1. Hi Vashonda! Please introduce yourself to those who might not know you. 
Hey! Vashonda Sherra here, I am a full time Music Entrepreneur: Vocalist, Keyboardist, Songwriter, Producer, and DJ based out of Los Angeles, California.
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2. How did your connection with Shira and Gritty In Pink come about? 
I met Shira on the red carpet of the Women’s International Music Network’s “She Rocks Awards.” Shira was right ahead of me in line and about to put her nice leather jacket on the ground, so I offered to take it and put it somewhere safe while we did our interviews. We hit it right off and even ended up doing a couple of interviews together because people thought we knew each other!

Shira invited me to her Gritty In Pink NAMM party, and the rest is history. At the time, I was in search of a women’s group for Black women in music. Gritty In Pink was the closest and most diverse collective of women in music I had come across thus far. One week later, I got a call to fill in on keys and sing a duet at Gritty’s All Girl Jam due to someone getting sick.
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3. What's it like to be a part of the effort to create a supportive community for a set of diverse women in the music industry?
It’s a lifetime commitment full of ups and downs, good and bad, rain or shine—those dualities of our existence that show up and let me know where progress has been made and where progress still needs to go. Too often, I hear and witness women being paid less and not being given the same opportunities as their male counterparts due to gatekeeping. There is enough room for all of us to be seen and heard.

Back in March, I was DJing Arlan Hamilton’s “Your First Million Live” in DTLA, and several Black women came up to me, asking if they could take a picture or video of me because it was their first time seeing a Black woman DJ in person. In 2024! Representation and visibility still matter today in 2024.
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4. When did you first realize you wanted to pursue a career in music? Was there a specific person or influence that made you recognize being an entertainer was your dream?
Music has always been a part of my life. I grew up in a musical family on my mother’s side, so my family was my first introduction to music. The first person I saw singing and playing the piano was my granny, Fern Keys. She sang and played for her church for over 30 years until she left this earth. The first instrument I touched was the upright piano inside my granny’s house. Every time I step on stage and play, I carry the spirit of my granny with me.

My mother, MzV, is also a singer and bass player. I performed my first song in front of an audience with my mother when I was five years old. My uncle, Kevin Keys, is a singer, drummer, bassist, and keyboardist. Together with my mom, they have a band that I still perform with once or twice a year. I grew up with rehearsals in my living room. Besides the keyboards, I was fascinated with the drums and the way a drummer could use all their limbs at the same time to produce sound! I’ve always been living out my musical dreams in some form or fashion. I have different chapters to my story, and I’ve appreciated every step of my journey so far, for it has led me to where I am now.
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5. You’re originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. What inspired your move to LA, and how has the transition shaped your perspective on life and opportunities?
When I moved to LA, I hadn’t been planning on staying here at the time. LA has always felt like a second home to me. I’ve often traveled here for work, and I have many friends and family who live here. I also have a lot of colleagues and musician friends with whom I’ve built relationships for over 10 years.

A couple of years ago, I was making my way through various music cities during the latter part of the pandemic—New York, Nashville, Atlanta, Austin, to name a few—just to see how things were coming along. LA was the last stop on my trip. What was supposed to be a 40-day business trip turned into me staying because I kept getting hired for so many different things.

Transitioning to LA was a very natural and inevitable part of my journey. You create opportunity wherever you go, and for now, LA is home. This city is whatever you make it out to be, and I’m fortunate to have attracted the things that are meant for me.
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6. You’ve launched a new collective for Black creatives and artists called 'Super Creatives’. Can you share how this group came to life and the inspiration behind it? Also, how important is it to you to amplify Black voices in the music space?
Vashonda Sherra & The Super Creatives is a collective of multidisciplinary artists dedicated to uplifting and giving voice to marginalized communities within the Black Diaspora. We are the superheroes and heroines providing space, knowledge, and resources to build a safe and supportive community worldwide. We’re based in both LA and São Paulo, Brazil. Eventually, I plan to expand Super Creatives to Africa and Haiti as well.

