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Shenseea Opens a New Chapter With ‘Catalyst’ EP Featuring Vybz Kartel, Asake and Loe Shimmy
Jamaican dancehall star Shenseea releases her eight-track EP Catalyst today, November 6, bringing together dancehall, Afrobeats, R&B and contemporary sounds while offering listeners a more personal look at her artistic journey.
The project features three major collaborations: Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake on “Playtime,” American rapper Loe Shimmy on “Private,” and dancehall veteran Vybz Kartel on “Talk To Me Nuh.” The EP is released through Since ’93 and Columbia Records, marking Shenseea’s first major project under the labels following her signing in 2025.
Bringing Different Sides of Shenseea Together
Shenseea describes Catalyst as a step into a new phase without abandoning the identity that built her career. She says the project brings together the energy of her earlier “Shenyeng Anthem” era with the more melodic direction heard on songs such as “Lighter.”
Rather than treating musical growth as a complete change in direction, she wants listeners to recognise her roots while hearing how her sound continues to develop.
The EP also follows Never Gets Late Here, her 2024 sophomore album, which earned a nomination for Best Reggae Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
‘Vulnerability’ Reveals a More Personal Side
One of the project’s most revealing moments is “Vulnerability,” where Shenseea addresses deeply personal experiences, including her mother’s passing, her absent father and distrust within the music industry.
She describes the song as one of the most challenging recordings of her career, comparing the experience to reading her personal diary to the world. According to Shenseea, keeping those emotions inside had begun affecting her creativity, and putting them into music allowed her to feel liberated.
She also says Catalyst helped her rediscover the enjoyment of making music, explaining that she wanted this release to be about the love of creating rather than chasing industry accolades.
Asake and Vybz Kartel Lead the Collaborations
The focus track, “Playtime,” pairs Shenseea with Asake in a cross-cultural collaboration connecting Jamaican dancehall with Nigerian sounds. The accompanying video is filmed in London, with Shamir handling the visual direction. Production is credited to Sammy Soso, TSB and Supa Dups.
The project also brings Shenseea and Vybz Kartel together again on “Talk To Me Nuh,” nearly a decade after their 2016 collaboration “Loodi” helped introduce her to a wider dancehall audience. The track, produced by Rvssian, previously surfaced earlier this year.
Loe Shimmy completes the guest lineup with an appearance on “Private.”
‘Catalyst’ Tracklist
- Vulnerability
- 2 Face Gyal
- Danger
- Playtime (feat. Asake)
- Garden
- Body Language
- Private (feat. Loe Shimmy)
- Talk To Me Nuh (with Vybz Kartel)
With Catalyst, Shenseea brings several stages of her musical identity into one project. The result reflects an artist exploring new sounds and international collaborations while keeping her Jamaican foundation at the centre of the journey.