There are artists who shape their craft, and then there are artists who let their craft shape them. Shad Fer moves like someone guided by discipline, spiritual grounding, and a creative engine that refuses to dim. In this intimate Q&A, he speaks with the honesty, humor, and introspection that define him.
When people hear the name Shad Fer, what do you want them to feel or think immediately?
“I want people to associate my name with ‘the spirit of excellence and strong work ethic but also lightheartedness, romance and fun.’ When someone is doing very well at many things, giving it their all and making the impressive look effortless, I want their friends to say: ‘This sudden dedication to your craft is very Shad Fer of you.’”
What’s something about your creative journey that most people wouldn’t believe if you told them?
“hmm Some people may not believe just how much of a spiritual element there is to the kind of person I am. A daily routine of prayer, yoga, meditation, reflections, reading etc. because my goal is to be my greatest self and to give my blessings the gratitude and acknowledgment they deserve.”
You’ve worn many hats artist, actor, creative director but who are you at your core, behind all the titles?
“Behind all the titles, I’m someone that is just trying to understand their purpose, express the powerful creative energy that exists within me and learn the language of the universe so that I can enjoy the music and sing along when it’s my turn.”
How has being Bahamian shaped not just your music, but the way you see the world?
“Being Bahamian is such a blessing because it put me in a position to view and acknowledge my African/black heritage from several different perspectives whether it be the American influence that comes from tourism and media, the Caribbean influence that comes from the rest of the region, the historical influence that comes from slavery, colonialism etc. I know that answer is a lil deep but it’s literally the reason why I can effortlessly make a song that sounds like Prince helped me to write it (‘Save Yourself’) and then write a song that can allow me to open up at a Dexta Daps show or Rema show like ‘One More Time.’ Being Bahamian has put me in a position to see and live blackness from a very special and unique perspective. I love that I was born here. There are always things to complain about if you look for them but every time I’m able to feel the breeze, look at the water, laugh with my people and lay down with in a decent bed with a roof over my head, I feel more than blessed!”
What’s a lyric you’ve written that feels the most like you and what was going through your mind when you wrote it?
“If someone wants to understand what my heart has to say lyrically, the best reference would be my song ‘Last Normal Year’…as far as rap goes, it’s probably the most honest and transparent I’ve ever been. I call names, I hold myself accountable and reveal my honest feelings about everything. I guess the other side of that coin would be the song ‘Julien Believe’ in which I approach the same feelings of being under-appreciated, dejected and anxious but from a spirit of confidence. In Last Normal Year, I approach it from a spirit of catharsis.”
How do you handle moments of doubt or creative block?
“I don’t put pressure on myself when I’m ‘blocked,’ I direct my attention to a different medium of expression and cycle back when I’m ready. There’s a time for output and when I’ve exhausted myself, that means it’s either time for rest or input. I have so much going on that I always have something else to inspire me and distract me.”
What does success look like for a Bahamian artist in 2025? Has that definition changed for you?
“Success to me is having the freedom to create and perform the way you love to but still get the respect and compensation that your value commands. That’s pretty much always been my goal. More consistently, Bahamians are getting the opportunity to appreciate themselves through the viral success of athletic superstars, social media superstars, academic super stars etc. If someone can make a living off of it that allows room for growth and they still love what they’re doing, that’s success. I just want us to be more proud of ourselves when we see each other.”
What do you think is misunderstood about Bahamian artists or the Bahamian creative scene in general?
“One of the most misunderstood things about the creative scene here from a mainstream cultural perspective is just how globally ready a lot of us are. We’re already capable of creating and performing things that are on par with people that are making millions around the world. But because most of us have never had the huge financial backing and industry connections that comes with being signed to a major label, it’s tricky. How can I convince you that I’m a superstar when one day you see me on stage doing full choreography and singing a hit that I wrote then the next day you see me in socks and slippers in the gas station buying some noodles and a strawberry limeade. There’s more to it than just that element of it but I feel like it’s easy to take an artist for granted when mainstream media isn’t spelling out how special they are.”
If your younger self could see where you are now, what would he say?
“I think my younger self would like my hairstyle and that I got a lil taller and be impressed with my music and the opportunities I’ve managed to obtain locally. But they’d also be shocked that I’m still not in the position I want to be in. They’d probably criticize me for it and wonder where I’m going wrong. Younger me and current me pretty much share the same mindset. I’m not surprised by what I’ve done, I’m just more surprised that I haven’t been able to do more.”
When you imagine the next chapter for Shad Fer art, life, purpose what do you see?
“The next chapter for me is all about scaling everything up. I want to be more talented and to master more skills related to the craft. I want to genuinely please my fans, partners, customers etc. I want them to always be taken aback by the sheer quality of what I give them. I want the success, I want the stardom, I want the job. I’m going to be traveling more to introduce my brand to people beyond just The Bahamas. I might even have to move for a little while. But before it gets to that, it would be really nice if I could somehow convince my people that I’m actually pretty good at what I do.”
What message would you leave with Bahamian creatives still trying to find their voice?
“The message I’d say to creatives trying to find their voice is to absorb as much quality art, information and advice as possible. Practice. Learn the languages and philosophies of your heroes. Take what you learn and determine what kind of person you want to be. Do you want to push morally good ideals onto people or are you gonna be a gangsta until the day you die. Are you gonna be shy about your relationship experience or are you gonna portray yourself as carefree or promiscuous. Whoever you choose to be, you gotta be able to live in that without shame. You gotta be able to accept that picking your purpose means that some people will be opposed to it. Ain’t nothing wrong with having some opps, even if they’re your friends or family. The people that don’t like you are just as important as the people that do when it comes to how you brand yourself. Because it tells you exactly where to direct your focus.”
