Shoni Turns Heartbreak Into Art on Her Bold New Album 'Shades of Blues'

Some artists write songs. Shoni writes survival stories. With the release of her new album Shades of Blues, the New York-based singer-songwriter delivers a body of work that doesn’t sugarcoat the weight of love, loss, family, or faith. Instead, she leans into every emotion, raw, unfiltered, and deeply human, blending contemporary blues, R&B, and neo-soul into a project that proves beauty can bloom out of chaos.

From the very first track, Shades of Blues feels less like an album and more like a journey. Opening with “Hwy 95,” Shoni paints the picture of being stuck between ambition and fulfillment, using the highway as a metaphor for life’s waiting places.

That feeling of limbo, the restless grind of wanting more while being trapped in the in-between, sets the tone for what follows: honesty without compromise. In “Page,” she opens up about the unspoken emotions in relationships, capturing the tension between the fear of vulnerability and the hunger for real connection.

The project’s emotional core resonates most deeply on “Daddy’s Girls.” Through biting irony (“clap your hands for the father of the year”), Shoni shines a light on paternal absence and the scars of generational trauma, all while speaking directly to those who have had to find validation in broken places. It’s a song that feels both specific and universal, a testament to her ability to tell stories that resonate far beyond her own life.

What makes Shades of Blues so powerful is its balance. Heavy themes are met with messages of faith, gratitude, and celebration. “Won’t Complain” grounds the album in resilience, carrying the reminder that hope isn’t naive; it’s a matter of survival.

Then, “Bassline,” featuring Jae Writez, shifts gears into something magnetic and sensual, honoring music itself as both an escape and a salvation. The feature is more than just a guest verse; it’s a full-circle collaboration with Adrian (Jae Writez) C. Young Jr., who helped Shoni push past her doubts and finish the record.

For Shoni, this project is also about place. Recorded in Virginia Beach, Shades of Blues is a bittersweet love letter to the city where she grew up, one that shaped her through both obstacles and resilience. The weight of those experiences bleeds into the record’s DNA, giving every track the kind of authenticity you can’t fake.

As she explains, “I hope people know the importance of feeling every emotion as it comes and pushing through life’s blues. Regardless of what may be happening in your life and in the world, beauty can emerge from chaos. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Since her 2019 debut single “Good Vibes,” Shoni has proven that her artistry isn’t about trends, it’s about truth. Whether through her seductive soprano vocals, her work narrating audiobooks, or her role as founder of the Beauty & Soul movement, she continues to create spaces where honesty and healing take precedence. With Shades of Blues, she takes that mission further, offering listeners not just music but a reminder: you’re allowed to feel, to stumble, and to grow stronger for it.

Shades of Blues is more than an album; it’s Shoni’s testimony. It reminds us that even in the darkest chapters, resilience is possible, and beauty is never too far away.

You've called Shades of Blues your "bittersweet love song to Virginia." How did recording in Virginia Beach shape the sound and the emotion of this project?

When I first started recording, I had a hard time connecting my voice to the words that I wrote. I had to take a step back and think about why I was creating the project.

Once I connected with my "Why" of Shades of Blues being a bittersweet love song and a goodbye to VA, everything just fell into place. By recording in Virginia, I was able to drive around my hometown, go to my school's homecoming, and reconnect with friends and family.

Each moment reminded me how far I have come and how much I have grown into the woman I am since I left. Throughout the project, the timidity and uncertainty transformed into frustration, then confidence, and ultimately contentment. I experienced all of those emotions living and learning in VA.

"Daddy's Girls" is one of the most raw and vulnerable tracks on the album. What gave you the courage to tackle generational trauma so directly in your music?

My daughters. I can turn into a lioness in 0.5 seconds if you mess with my family. No lol. Sadly, my daughters both came to meet with me on two different occasions, upset about their father, which ultimately upset me and made me sad for them.

To deal with those feelings, I did what I do best: I started writing about them. I began writing Daddy's" Girls" as a poem about how fathers' actions affect their daughters. As a daddy's girl myself, it was easy to write.

The song is the most raw and unexpected on the project. I wanted to showcase a different side of myself vocally and bring people along on life's crazy rollercoaster ride, while also shedding light on an issue that many women can relate to.

The album balances heavy, emotional storytelling with lighter moments of faith and celebration, such as "Won't Complain" and "Bassline." How intentional was that balance when putting the tracklist together?

One of the things I admire about the Blues genre is its rawness and heaviness. However, I believe in balance. Balancing the energy with the tracklisting was very intentional. "Hwy 95 "starts from a place of despair and longing for more out of life, while knowing you still need to take care of your responsibilities. As a single mom, my dreams have to be put on the back burner at times to prioritize the needs of my family; that's not always easy.

That longing fueled a desire for connection and partnership, which is reflected in the song "Page." As hard as it is, eventually you have to speak up and say, "Hey, maybe I do want more," which again is not easy but is courageous. Then, after the ruggedness of "Daddy's Girls", I wanted to bring in a little sweetness with "Bassline." "Daddy's Girls" explores the frustration and anguish women and girls experience as a result of their fathers' actions, while "Bassline" presents a balance between women and men through the lens of music.

At the end of the day, we all need each other, and to drive that point home, "Won't Complain" concludes the project, highlighting that despite all the feelings, twists, and turns, the simple things are what's most important. 

You've built a platform with your Beauty & Soul movement to talk about health, wealth, love, and business. How does that mission connect with the themes you explore on Shades of Blues?

Great question! I created Beauty & Soul at a time when I was looking for community and friendship. That desire for purpose and connection can be heard in "Hwy 95" and "Page." The Beauty & Soul Brunch and Podcast helped me evolve and find my purpose with community building, wellness, and music.

They all work together. If I were to place Shades of Blues and Beauty & Soul on the timeline of my life, Shades of Blues would be first, and Beauty & Soul would come in during my spoken word piece, Soulfully Shoni. They both highlight self-discovery and evolution.

You've said you want listeners to "push through life's blues and find the beauty in chaos." What's one moment in your own life when music helped you do exactly that?

Truthfully, I've been pushing past life's blues since the beginning. When I released my debut single, Good Vibes, I was currently experiencing the opposite.

I had just started a new job I hated and was extremely overworked, but one day I asked myself if I could write about the perfect day, what would I say? I then thought about all the good moments I experienced in NYC and incorporated them into the song.

To this day, I love seeing how people positively react to that song because it reminds me of the power of music. I created a positive experience for myself by remembering the great moments in my life and turning them into art. How cool is that?! I'm curious what else I can manifest with my words.