Today we’d like to introduce you to Shakiel Smith.
Shakiel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from New Orleans, and I think that city is always going to be somewhere in my music. I grew up around so much culture, soul, musicianship, church, sports and just real life. Music became my way of processing all of that.
I started as an R&B singer, songwriter, and producer, and for a long time I was simply trying to figure out what my sound was and where I fit. Over time, though, I realized that I didn’t necessarily want to “fit” anywhere. I wanted the freedom to create whatever felt honest to me.
Moving to Austin became a huge part of that journey because Austin allowed me to perform all of the music I’d been writing. I’ve been able to build a life here not only as an artist, but as a father, educator, DJ, songwriter, and creative. Some nights I’m performing my own music, some nights I’m behind the decks as New Rouge, and during the week I’m in a school building working with kids. Then I go home and I’m Dad. All of those versions of me influence the artist I’ve become.
The last couple of years especially have been about growth. I’ve released projects like 5 AM Text and Italy, Briefly, collaborated with some incredible people, performed around Austin and back home in New Orleans, and continued pushing myself creatively. But one of the biggest shifts has been reconnecting my music with my faith.
That led me to records like “Grace Wrote My Story” and eventually this new chapter of music where I’m exploring worship and inspirational music without pretending that everything that came before it didn’t exist. My R&B background, my New Orleans roots, my experiences as a father, the difficult seasons, the beautiful ones—they’re all still there. I’m just telling the story from a different perspective now.
I think that’s really how I got here: by continuing to evolve. I’ve learned that your story doesn’t always make sense while you’re living it. I’m still building. I’m still learning. I’m still becoming the artist, father, and man I want to be. I think the biggest difference now is that I’m not in such a rush to figure out where the story ends.
I’m just grateful I get to keep writing it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I tend to frequent on the road less traveled and that’s never an easy ride.
One of my biggest struggles has been learning how to carry multiple responsibilities without losing myself in any of them. There have been plenty of days where I’ve gone from being in the classroom all day, to being Dad, to being in the studio late at night, then waking up the next morning and doing it all over again.
There have also been moments where I’ve questioned whether music was still supposed to be part of my story. Being an independent artist can be difficult. You’re investing your own money, creating your own opportunities, hearing “no,” watching things you believe in not always get the attention you hoped they would, and still having to wake up the next day and believe in yourself enough to create again.
Fatherhood has probably changed my perspective on struggle the most. Once you have someone depending on you, quitting looks different.
And honestly, faith has become a huge part of how I’ve navigated that.
For a long time, I thought progress meant having everything figured out. Now I think progress is sometimes just having enough faith to take the next step. That realization has even changed my music. “Grace Wrote My Story” came from understanding that when I look back at the moments I thought would break me, somehow I’m still here.
So no, it hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been detours, disappointments, sacrifices and plenty of moments where I had to start again.
But I wouldn’t erase them.
A lot of the things I once considered interruptions to my story ended up becoming the story.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At the core, I’m a storyteller.
I’m a singer, songwriter, producer and performer under the name SHVKIEL, and I also DJ under the name New Rouge. My foundation is R&B and soul, but I’ve never wanted to put a ceiling on what my music could sound like. Recently, my creativity has led me deeper into inspirational and worship music, which has opened an entirely new side of me as an artist.
I think what I specialize in most is creating a feeling. Whether I’m writing a record, producing, performing with a band or DJing a room, I’m always thinking about what I want people to feel. Sometimes that’s love. Sometimes it’s nostalgia. Sometimes it’s joy, heartbreak, peace or faith. The genre might change, but the intention doesn’t.
I’m probably most proud of the fact that I’ve continued to evolve without abandoning who I was before. Projects like 5 AM Text and Italy, Briefly represent different chapters of my life, while a song like “Grace Wrote My Story” represents where I am spiritually and creatively today. I don’t look at those as separate versions of myself. They’re all SHVKIEL.
But I am most proud of the fact that I get to be a dad while in pursuit of my purpose.
What sets me apart is probably that I’m not afraid of the intersection.
I can come from New Orleans, live in Austin, make an R&B record, write a worship song, DJ a late-night set, perform with a live band, teach kids the next morning and still find something meaningful in all of it. I don’t feel like I have to choose one identity anymore.
More than anything, I want people to hear my work and feel like there’s a human being on the other side of it. Not a perfect person. Not a character. Just somebody living, learning, believing, loving and trying to make something beautiful out of all of it.
What matters most to you? Why?
Honestly, what matters to me the most is my faith, my son and my music. The fact that my son gets to ride shotgun with me through it all Is priceless. He gets to see me chase what I love while still being present, loving my people, and keeping God at the center of it all. That’s success to me.
Pricing:
- * Live performances — rates vary based on event, location, and performance requirements.
- * DJ sets — available for private events, venues, and special events; pricing varies.
- * Songwriting/production — available upon inquiry.
- * For booking, rates, and availability, please contact management.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shvkiel
