People are screaming, hands are in the air and everyone just lets go – Pre-save now.
South London DJ and producer Shalishah Kay breaks down the Afro House and Latin House influences behind her new single “Sweat”, the vocal sample she borrowed from hip hop history, and why a warehouse full of strangers is still the best place to hear it for the first time.
There’s a real blend of live percussion and electronic elements throughout the track. What inspired that direction?
“For me, it really comes down to the music I naturally love listening to. Even before I started producing, I was always drawn to records that could instantly change the energy in a room, the kind of music where the drums hit your body and you can’t help but move.
I’ve been heavily influenced by Afro House and Latin House, particularly the way percussion can drive a record and create this physical reaction. With Sweat, I wanted to lean into that even more. I wanted the drums to feel almost instinctive, like you hear them and immediately want to get up, shake every part of your body and have a good time.
At the heart of it, I’m a party girl. I love that moment when a DJ drops a record and you can literally feel the percussion travelling through the room. People are screaming, hands are in the air and everyone just lets go. That’s the feeling I wanted Sweat to give people.”
Were there any particular musical influences behind the percussion or overall sound?
“Absolutely. I’ve been really inspired by artists like HUGEL, Bontan and Jesus Fernandez, because they all bring such an infectious energy to their productions.
There’s something about the way they approach Afro House and Afro-Latin sounds that makes you immediately want to dance. That energy is exactly what I wanted to capture with Sweat, not just something that sounds good in headphones, but something that makes sense when you’re out with your friends, getting ready, drinking, dancing and having the best night.
I think that’s always going to be a big part of my production style. I’m creating the music that I genuinely want to hear when I’m out having a good time, so hopefully that feeling translates to the listener too.”
What was the biggest challenge in balancing the live and electronic elements? Could this become part of the performance or a music video?
“I actually think that’s something I’m still really excited to explore. Sweat is such a physical, energetic track that I can definitely see the percussion becoming part of the live experience, whether that’s through live percussion, additional musicians or even building moments into my DJ sets where the drums become the focus.
When it comes to a music video, I’m not sure I want to rush into making one just for the sake of having one. I’d actually love to play the record out more first and see how people respond to it. I want the reaction of the crowd to help shape what the visual world of Sweat becomes.
Visually, I can imagine something very high-energy, sexy and unapologetic. Think Teyana Taylor in “Fade” levels of movement and attitude, although I might need a few more trips to the gym before I’m attempting all of that.
But I really like the idea of the video being an extension of the physicality of the song rather than just a traditional performance video.”
Outside of electronic music, were there any artists or genres that helped shape the track? Who does the voice belong to?
“I’ve always loved the way older records used spoken-word voices and distinctive vocal samples to create an atmosphere before the music even fully arrives.
One of the references that really stuck with me is the iconic “This is a journey into sound” sample associated with Eric B. and Rakim’s Paid in Full remix. The voice itself comes from British actor and announcer Geoffrey Sumner, and there’s something about that deep, authoritative delivery that immediately transports you somewhere.
I wanted to bring a little of that old-school feeling into Sweat, but reinterpret it through a modern House record. There’s also a similar use of that kind of commanding vocal presence in House music that I’ve always loved.
The voice on Sweat isn’t intended to be a major artist feature or the focal point of the record. It’s really there as another instrument, something that adds character, attitude and helps create the world of the track. I wanted it to feel almost like the voice is inviting you into the party before the drums take over.”
Where do you imagine this track being heard for the first time?
“Definitely a nightclub, but not just any nightclub.
I’m imagining one of those huge warehouse-style rooms where you have thousands of people together and there’s this moment just before the drop where everyone is completely connected. Hands are in the air, everyone knows something is about to happen and then the drums hit and the whole room erupts.
That’s the moment I keep seeing when I listen to Sweat.
I could absolutely see it working on a festival stage too, particularly somewhere with a huge crowd where you can really feel the weight of those drums. Ultimately, I think it’s a track that could transform a room wherever it’s played, because its purpose is really simple: get people moving.”
Did you have a particular crowd or setting in mind when writing it? What club would be your go-to choice to play this in?
“I definitely had that big, international House crowd in mind, people who are there to dance, have fun and completely lose themselves in the music. If I could choose anywhere to play it, Ushuaïa Ibiza would be incredible. That feels like the perfect environment for Sweat: a huge crowd, sunshine, hands in the air and those drums bouncing around the room.
And then I’m going to manifest slightly harder and say a sold-out beach club in Saint-Tropez or Mykonos. There’s something about the tropical energy of the track that makes me picture people dancing outside, surrounded by friends, with the sun going down and the music getting louder.
Basically, anywhere that involves a lot of people, a lot of dancing and very little sitting down.”
Has making this track changed anything about how you’ll approach your live shows?
“I’ve always played Afro House and Tech House in my sets, so Sweat actually feels like a natural extension of the sound I already play as a DJ.
What has been really exciting is testing the track in my sets and hearing how naturally it blends with records that are already being played in clubs. I’ve particularly loved taking a song that people already know and then transitioning into Sweat and watching the energy stay exactly where it needs to be.
It’s made me even more excited about developing my own productions because I can start thinking about my music not just as individual releases, but as records that can become part of my live identity.
As I continue producing, I really want to build a catalogue that I can weave into my DJ sets and create moments that are uniquely mine.”
For people discovering your music through “Sweat”, how would you describe yourself as an artist?
“I’d describe myself as an artist who wants people to have a really good time.
I want my music to be the soundtrack to those moments where you feel your absolute best, whether that’s getting ready in front of the mirror, lip-syncing to a song and feeling unstoppable, or being in a club with your favourite people, dancing until you forget what time it is.
I have a huge love for music, and that’s what keeps me creating. I’m constantly thinking about how I can turn the feelings I get from music, nightlife and being around people into something that other people can experience too.
If someone listens to my music and feels happier, sexier, more confident or simply wants to dance, then I feel like I’ve done my job.”
What do you hope people take away from the track after hearing it for the first time?
“More than anything, I hope people feel like they’ve discovered more of me. Golden Hour was really my introduction as an artist. It was me stepping forward and saying, this is who I am and this is the beginning of my journey.”
“With Sweat, I feel like people get a much clearer idea of who I am: the energy I bring to my DJ sets, the music I love and the kind of artist I want to become. I hope people finish listening and think, okay, I need to know what she’s doing next. I’m really excited because this is only the beginning. I have so much more music and creativity that I want to share, and Sweat feels like another step towards people really understanding my sound and my personality as an artist. Ultimately, I want people to know that I’m here to stay. This is just the beginning, and the only way is up.”
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Instagram: @shalishahkay / TikTok: @shalishah.kay / SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/shalishah-kay / YouTube: Shalishah Kay / Website: shalishahkay.com / https://found.ee/shalishah_sweat