I created and founded Super Creatives because I recognized the superheroes within my community—individuals who are kicking ass, helping others, and being superstars in their own rights and fields. Giving a platform and voice to Black creatives is crucial for preserving and cementing our history and culture for generations to come.
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7.  As both a DJ and a keyboardist, how do you balance the creative energy between live instrumentation and curating sets, and how do these roles influence each other?
It all depends on the show or gig—whether I’m playing as part of a band or performing as a solo artist. Because I consider myself a vocalist first, using my voice in tandem with a controller as an emcee or as a singer with keys feels seamless; I know and understand my instruments. I practice.

I’m part of three different bands: Morris Mills & The Assembly, Shiragirl, and Sheblime. Each one demands something unique because the music is different for each. I know what patches I want to use, what songs I want to mix, and how to beat match.

Additionally, I often fill in and play for a variety of artists, which keeps things fresh and exciting for me all the time.

8. Do you find that your skills as a keyboardist bring a unique perspective to your DJ sets, or vice versa?
DJ’ing came after I was already playing keys. The natural way I hear arrangements and create mashups on the keys is very similar to how I hear and curate songs when I DJ. I’ve got hundreds of songs inside me.

The versatility of music I listened to growing up has greatly contributed to my ability to perform across different genres. I might mix or mash up a Broadway musical with an alternative hip-hop song—or even with disco!
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9. How has performing with artists like Shiragirl and Sheblime influenced your musical journey, and what do you enjoy most about sharing the stage with such a dynamic group of women?
Performing with both Shiragirl and Sheblime has been equally enjoyable—it's a pleasure sharing the stage with such a great group of women. Playing festivals and hitting stages at cool venues like Garden Amp creates amazing memories and keeps me on my toes—especially when your lead singer accidentally rips her shorts right before you take the stage!
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10. You recently traveled to Brazil—was it your first time visiting? What’s one memorable moment or key reflection from the trip that stands out to you?
Yes, I launched Super Creatives in São Paulo, Brazil, and produced a Super Creatives show there in collaboration with VILANISMO, featuring artists from both LA and São Paulo in June 2024. The entire trip was monumental and stands out to me because it was my first time there, my first time producing an international show, and an incredible opportunity to connect with all the amazing people there.

The idea to produce a show and connect with the artists in São Paulo came during a manifestation vision board session with my team in December 2023. Just six months later, I was knee-deep in finalizing lighting design, sound specs, promo and marketing, meet-and-greets, and everything it takes to make a show happen.

Hiking in the Brazilian rainforest was unforgettable—it was challenging, rewarding, and sacred. I felt an intense kinship to my ancestral ties as my hands touched the lush greenery and my bare feet connected with the land.
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11. If your life were a movie, what would the title be, and who would play you?
If my life were a movie, the title would be “All The Me’s Are With You & All The You’s Are With Me.” My niece, Paris Simone Sherra Epps, would play me!
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12. If you could pick any album to be the soundtrack of your life, which one would it be and why?
“I Heard That,” an album by the great Quincy Jones, would be the soundtrack at this current stage of my life because it’s a double album, with one song in particular that I deem my personal theme: “What Good Is A Song.” The song asks, “What good are the lyrics if they can’t soothe? If they can’t ease a troubled mind…if it has no depth or height?”

My desire is for the music I create to speak to and move whoever it’s meant to reach.

13. What’s a personal achievement or milestone from this past year that you’re proud of?
One of my greatest achievements this year is producing a show in São Paulo, Brazil, connecting with the people, and performing alongside the artists there.

14. What’s next? We heard you have some exciting projects coming up with big collaborations.
I’m not in the habit of speaking prematurely about many things in order to keep the energy of projects at their highest form during development stages; however, I do have some exciting collaborations coming up with The National Black Musicians Coalition, The Recording Academy, Black Women Spin LA, and more Super Creative shows.

I am very passionate about advocating for Black women in music and continuing to give a voice for change and presence in the industry. I’m finally back in the studio, working on my own solo project. Tracking and arranging have officially begun.

I am in good health, and I have an amazing family who’s always there, supporting me and rooting for me along the way. I am incredibly thankful and happy about where I am in my life. So stay tuned as my journey continues to unfold!
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