A Chat with Sushee (28.07.26)
Irish-based singer, songwriter, and producer Sushee is carving out a distinctive space in the Emerald Isle’s alternative music scene with her genre-blending sound. Drawing from R&B, electronic music, hip-hop, house, and amapiano, she pairs soulful vocals with rich, immersive production. We caught up with her to talk about her creative process, musical influences, and the stories behind her captivating sound.
OSR: Your sound blends R&B, electronic music, hip-hop, house, and amapiano influences. How did you discover this combination of sounds, and what drew you towards creating music that exists between multiple genres rather than fitting into one category?
Sushee: I have always been an avid fan of multiple genres of music. I would say that growing up in a multicultural household definitely enhanced my interest in an array of genres and different musical cultures and sounds. I truly resonate with all genres mentioned, and when I began making music, I felt like I needed to stick to just one. However, as I continued producing as the years went on, the pressure of sticking to one genre slowly left, and I decided to get more experimental with my sound selection and take inspiration from several genres to incorporate that into my sound.
OSR: As a singer, songwriter, and producer, you have control over many different parts of the creative process. How does producing your own music shape the way you express emotions and tell stories through your songs?
Sushee: I feel like I have more control over the sounds which I’m trying to portray my emotions through. By being a producer, I allow myself to make and describe feelings that sometimes even lyrics can’t explain. I think also by having the time to craft sounds really helps to set the tones and atmospheres which I truly feel. I view producing as an alternative way for me to tell my truth without having to speak or find the right words.
OSR: Your latest single ‘DECEIVE ME’ explores themes of desire, vulnerability, and uncertainty. What inspired the emotional world behind the track, and what did you want listeners to feel when they first hear it?
Sushee: ‘DECEIVE ME’ was made during a very emotional time of my life where a lot of drastic changes were taking place all at once. I think at the time I was second-guessing my decisions and romanticising unfavourable situations. I also feel like many people can resonate with the feeling of “what if” and almost choose to follow a certain path or person that doesn’t have their best interest at heart. Sometimes it’s easier to believe a lie and continue in a false situation than it is to face the truth and consequences of the truth. I wanted listeners to feel the duality of conscious romanticism and also vulnerability.
OSR: The production on ‘DECEIVE ME’ has a strong sense of atmosphere, balancing intimate vocals with deep club-inspired rhythms. How do you approach building a sonic environment around a song, and where does the production process usually begin for you?
Sushee: When I start producing a song, usually within the first 30 seconds of the instrumental, I can almost envision which setting I would like the song to be played in. In this instance, for ‘DECEIVE ME’, what came to mind was a small, dark club with red and blue lighting around it. I think my selection of deep sub basses and dark-toned synths and melodies helped to shape the initial sound of the track and the idea I had in mind. I did play around with some percussive elements until I found what fit, and then adding powerful drum patterns and log drums helped to heighten that club feeling. For the vocals, I wanted to keep them simple yet hypnotic and almost chant- like to make the song catchy yet get the message across. The vocals fell naturally into place once the first half of the instrumental was completed.
OSR: Your music feels equally suited for personal listening and the dancefloor. How important is it for you to create songs that can connect with people emotionally while also creating a physical experience?
Sushee: I think dance music is one of the most emotive yet rhythmic genres in the world. Some of the greatest dance songs, in my opinion, have very simple yet profound lyrics which you can appreciate even when you’re not in a club or rave setting. I wanted to pay homage to that concept of making an energetic and experimental dance song with profound lyrics. I think it helps listeners enjoy the song more when they can appreciate listening to it in various settings. Depending on the setting, listeners can gain different perspectives about the song as well.
OSR: Ireland has a growing alternative electronic scene with many artists pushing creative boundaries. How do you see yourself fitting into this movement, and what excites you most about the current landscape of Irish music?
Sushee: I think Ireland has one of the most explosive scenes for dance music at the moment, which is so exciting to be a part of! It’s really exciting stuff to see, and I hope that I can fit into a niche pocket of dance music for those who appreciate a faster pace of funky house with more Afro house/ tech house elements. I also think that as I am first and foremost a singer and songwriter, I can carve a space for myself to produce dance music with lyrics and experimental vocal techniques that can push a different style of dance music into the scene.
OSR: You have performed at major venues and festivals including Electric Picnic’s Trenchtown Stage, Whelan’s, and The Button Factory. How does performing live influence your relationship with your music, and how do your songs evolve when brought into a live setting?
Sushee: The best thing about performing live is that I can dance to my own songs shamelessly as well!! I think because of the energy I bring to my dance songs on stage, it encourages the audience to let loose and truly feel the music and dance with me. There is something tribal and spiritual about dancing with a group of people, and I try to enhance that experience when I’m performing. I have been experimenting a lot more with my live set-up as well, and for future shows I intend to bring in live drum machine loops and play this live to add more versatility to my live sets in comparison to the studio versions of my songs. Also, I can play around vocally a lot more when I have a live set and really expand the song’s potential and the audience’s experience.
OSR: Your upcoming experimental Afro-electronic EP seems to explore new creative territory. What can listeners expect from this project, and how does it represent the next stage of your artistic evolution?
Sushee: I have been feeling very confident recently in the sound I have been creating. I feel like it’s truly showing my evolution as an artist from a technical and also spiritual level. I feel like I’m slowly unveiling this side to me that perhaps I was not comfortable enough to show through my music in earlier years. I think people can expect very interesting and heavy bass sounds with hypnotic and powerful drums and dance patterns. There will be influences from multiple genres, and I plan to showcase my vocal, songwriting and production techniques in a way that feels incredibly authentic to myself.
OSR: You have collaborated with artists including Selu, Jeorge II, and Deleon. What do you look for in a creative collaboration, and how do other artists influence or challenge your own approach to making music?
Sushee: I genuinely collaborate with artists who have very similar outlooks to pushing boundaries like I do. I love collaborating and working with people who are carving out more alternative sounds and have a niche style that I personally appreciate. In terms of collaborating, it can and has been done in multiple different ways. Sometimes it’s one or two long studio days; other times it’s weeks of going back and forth through Ableton projects, but each time it’s fun and exciting and also a learning experience for myself and the other parties. I have learned to embrace the different ways people work, and I’ve learnt to trust and appreciate different ways people have their creative processes. It’s all about a mutual “trusting of the process” approach until we align and make heavy-hitting tracks.
OSR: Looking ahead, what kind of legacy do you want to build as an artist? When people look back at this chapter of your career, what do you hope they understand about Sushee’s music and creative vision?
Sushee: I want people to see that I am a pioneer of sorts in trying to blend several genres and styles of music. I don’t want to be remembered under only one category of sound. I also would like people to gain their own version of spiritual enlightenment and transcend with me and the music I’m making in this era of my career. I hope that my vision of deep vulnerability and raw emotions can come through in my music and help heal and resonate with people through rhythmic sounds and movements.
Many thanks to Sushee for speaking with us. Find out more about Sushee on her Spotify, Instagram and TikTok.
