5 Questions With Shaneil Muir

Dancehall artiste Shaneil Muir brought the energy to her Dream Weekend debut at Igloo, held at the Aqueduct in Rose Hall, Montego Bay, on Monday. Delivering fan favourites from her catalogue, including Top Gyal and one of her most recent hits, Gi Gyal Money, recorded on Stephen ‘Di Genius’ McGregor’s Hill & Gully riddim, the MoBay native also brought out fellow entertainer Skeng for a live rendition of their collaboration, Can’t Get Enuff.

Following her set, Muir shared her thoughts on being part of one of Jamaica’s biggest entertainment festivals, what keeps her motivated and what’s next for her in this week’s 5 Questions With ….

1. The crowd was fully engaged during your performance at Dream Weekend. What was it like performing on stage and feeding off that energy?

I feel good! It feels good to be at Dream Weekend as a performer and not a patron. It was my first time and, although mi neva inna the crowd to enjoy it like the patrons, I still enjoyed it all the way.

2. You’ve built a reputation for being fearless and authentic in your music. How important is it for you to stay true to yourself, especially as your audience continues to grow?

It’s absolutely important for me. Staying true to myself doesn’t mean seh mi think ‘bout weh nobody seh, you know. So, whatever I decide for myself, that’s what I stick to, and, if I decide to change anything, that’s for me as well. So, yeah, mi look forward to anything mi put inna mi brain and say ‘This is what I’m gonna do to represent myself as Shaneil Muir as a brand’... separate and apart from anything else.

3. Dream Weekend attracts fans from all over the world. What does it mean to represent dancehall on a stage with such an international audience?

It’s an amazing experience. It means everything! Every stage is always a platform for me to learn more and to gain more fans. I look forward to it, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to take part in such a massive event. You know, having the crowd singing along really puts into perspective how far the stories we tell through music go.

4. Your music often empowers women while also telling real-life stories. What message do you hope fans take away after seeing you perform live?

I always want my women to be entertained, but I hope they understand the empowerment and the storytelling behind it and to know that, as much as it is entertainment, they can always listen to my music and be empowered by the words that come from it. Especially the songs that are about women empowerment. Other than that, I want them to be entertained; I want them to be a Shaneil Muir fan by listening and knowing that good music is still out there.

5. You’ve been consistently releasing music and expanding your catalogue. What’s next for Shaneil Muir, and what can fans look forward to for the rest of the year?

A bare tings a gwaan! Mi a clip di man dem a little bit more and then mi gi dem a break, yuh understand?

entertainment@gleanerjm.com