Biography
Montréal-based vocalist and composer Shay Lia crafts sleek, frequently groove-oriented R&B material that radiates playfulness, intensity, and an energizing spirit. Active as a recording artist since 2014, she first drew notice through partnerships with Kaytranada while also teaming with Stwo, BadBadNotGood, Kojey Radical, and additional figures. Multiple collaborators contributed to her introductory EP, Dangerous, issued in 2019, which preceded the Afro-pop-leaning Solaris two years later. Later standalone tracks encompassed the reggae-tinged “Solo,” released in 2023.
Born Shanice Dileita Mohamed in France during 1993, she relocated with her family to Djibouti shortly afterward. Early on she developed a deep affinity for R&B and jazz, especially the work of Janet Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Marvin Gaye, yet she only began honing her vocal abilities after relocating to Montréal for university studies. Once she shared clips of her performances via social platforms, Haitian-Canadian producer Kaytranada reached out about a possible joint effort. Under the name Shay Lia, she contributed vocals to his “Leave Me Alone”—the first XL release for the producer—and simultaneously put out her own debut single, “3 Months,” both occurring in 2014. She later appeared on XO’s “U & I” and Stwo’s “All Alone,” while “Leave Me Alone” resurfaced on Kaytranada’s 99.9%, the 2016 album that captured both Polaris and Juno honors. The pair shared a stage at Coachella in 2017, and she joined him again on the 2018 cut “Chances” as she continued issuing her material, among them the disco-flavored “Funky Thang” and the trap-leaning “The Cycle.” Her first EP, Dangerous, arrived in 2019; Kaytranada and BadBadNotGood handled production on “Blue,” with Buddy and Kojey Radical among the additional guests, and the project earned a longlist nomination for the Polaris Music Prize.
A visit to the Ivory Coast to see relatives prompted Lia to pursue a brighter, more summery Afro-pop aesthetic on her follow-up EP, Solaris, which surfaced in 2020. The Michael Brun collaboration “Baby Who” and a reworking of Solaris track “Irrational” featuring Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold both emerged in 2021. Her output in 2023 ventured into Afro-house with “Takutá” alongside the reggae number “Solo.”
Born Shanice Dileita Mohamed in France during 1993, she relocated with her family to Djibouti shortly afterward. Early on she developed a deep affinity for R&B and jazz, especially the work of Janet Jackson, Al Jarreau, and Marvin Gaye, yet she only began honing her vocal abilities after relocating to Montréal for university studies. Once she shared clips of her performances via social platforms, Haitian-Canadian producer Kaytranada reached out about a possible joint effort. Under the name Shay Lia, she contributed vocals to his “Leave Me Alone”—the first XL release for the producer—and simultaneously put out her own debut single, “3 Months,” both occurring in 2014. She later appeared on XO’s “U & I” and Stwo’s “All Alone,” while “Leave Me Alone” resurfaced on Kaytranada’s 99.9%, the 2016 album that captured both Polaris and Juno honors. The pair shared a stage at Coachella in 2017, and she joined him again on the 2018 cut “Chances” as she continued issuing her material, among them the disco-flavored “Funky Thang” and the trap-leaning “The Cycle.” Her first EP, Dangerous, arrived in 2019; Kaytranada and BadBadNotGood handled production on “Blue,” with Buddy and Kojey Radical among the additional guests, and the project earned a longlist nomination for the Polaris Music Prize.
A visit to the Ivory Coast to see relatives prompted Lia to pursue a brighter, more summery Afro-pop aesthetic on her follow-up EP, Solaris, which surfaced in 2020. The Michael Brun collaboration “Baby Who” and a reworking of Solaris track “Irrational” featuring Nigerian artist Adekunle Gold both emerged in 2021. Her output in 2023 ventured into Afro-house with “Takutá” alongside the reggae number “Solo.”
Albums
Singles
