Facts about Shilay

Basic Information

• Stage Name: Shilay
• Full Name: Shilderic Joamelus
• Date of Birth: February 18, 1999
• Hometown: Saint Louis Du Nord, Haiti
• Languages Spoken: Creole, English
• Occupation: Singer and songwriter

Music Journey

• First Song Released: Depi’w Pa La (2019), originally on Facebook, now removed. May be re-released in the future.
• First Official Single: Kann Kalé (2021) on all major platforms.
• Breakout Song: None yet, still in progress.
• Most Personal and Favorite Song: Mwen Toujou La written during the darkest period of his life.

Artistic Identity

The name "Shilay" comes from childhood. Shilderic always imagined himself as "Shilay." Years later, it became a way to reclaim his voice and identity.

• Genre: Folk-pop
• Primary Instrument: Piano
• Language of Music: Primarily Creole with rare English songs like Don't Cry For Me When I'm Gone
• Songwriting Style: Honest, emotional, sometimes vulgar or spiritual
• Production Style: Mostly self-produced using FL Studio since mid-2010s, but prefers Logic Pro for vocals.
• Early Performances: Sang in church years ago, and a few times at school

Musical Influences and Favorites

• Favorite Artists: Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Lucky Dube
• Haitian Influences: John Steve Brunache, Boukman Eksperyans (band), Tines Salvant
• Favorite Song: What Is A Youth by Glen Weston (1968 Romeo and Juliet theme)

Creative Process

• How Songs Begin: Voice memos recorded while playing piano or humming melodies with gibberish lyrics
• Writing Flow: Melody comes first, lyrics follow later

Cultural Influence and Sound

Shilay blends foreign pop style with Haitian folk depth. Even when he sounds like mainstream artists, the emotion and Creole language make his music unique.

Upcoming Album: La Cigale

La Cigale is a personal, folk-rooted album with old, soulful, and Celtic sounds. It avoids current trends in favor of emotional honesty. It is not about sounding like everyone else. It is about sounding like Shilay.