I remember watching Katraynada’s Montreal Boiler Room set, and I was in awe of this stunning African woman, who had the most beautiful hair just vibing to the music with those gorgeous expressions and head tosses. I remember thinking, “I hope there’s more of you,” and who knew 2019 would be the year I’d find out who she was.

Meet Shay Lia, a gorgeous French-African artist, who was born in France but grew up in Djibouti before moving to Montreal. Shanice Hassna Dileita Mohamed is part of Katraynada Records and is the newest addition to Canada’s R&B, Soul and Funk scene.

Having experimented with song writing from a young age, Shay Lia brings her three cultures to her music in the unique sound she’s able to create. Her music is upbeat and definitely vacillated between EDM, House and even Soul. As a talent vocalist, Shay Lia is able to use her voice in undulating ways like the waves to create music that would soar whether there was a beat to it or not.

Shay Lia has also derived inspiration from older tribal musicians like Abdallah Lee and even the oldies like Stevie Wonder, Aaliyah and Janet Jackson. Turns out, Ms. Lia’s been creating some mad vibes since she first met Katraynada in 2012 – Katrynada and DJ Jazzy Jeff both played a key role in discovering her powerful vocals. Having produced her first three singles to his beats and producing music which vacillated between House and Funk, Shay Lia’s been on quite a journey to evolve her sound.

Known as a humble, sweet and endearing artist, Shay Lia is always down to talk about her journey. Having spent the majority of her life in Djibouti, Lia has been around family that introduced her to Jazz, R&B and Hip Hop.

This fall, Lia has been out touring and showing off her skills. She’s working beside Omar Apollo and claiming that her journey is one of self discovery. Super talented and full of life, Lia’s music is a reflection of her own self as a soulful, bold, artistic and talented musician.

Unlike traditional R&B beats, her music infuses digital sounds and is a whole vibe of its own – in other words, her music is absolutely unique and her vocals are a treat, which accentuates the music and adds another melody to it. With modern artists like Bruno Mars and Sade also shaping her musical growth, Shay Lia has come a long way and her future looks more than just promising!

Now a proud artist with over 15.1 thousand followers and fresh new tracks, Lia’s one of the hottest female artists of the decade. Every track she has produced so far has shown growth when it comes to music and lyrics – so whether you’re in the mood to take your wheels out for a spin or share a few drinks with your friends, this girl’s got the music to really get your vibe going.