5 Questions with – Shenseea

Fan-proclaimed dancehall princess Shenseea is not sitting around waiting for opportunities to land in her lap. Like in the game of ludo - or 'loodi' as Jamaicans would call it - the artiste is throwing double sixes and making moves for the win on the entertainment scene. It has been close to two years since Shenseea's appearance on the music scene at home, but already she has experimented with all genres of music to broaden the scope.

Don't let the pretty-girl exterior fool you. From dancehall and soca to afro-beat, R&B and rap, Shenseea upped the ante by adding more expression and punchlines. She is creating an artistic image that screams 'up for any challenge'.

"I constantly remind myself why I need to stay strong," she says.

As the mother of a two-year-old son, Shenseea is mindful of the messages in her lyrics. The artiste is focused on unconditional love for 2018, and Love I Got For U, which will be released today, is set to catapult the young star to even bigger international heights.

Here are five questions with Shenseea:

1. What is your day-to-day schedule like, and how do you strike a balance?

"Honestly, I am just a go-with-the-flow type of person. A regular day for me starts with getting up and heading straight to the studio. After I eat breakfast/brunch, start working, sometimes I see my son before or after I go to the gym, then back to bed, and this is excluding interviews and performances. I am still motivated. once you are motivated and not allow yourself to be distracted or get comfortable, you will work twice as hard. I remain grateful and continue to be thankful for the blessings God has showered upon my life."

2. How has motherhood impacted your career as a performer?

"I tend not to go entirely raunchy and explicit as it relates to performing. I'm trying to show everyone that I can be placed on many different platforms, so the elderly, middle-aged and children of all ages can watch. I think about my son, but he makes me think about other people's sons and daughters, and that in itself allows me to be considerate of my actions."

3. If you had the opportunity to sit down with members of parliament or Jamaica's prime minister, what would you discuss first and why?

"As we all know, we have many problems in our country, but one that's always been bothering me is the state of Jamaica's roads! Travelling by road is the most popular transportation in Jamaica and I feel the members of parliament can do much better where that is concerned. They should also set an example as leaders to the residents in our country, by being professional in the parliament, especially when they know that they are being aired for the public eyes."

4. Do you feel the 'bad gyal' image is important for female artistes?

"Yes and no. Women and young girls all over the world look up to female recording artistes in different ways. At times, I portray an image of myself that is not easy-going, not easy to influence - to be tough for persons who do not have a voice. I also know that is not all the time you have to be tough, but in certain situations, you have to put your foot down and show strength. So that's me, and I incorporate that bad gyal character in my music, because we can't make the females look too soft."

5. If you could work with an international pop star, who would it be?

"I would say The Weeknd or Rihanna. I love them both. I grew up listening to Rihanna, and so many people told me that I sound like her sometimes. As for The Weeknd, I love that he's laid-back, but still remains to be a topic in the industry."