As she prepares to release her debut EP Canvas on June 5, rising R&B artist Shewita introduces listeners to every facet of her artistry. Three years in the making, the project blends the influences that have shaped her sound – from classic R&B to electronic, dance and funk – while embracing the creative freedom that comes with stepping out as a solo artist.
The final preview of the EP arrives with Gemini, a groove-laden track that explores duality, identity and intention. Inspired by Shewita’s own experiences navigating life as an Eritrean-Australian artist, the single pairs disco-inspired basslines with contemporary R&B influences and serves as both a personal reflection and artistic mission statement. Ahead of the release of Canvas, Futuremag caught up with Shewita to discuss the meaning behind the EP, her transition from musical theatre to solo music, and what comes next.
Futuremag: Your debut EP is just around the corner! How are we feeling?
Shewita: I’m so excited. This has been such a long time in the making. Three years isn’t forever, but it feels like a significant amount of time when you’ve been living with these songs. What’s so crazy is that this all started as an idea in my head. I put it on paper, took it into a studio, and now it’s going to be out in the world on the radio and even on vinyl. That’s such a surreal feeling. I’m really excited.
Futuremag: As you said, it’s been about three years in the making. When did you realise these songs were going to become a bigger project rather than just standalone singles?
Shewita: That’s a good question. I think I always wanted to release an EP. It was a goal from the beginning. Growing up, I listened to music through albums. That’s how I experienced my favourite artists. I think longer-form projects give you an opportunity to show more of who you are and to tell a story. Because that’s how I consume music, it’s naturally influenced the way I create it. An EP felt like the right format for that.
Futuremag: I’m exactly the same. I love listening to albums or EPs in the order the artist intended rather than putting them on shuffle. There’s usually a reason behind that sequence.
Shewita: Absolutely. There’s so much thought that goes into sequencing songs. Interestingly, the order the songs appear on the EP is pretty close to the order I wrote them in. Again, it comes back to storytelling. I love storytelling, and an EP gives you the space to share more of yourself than a single track can.
Futuremag: Storytelling is obviously a huge part of this project. What’s the main message or feeling you hope people take away from it?
Shewita: I’ve always seen this EP as an introduction. It’s the first solo music project I’ve written, so I wanted it to introduce people to who I am as an artist. I wanted to showcase the different facets of my musical influences and abilities. I grew up listening to a lot of R&B, which is probably still the genre I listen to most, but as I got older I discovered electronic music, dance, club music and funk. It’s been really fun exploring those sounds.
I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s one specific narrative running through the EP, but I wanted it to be a foundation. That’s actually part of the reason it’s called Canvas. I wanted it to feel like a blank canvas – a place where I wasn’t limiting myself to one genre.
I think music becomes boring when everything sounds the same. One of my biggest fears is creating a project where every track feels identical. I wanted every song to try something different. Hopefully listeners feel that sense of exploration when they hear it.
Futuremag: I love hearing the meaning behind the title. A canvas feels like a fresh start, and while you’re not new to music, this is a new chapter as a solo artist. You’ve also got such an extensive background in musical theatre. What have been some of the biggest challenges transitioning between those two worlds?
Shewita: I still work in musical theatre, so one of the biggest challenges has been balancing both careers at the same time. They’re both incredibly time-consuming, demanding and require a lot of mental energy. Thankfully, because I love music so much, it never really feels like work. Technically speaking, though, singing for musical theatre and singing in a recording studio are very different skills. The closest comparison would be acting on stage versus acting on camera. On screen, performances are often more subtle because the camera captures every detail. Studio singing is similar. You can make quieter, more intimate choices and still communicate a lot of emotion. In fact, that’s often the best approach because you can really dig into the lyrics and storytelling.
When I was recording the EP with Akey Amy in Naarm, I was also performing in a theatre production at night. We’d spend three or four hours recording during the day, then I’d head straight into a show. I had to develop specific vocal exercises to transition my voice from studio singing back into theatre singing. It was a fascinating challenge, but it was also one of the periods where I learned the most about my voice and my instrument.
Futuremag: That sounds incredibly challenging. Do you think being a solo artist feels riskier as well? In musical theatre you’ve got a whole team around you, whereas as a solo artist there’s much more focus on you personally.
Shewita: That’s interesting. I hadn’t really thought about it that way. Objectively, there probably is more risk involved, but what has always attracted me to being a solo artist is the creative freedom. There are no limits on what you can write, sing or create. Commercial musical theatre is a very different environment. Often you’re performing shows that have already been staged in multiple cities, so the challenge becomes consistency and serving a story that’s already established. Audiences arrive with expectations.
As a solo artist, especially when you’re still building your audience, people don’t really have expectations yet. There’s a lot more freedom to experiment and define yourself. For me, it’s actually felt more liberating than risky.
Futuremag: One of the tracks you’ve already released is Gemini. Why did that feel like the perfect song to introduce people to the EP?
Shewita: Well, I am a Gemini, so that definitely helped! It’s also Gemini season, which works pretty well from a marketing perspective.
Interestingly, Gemini was the first song we recorded for the EP. Originally, I thought it would be the lead single, but it ended up becoming the third single, which worked out perfectly because of the timing.
Like the EP itself, Gemini is very much an introduction to who I am and how I approach life. It’s about being intentional – curating your environment and the energy around you in a way that serves you.
Obviously, there are many things in life that are beyond our control, but I think the song is about choosing how you show up and the path you want to follow. In a way, it’s a manifestation song. I’m a little bit woo-woo and I do believe in that kind of thing. It feels like a summary of my philosophy and what has brought me to where I am today.
Futuremag: I love a good manifestation moment. So what are you hoping to manifest once the EP is out in the world?
Shewita: More music! I want to make so much more music. I’m constantly writing and recording, and I’d love to keep collaborating with Australian artists as well as artists overseas. I also want to keep building my live shows. I’ve done a few gigs performing my original music and it’s been such an incredible learning experience. There are so many logistical and organisational elements involved in putting on a show, but I’ve learned so much over the past year and I’m excited to keep growing in that space.
Futuremag: Which Australian artists would be on your dream collaboration list?
Shewita: Oh my gosh, so many. I’ve loved Jess Mauboy ever since Australian Idol. I’d absolutely love to work with her. I also love Meg Mac, Tash Sultana and Matt Corby. I constantly listen to the EP Matt produced with Budjerah, Budjerah Live at Rainbow Valley. It’s been on repeat for me ever since it came out.
And Vanessa Amorosi, too. Honestly, there are so many incredible Australian artists making amazing music right now. But if I had to pick, Jess Mauboy and Matt Corby would definitely be at the top of my list.
Futuremag: Finally, if people hear the EP and want to support you, what’s the best way to do that?
Shewita: Definitely come and follow me on social media. My handle is @iamshewita. You can also pre-order the vinyl through Bandcamp ahead of the EP’s release on June 5. If vinyl isn’t your thing, the digital EP and singles will also be available to download and stream.
You can find me on Instagram, SoundCloud and YouTube. There are some really cool music videos on YouTube that I’ve made with some incredibly talented directors and creative teams.
