Shaima’s “Phenomenal” is the chilli-sprinkled pop track 2017 didn’t know it needed

Raised in West London, Shaima’s childhood received cultural influence from her Pakistani father, which shines through in the more unusual elements of her music. Her music draws from and blends various popular genres, including both house and R&B, but with the somewhat incongruous addition of sitar, Arabic flute, and tabla. It may sound bonkers, but by hell does it work. “Phenomonal” is just that - a fantastic pop track with a bouncing, club-ready feel.

“It was important that I explored my ethnicity through my music,” Shaima explains over email. “My music isn’t fusion as such — I like to think of it as pop with some chilli powder on it. […] It’s about saying who I am, what I believe, and what comes from my heart.”