shiv on collaborating with James Vincent McMorrow and making big life decisions (Podcast)

Siobhan McClean aka shiv is an Irish-Zimbabwean producer, singer-songwriter of neo-soul, RnB and lo-fi hip-hop who has shared two songs from the forthcoming debut album the defiance of a sadgirl this September, ‘Limerence’ and ‘Cherry Pie’, the latter featuring Kojaque, and produced by Gaptoof.

I spoke to Shiv about the nature of collaborating and connecting with different artists and producers for this episode of the Nialler9 podcast, ahead of Shiv’s set at All Together Now Festival this August Bank Holiday weekend, where Shiv plays on the Jameson Connects The Circle Stage at 7pm on the Friday night. Shiv will be debuting a special song and joined by her collaborator on the song James Vincent McMorrow.

The forthcoming album is a reflection of the personal upheaval she experienced, including a breakup, leaving a major label, parting ways with her manager, and moving countries. Shiv talks about how studying psychology has influenced her songwriting.

Shiv also talks about her influences and we focus on songs from Kanye, James Vincent McMorrow, Dijon, Ari Lennox, and Negro Impacto (see below).

The Jameson Connects: The Circle stage at All Together Now features some Nialler9 favourites including Optimo, Just Mustard, The Murder Capital, qbanaa, Aby Coulibaly, Morgano, Sloucho, Rachael Lavelle and more

Right, let’s talk to Shiv on episode 257:

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Shiv on five songs that influenced her music

1. Kanye West – Devil In A New Dress

“The album that I truly connected to was Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I was in third year of school. I really fancied this boy and he really liked this album. I started listening to it and I was like, man, this is actually class. It’s such a good album. I rinsed it for about two years. And I think it was from there I really found appreciation for production because that album is a masterpiece.”

2. James Vincent McMorrow – Hear the Noise that Moves So Soft and Low

“When I was in school, me and two of my friends we used to sing as part of a trio and this was one of the first songs that we learnt together and put harmonies to. I could have picked any song from this album [Early In The Morning] to be fair this really was like a formative album for me musically.

I was really such a folk girl. I used to listen to like Daughter and James Vincent McMorrow was such a prevalent feature on my playlists at the time. This one in particular is like one of the first times I ventured into the creative side of music with with my friends. So, yeah, it felt it felt fitting to pick this.”

3. Dijon – Big Mike’s

“Because of the oversaturation of new music that comes out all the time, it’s of hard sometimes to find that music that really like hits you. And there was something about Dijon. It was the videos that I saw first – so raw, so real. There’s so much emotion and character to his voice and the instrumentation and they marry so well together. There’s just something that really does like stop you in your tracks and just make you be like, “whoa, he’s really doing something here”, you know? To sing with that much integrity and passion. You can feel every word.

I don’t necessarily think from a songwriting perspective or lyricist perspective, there’s not much complexity involved or even melodically. it’s just the you can feel every single note of it and I just really really respect that, that’s something that I’ll always look for in an artist.”

4. Ari Lennox – Plenty Of Fish

“I actually picked this one because it was actually a major, major, major reference for ‘Limerence’, for producing the song. I say that because whenever I’ve been learning how to produce, very often what I do is try and replicate a song that I really like already. This is kind of how ‘Limerence’ started.

You will hear it because I literally was learning. I was like trying to do a little tutorial and then I was like, “I actually kind of like this”. And I tweaked a few things and then wrote ‘Limerence’ from that. So yeah, it was like a little nod to that basically.

5. Negro Impacto – Anomaly

“I think they balance each other well, think, because ChiChi is super focused vocally, but then Lawrence is such a talented producer as well. Even on that track, it’s not like it’s super complex, but they capture such a vibe on it, you know what I mean?

You wouldn’t necessarily know that’s Irish music, you know what I mean? It could stand against, in my opinion, stand against international acts in my view. It’s got that kind of cool, edgy, laid back kind of soulful vibe. Yeah, with an Irish inflection. I really, really appreciate what they’re doing.”

See also:

Just Mustard on the 10 tracks they love right now ahead of their All Together Now show

8 acts to see at All Together Now Jameson Connects: The Circle stage

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Show notes

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