Reggae’s newest star Xhae (pronounced Zay) has stepped onto the international music scene with the release of her viral single Bidi Bidi (Boy Next Door).
She adds her own provocative spin to the Anything for You rhythm, made popular in the mid-90s by Canadian artiste Snow and Nadine Sutherland.
A performance of the song recently went viral on social media from a post by DJ AG Online, a massive channel with 1.7 million subscribers on TikTok.
With an illustrious musical heritage, Shadae “Xhae” Johnson is carrying on an impressive family legacy in reggae music. As the granddaughter of Duckie Simpson of Black Uhuru and daughter of popular Jamaican singer Mikey Spice, she has spent countless hours in the studio crafting her artistry.
As a standout member of her choir at Oberlin High School, there was no doubt that she would evolve into a recording artiste.
This is the début release for Xhae with NY-based DubShot Records, the label responsible for the distribution of artists like Inner Circle, Bunny Wailer, Ky-Mani Marley, and more.
“Bidi Bidi was inspired by an uncontrollable melody at a moment I couldn’t find the words best to describe the energy I was feeling. But it was definitely a feel of music taking over and makes you feel free and expressive and I wanted my consumers to feel the exact same and as if they are in a world where it’s safe to get lost in just that melody,” she said.
With a unique fusion of styles, her sound is rooted in storytelling and emotion, blending a variety of influences into soul-stirring melodies and compelling lyrics. With an undeniable talent, a legacy of greatness, and an unwavering passion for music, Xhae captured the attention of DubShot Records and is poised to leave a mark on the international music scene.
The playful and flirtatious song was co-written with fellow emerging star Matthew Malcolm over the classic
Grafton Brew rhythm, also known as the Anything for You rhythm, originally produced by Herby Azor and redone for this release by Jermaine Brinsley Forde, son of ASWAD’s Brinsley Forde.
Bidi Bidi (Boy Next Door) is available on all streaming platforms.