UK R&B Songstress Shaé Universe Pens Timeless New Ep 'Love’s Letter'

Released on Valentine’s Day via The Orchard, Love’s Letter from Shaé Universe comes at a timely intervention where there has been growing talks on the commercialisation of the holiday, and it’s lack of meaning, however this project is steeped in depth and emotion.

Consisting of 10 tracks, ambitiously Shaé crafts a project which is in earnest conversation with love. what it means, demands and gives. How you accept love in all its ambiguity.

With the aim of helping us understand the emotion, Shaé says “In a time where life has felt increasingly heavy, 'Love's Letter’ is here to help us process all the layers from a place of love; the changes, the uncertainty, the distance, the isolation, the frustrations, the cycles and the growth.

"This one’s for the people who are ready to face themselves and return to love”

Opening with inspirational words from Shaé’s mother at the beginning of the project, against a looped guitar melody.  Shaé sings with an enriching tone as she fondly looks back at simpler times as a child surrounded by love.

Keeping with the in intimate guitar-based feel, ‘Summertime’ is a downtempo and steady ode to a lost love. The reasoning for the break is not explained but the songstress is still longing as she sings “Not a day goes by when I don’t think of you/ Even when I try I still feel you I do.”

However showing off her versatility, she smoothly transitions into an affectionate toned rap flow before seamlessly transitioning back.

The Heartfelt ‘LOML’ is inspired by the early 2000s and is a intimate ballad that sees Shaé dedicate herself to her love interest.

Whilst flowing into the expansive aquatic world of ‘Oh, Wait…’ where Shaé expresses how she feels in the aftermath of the breakup, and attempts to make sense of her ex’s s behaviour.

Speaking on making ‘Oh, Wait…’, Shaé said “The unpredictability of each musical section is reflective of how caught off guard I was when I wrote this song. I’d just found out my ex had cheated on me and I was still in absolute shock.

This song is extra dear to my heart because at the time I didn’t speak to anyone about it immediately, but Ari Pensmith (songwriter) and Akeel Henry (producer) created such a safe space in the studio that day, I felt comfortable enough to outwardly express my feelings on the situation for the first time.”

‘Warzone’ is the interlude in the project. Soulfully Shaé croons in the space she made for herself and her vulnerability on the stripped back production. Conflicted internally, she comes to the end of the relationship but in a spoken word verse, her velvet tone softens even further as she submerges herself in the deepness of it all.

On ‘What’s Luv?’ she finds the time to pour back into oneself and the clarity found in self-love. The relatable ‘Passenger Princess’ is a silky offering that leans into the vulnerability of thinking affectionally of an ex whilst needing to get over them and not knowing how to navigate that revelation.

Produced by Sean Hamilton,  the songstress demonstrates a different type of transparency on ‘No Capacity’. Admitting to burnout, she cannot afford the mental space to let someone back in and shoulders accountability.

A genuinely lovely moment occurs on ‘More Than Enough’, which features American R&B established singer  Lalah Hathaway. The track opens with the pair in mid-conversation over voice notes arranging to meet in LA before the piano chords start to play softly in the background with the heavenly harmonies sung. It’s a message of healing and affirmation.

‘Sincerely,’ is a precious hug and a heartfelt goodbye and continues the gospel feel that was left by ‘More Than Enough’. It’s an attempt at freeing herself, whilst showing Shaé blossoming into the newfound space she has made.

Listen here