Shenseea Hits The Studio With Rihanna’s Hitmakers Stargate
Jamaican singer Shenseea is off chasing ‘bigger dreams’ with four-time Grammy Award-winning music producers Stargate, who are best known for their extensive work with Rihanna, and who are the masterminds behind a string of Hot 100 No. 1s, and multi-platinum-selling R&B, Pop, and Hip-Hop songs from other artists such as Beyonće, Katy Perry, Ne-Yo, and many more.
The Norwegian record producer and songwriter duo, comprised of Tor Erik Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen, were pictured with Shenseea and her A&R manager Donny ‘Dizzycleanface’ Flores at an LA-based studio this week.
Stargate has produced and co-wrote on seven of Rihanna’s eight studio albums. While they did not work on her acclaimed Anti (2016) album, their hit songs with the Bajan superstar include Take a Bow (7x Platinum), Rude Boy (5x Platinum), Only Girl In The World (6x Platinum), What’s My Name (6x Platinum), S&M (5x Platinum), Diamonds (7x Platinum), Unfaithful (3X Platinum), Don’t Stop The Music (6x Platinum), and Hate That I Love with Ne-Yo (2x Platinum).
They have produced for Beyonće on Irreplaceable (5x Platinum), Wiz Khalifa on Black And Yellow (6x Platinum), Katy Perry on Firework (12x Platinum), and Ne-Yo on So Sick (Platinum), Sexy Love (3x Platinum), Miss Independent (Platinum) and Because Of You (2X Platinum). They have also produced or written for Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Lionel Richie, Britney Spears, Selena Gomez, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Mary J. Blige, Nas, Chris Brown, Khalid, and several others since the production team was established in 1996.
The duo even has experience working with Jamaican talents, including Dancehall superstars Sean Paul and Beenie Man.
On Paul’s Tomahawk Technique (2011) album, Stargate co-wrote and produced the songs Got 2 Luv U with Alexis Jordan, which peaked at No. 84 on the Hot 100, How Deep Is Your Love with Kelly Rowland, and Put It On You.
On Beenie’s Tropical Storm (2002) album, they co-wrote and produced Street Life.
Dizzy shared an inside peek on Instagram as Hermansen took the Run Run singer through their music-making process and how they work with artists. “We’re just guiding it and making sure you listen,” the producer said regarding their writing process. “And like [ask] ‘what’s happening?’ and ‘oh she’s not really killing it but she did something else that was amazing,’ that’s our job,” he continued.
Dizzy also spoke about how Shenseea likes to write her songs. “The great thing about her, when she co-writes, like she really don’t need a co-write, she can do it,” he said, but added that she just prefers having someone around that she could share ideas with and “just to be a friend”.
Shenseea laughed, “It’s a challenge!”
Shenseea, 25, has had her sights set on breaking out in the mainstream music scene, since moving to the US last year. In an Instagram Live back in January, the Dancehall singer said she would be putting focus on her first love; Pop music, adding that she intends on becoming an “International Pop artist within five years”.
For her album, ALPHA, Shenseea has already worked with several notable American music producers including Murda Beatz and London On Da Track. And, she has previously collaborated with the likes of Kanye West, Tyga, Megan Thee Stallion, Christina Aguilera, Offset, and 21 Savage.
Since then she has been spotted in the studio with Bad Boy Records producer Diddy. Shenseea later confirmed that there was in fact an upcoming project with the rap mogul on the red carpet during her Billboard Awards debut last month.
In the meantime, the Lick singer will be embarking on her European 2022 Tour next week on June 19 in Malta to further perform in Amsterdam, Paris, Croatia, Cologne, London, Portugal, and Birmingham. The singer revealed that her London show at Electric Brixton has already been sold out; “London Sold Out, see y’all,” she wrote on an IG story yesterday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cdev1jUL73M/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link