Soaring High: An Interview With Shad on Identity, Community and ‘Flying Colours’

By: Mehek Seyid (@whatthemehek) –

Shadrach Kabango is a pretty busy guy these days.

The London, ON-native just released his highly anticipated fourth album, Flying Colours, a record that contemplates individual identity and its components, including history, culture, and circumstance. When one begins to reflect on this is different for everyone, but for Shad, the time is now. “I think I reached an age when it’s natural to take inventory of your life,” he says. “And trying to figure out if you’re on the right track. I think trying to figure out that took me on a journey in my mind through all these places that I’ve been and relationships I’ve had that have shaped me.”

He speaks about this explicitly throughout Flying Colours. On his song “Remember To Remember”, he cites a conversation that he once had with his father, who reminded him to take the time to think about his journey in life and value his varied experiences. It seems like a simple thing to do, but it’s something that many leave off of their daily checklists. Perhaps that is due to the nature of today’s society, where individuals tend to be more concerned with work commitments, goal achievement, consumption, image and entertainment rather than their emotional well-being.

He alludes to such roadblocks between layers of moody electronic rhythms, staccato drum kicks and violin melodies on “Dreams”. When asked about these distractions and how they will affect future generations, Shad shares the sentiments of a comedian.

“There’s a great new Louis C.K. bit about how we don’t like to be alone. But we need to be alone with our feelings sometimes instead of running to distractions. It’s the only way to confront the reality of ourselves. I think that will be an ongoing challenge for us and definitely for future generations. All of this access to information and to each other is great but it’s a double-edged sword for sure.”

But celebrating identity is just as important as deconstructing it. Back in September Shad made a cameo appearance at the Manifesto Community and Culture show at Yonge and Dundas Square in Toronto, where he briefly performed two songs before headliner Jhené Aiko came on for her set.

We need to be alone with our feelings sometimes instead of running to distractions. It’s the only way to confront the reality of ourselves.

“That’s family,” he says of the festival. “I’ve seen those guys create and sustain a really positive movement in the city, I’m just really proud of them and wanted to come through.”

That same weekend he also performed at Maestro Fresh Wes’ 25^th anniversary concert at the historic Massey Hall in Toronto. “The Maestro thing was just awesome,” he reflects. “A storied venue, a storied figure in the scene, and performing “Let Your Backbone Slide” no less! [It was a] really special night for me getting to be a part of that and also just getting to chop it up with the other artists there.”

Some of the other artists who appeared on stage that night were Lights, Rich Kidd, Saukrates, King Reign, Kardinal Offishall, The Trews and K-os, who also performed “Let Your Backbone Slide” with Shad and Maestro Wes.

It’s not too far fetched to think that Shad’s career is celebrated in a similar manner at some point down the road, given his track record so far. Since debuting in 2005, he has used his wit, mashing of multiple genres, and brand of storytelling to create an accessible body of work that many identify with upon listening. In 2011, he famously beat out Drake for the Juno for Rap Recording of the Year for his critically acclaimed album TSOL, which garnered him much more attention from the American press. Endless rhymes and energy define his live shows, along with a fun atmosphere, and usually incredibly enthusiastic fans that know a thing or two about grooving. Some call him a positive rapper. Others suggest that his skill is reminiscent of Common’s lyrical flow. Labels and comparisons aside, Shad is just plain good.

CBC Music seems to think similarly, as they recently named him the second greatest Canadian rapper ever, right behind Maestro Wes. As to whether Shad would like to see aspects of Maestro’s career reflected in his own, he notes, “There’s a lot I admire about Maestro. Even putting on a show like the one he did at Massey with that many guests and everything, he’s just very confident and committed to doing really good work. That’s been a big lesson for me. I also love how humble he is. I always see him asking for advice and feedback. I can tell that’s been a key to success and it’s rare in our business to see someone solicit advice as much as he does. I admire that a lot.”

There is a lot to be admired of Shad as well, including his senses of artistry and consistency. On this album, there are a few new creative extensions.

Shad’s new album, Flying Colours, contemplates individual identity and its components, including history, culture, and circumstance.

“I think it’s a bit heavier emotionally,” he comments. “I think it’s more layered lyrically and musically.” Such effort is best exemplified on “Progress”, a seven-minute mash-up of spoken word, rock rhythms, and Don McLean’s 1972 hit “American Pie”, that consists of two different parts. “It began as a sort of update on the Don McLean song,” he explains. “I think I saw a parallel right away between Buddy Holly/Ritchie Valens and Biggie/Tupac and that kinda sent me down that road. I was just following these images that came to me and it turned into this sort of dark reflection on culture and history. We started with the part over the beat there and then I had more lyrics which we made into a sort of spoken word intro.”

He goes on to explain “Part two was actually a separate song that I wrote a while ago that, to me, spoke to some similar feelings and ideas. It’s a full on rock song but they fit.”

Shad also acknowledges that Flying Colours will fit in well with the rest of his catalogue. “At the same time, my stuff is kind of always fundamentally the same; there’s some humour, there’s some commentary, and the whole thing kind of comes down to describing my journey through life.”

Fans are sure to continue to relate to Shad’s journey on Flying Colours. “Love Means” is about the varying ways and definitions of love that one encounters throughout life. Speaking on this collaboration with Toronto-based MC Eternia, he says, “The joint with Eternia was one we actually started on a couple years ago and kind of came together in a cool way towards the end of my time working on the album. She’s such a passionate, dope performer. She would be near the top of my list of female emcees that deserve more attention.”

His second single, “Fam Jam (Fe Sum Immigrins)”, highlights the experience that many immigrants go through during their integration process in Canada. Besides just making a good song, Shad also hopes that “a song like this would humanize the immigrant experience a bit, celebrate it in its complexity and make it something people can approach with maybe a bit more empathy and imagination. I think our multicultural character is something great but I also think it’s a value we have to continue to fight for and progress because fear and greed are natural human things that can slowly move us away from the values we’re proud of as Canadians. “

Luckily for many Canadians, they will get the chance to hear Shad preach these ideas live in the coming weeks as he embarks on tour in support of Flying Colours. Like the record, Shad will be able to share an extension of himself in a live setting. “I’m excited to share these new songs and a new show with people,” he expresses. “I just try to give people an experience; an opportunity to connect with the music and with me in a more intimate way.”