the movies. Cowboy Bebop is about bounty hunters, and they reside in house. It’s like this earth that’s different, proper? It doesn’t appear to be common Earth. So that they go round to completely different planets, they usually prefer to kill folks for bounty. It was mad retro.
When taking a look at your visuals and your paintings, there’s this factor of mystique, and typically half of your face is exhibiting, or heavy shadows. Is it intentional or simply type of the way you’ve naturally all the time been?
I believe it’s simply one thing I’ve all the time completed 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, all the time been my vibe.
There’s been a dialog round R&B a couple of lack of craving and being really susceptible. 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 everyone was type of scared to love go all the way in which there at first of their profession. However now I simply lay all of it out. Like, a number of instances, I was scared to share my perspective on how they made me really feel. You realize what I’m saying? However I don’t give a fuck [laughs]
Do you have got any want because the music turns into extra established and extra widespread? May you see your self on a present like Energy or one thing like that?
I do need to give it a shot at the very least one time. I used to be into appearing like as a teen. I used to be into the whole lot, like artwork golf equipment and appearing golf equipment.
How does your loved ones really feel seeing you elevate, grow to be extra seen and doing all of the issues that you just mentioned 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 number of love in my household. Once I first began, as regular mother and father could be, they’d be a little bit skeptical. However as I obtained older, and issues began to [progress], it wasn’t prefer it simply shot out the rocket ship. It was steps. You realize what I’m saying? It was all like steps.