La Shana Latrice Discusses New Song, Working with Idris Elba, and More

With her single, “I Found It,” out now, we took some time to hear more from La Shana Latrice. Read below to learn more about La Shana Latrice, the story behind her latest single, and what’s to come.

Hi La Shana Latrice! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?

In college, a friend of mine at the time suggested that we should have alter ego names, and they came up with the name, ‘Latrice,’ for me. I also gave them theirs. We were young, and so we agreed that our new names will be the ones that we gave each other from that day. So, from the age of seventeen till twenty-one, everyone called me, Latrice (other than my family).

When I turned twenty-two, I met a guy. He would only want to call me by my real name (La Shana), and so I got used to it and decided to go by La Shana Latrice. The more I grew and matured, the more the name stuck.

Latrice to me now is just a reminder of where I’ve been, and La Shana is a reminder of who I am.

What city are you from and where are you based now?

I was born and raised in Birmingham, UK, but currently reside in Richmond, Virginia.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?

I studied BTEC LEVEL 3 music performance and engineering course at South Birmingham College Birmingham UK 2009, but it wasn’t until 2019 when I found the courage to release my first single. Music has always been my first love, but I honestly thought it would just be a hobby at one point as I honestly didn’t believe that I could be a musical sensation. As I aged, I realized that it’s better to fight for the things that you naturally love to do, then getting old, regretting never taking what you love to do seriously. So, I’ve dedicated the last three and a half years to the thing that I love the most, which is singing.

Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?

Not at all, haha. I’ve had to undo and relearn so much things in my life, not to say my upbringing was bad because it really wasn’t, but sometimes you have to leave your comfort and what your familiar with to discover what’s really locked up inside of you.

How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?

Inspirational, unique, and smooth.

Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?

I love photography and editing videos. I also love building things.

Who are some of your main musical influences?

Most definitely Gospel music. I love the genre in whole and listen to it everyday, but growing up, I enjoyed Mariah Carey, Brandy, Monica and DC3.

What are some of your future music career goals?

To go beyond just making great music, but also impacting generations and different nations.

Now onto your release, ‘I Found It.’ What inspired this song?

It came from a period in my life when I was searching for my true identity and purpose. I had been through ups and downs, faced challenges and setbacks, but deep down, I knew there was something within me waiting to be unleashed.

What is ‘I Found It’ about in your own words?

Finding strength, resilience, knowing who I am, and having self-belief from within – even in the face of adversity. The only validation and approval that I need is God’s.

What is your favorite lyric in ‘I Found It’ and why?

Honestly, the hook:

‘I found it / I found it / I found it / In me’

Which repeats a second time – it’s catchy and gets straight to the point.

What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘I Found It?’

I hope ‘I Found It’ becomes an anthem for anyone who can relate and to those who are still looking to find their way in life. I hope it will inspire them. It is a reminder that we all possess the same power to rise above our circumstances and tap into our true potential.

What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?

Certainly my single, ‘Let It Flow (Remix),’ featuring Idris Elba.

What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?

To trust in the gifts that God has given me.

The less people that I listen to, the better.

Never overexplain who you are – let your actions speak for you.

Don’t overshare your next moves.

What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?

I hope to be touring next summer, and I’ll be releasing another EP before the year-end.

Where can we follow you on social media?

@lashanalatrice on all socials.

Before you go, let’s ask you something random. What are your favorite types of movies?