A Quick Chat with Shaba

Hey Shaba first off, can you tell us a bit about your single ‘4K TO THE MIDDLE EAST’ and how it came to life?

I was sitting this one since 2020, I’ve always wanted to make something which represents, me and my culture and also represents my city of Brissy. The idea was dope, the song just wasn’t a song until I linked with uzi. The back & forth verses and addition of another language brought everything together. Also the second verse was originally something completely different and I felt like something wasn’t right about it. Then the opportunity came to raise awareness and voice myself for Iran and its situation, I scratched the whole second verse and added what it is now. 

This is my masterpiece now haha. 

What have been your influences through your journey and how do they affect your songwriting?

I always try draw influence from externalities, but nothing influences my work more than my own state of mind. I think of my songwriting and music like journal entries for that time in my life. 

People may not know that you are also a prolific engineer, what’s it been like being both an artist and an engineer?

I mean they work hand in hand, I started rapping years ago and taught myself everything from scratch so I’ve always mixed my own work. This mixing shit just popped off out of no where, I ended up opening a business, shoutout soundlvl, and ever since that it’s been crazy. The engineering has helped me link and work with major names in the Aus and UK scenes. Honestly before this clipped dropped I had a few people tell me to drop the artistry and just produce… this clip is for them haha. 

Cd’s or vinyl?

Vinyls, my lil bro got me hooked on em’. The kid got like 500 sitting in his room. 

If you had to live off one combination food and drink combo what would it be?

Middle eastern food. Turkish, Lebanese or Persian food all day any day. Ive probably eaten this cuisine more than most people and it still slaps lol. 

This film is arguably one of the best to come out of Australia this year, what was your favourite part of the filming process?

You could probably guess from the video but the helicopter scene for sure. As a kid I loved flying and wanted to be a pilot when I grew up so this was kinda my childhood passion and my current passion together. It was a mad feeling hanging out that chopper side by side with another chopper. 

If you could add something to the Australian music industry to improve it, what would it be?

Unity. Being an engineer and working with over 200 different artists I can see what we’re missing in the scene. There’s too many of us in the tunnel looking left and right, rather than straight down the tunnel to the light. Drama is nothing but a distraction. 

When it comes to bilingual hip hop we are seeing a big movement in Australia. Is this something we can expect more out of in the future?

Definitely, I think we’re the first to do a collab like this in Australia but I hope we’re not the last. 

Artists always have interesting backgrounds… do you have any weird talents?

I dunno I can lick my nose with my tongue, does that count? 

Who was your first celebrity crush?

My first?? Damn I would’ve been young but not going to lie, when I was a kid I loved Katy Perry haha. Her music was popping off and so were her videos lol. 

What’s next for Shaba in 2023?

More music, more shows and more videos… that’s all I’m gonna say