CMU Approved

Approved: SK Shlomo

By | Published on Tuesday 21 August 2018

SK Shlomo

Reknowned as beatboxer Shlomo, Simon Khan decided to take a step back from his career a couple of years ago, to assess where he wanted it to take him next. Having resisted becoming a recording artist up to that point, he decided to challenge himself to record the songs that would eventually make up his debut album, ‘Surrender’. Reinventing himself as SK Shlomo, his new music takes a very different turn to his beatboxing work.

Shortly after he began recording, he was diagnosed with PTSD and began to confront a childhood trauma, both in therapy and then his songs. “Talking about a major trauma from my childhood was a huge turning point”, he says. “That’s when I realised what this album was about. It’s called ‘Surrender’ because that’s all the traumatised me could ever do – let go and trust. It’s empowering, stopping trying to control everything around you”.

First single ‘Invisible’ sets out the dark pop sound of the album. It also tackles the subject of mental health and recovery which is the album’s theme. “‘Invisible’ is about feeling something creeping in whilst you’re looking away and quietly destroying everything you have”, he explains. “It’s an empowering song that builds and builds and finally lets rip. It’s me taking my pain and making it my power”.

‘Surrender’ is due out next year. Listen to ‘Invisible’ now:

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