South Central L.A. artist Sha’Leah Nikole drops her highly anticipated new EP, Work of heART, a beautiful, free flowing R&B saturated collection of songs that mixes in shimmering acoustic elements with a smooth and sultry vibe. From strumming guitars, tight melodies and cascading backing vocals to Nikole’s own powerful vocals, Work of heART captures the intrinsically human elements that make up the individual from love, identity, community, culture and more.
Encompassing the spiritual, emotional and musical growth she’s experienced thus far, Nikole took her time writing six songs that reflect the highs and lows she has been through. Piecing them together, her EP is a deeply emotional listen where honesty and candor are at the center of Nikole’s writing. While each track is inherently personal, Nikole writes about universal themes and captures their essence in a relatable way.
“It’s been five years since my last EP, and I have lived a lot of life in those five years,” Nikole notes. “I’ve experienced love, heartbreak, self-growth, and a pandemic! So this project is my heart’s release. I have never been more of an artist than I am now. So the title Work of heART is very fitting. I hope people are inspired.”
From being in the throes of heartache, as poignantly captured in “Blew Your Mind,” feeling a deep sense of solidarity and love as in “Love Letter,” to championing and recognizing the beauty of your skin, like with the gorgeous and uplifting “Mahogany,” Nikole weaves in comfort, empathy and resilience, finding a sweet spot between tender and tough.
Creating music and art that is both uplifting and thought-provoking, Sha’Leah Nikole embeds not just her personality into her music, but her ethics and values as well. Outside of music, she focuses on serving her community through her nonprofit My Footprints LA.
Words: Patti Sanchez
For more on Sha’Leah Nikole, make sure to visit her website and follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
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