Some collaborations take months to find their rhythm. For Shelana Azora and Richandell, it began with an instant creative connection in an Amsterdam studio. That chemistry has now culminated in “Can’t Trust,” a confident blend of R&B and hip-hop that transforms heartbreak into resilience and self-belief.
Bringing together Shelana’s soulful, emotionally charged vocals with Richandell’s polished, rhythm-driven production, the single explores the moment when betrayal gives way to clarity. Rather than dwelling on what’s been lost, “Can’t Trust”focuses on moving forward with stronger boundaries and a renewed sense of self, delivered through an honest performance and meticulously crafted production.
Recorded at the legendary Wisseloord Studios, the collaboration also brings together two artists with very different but complementary creative journeys, united by a shared commitment to authentic storytelling. We caught up with Richandell to discuss how “Can’t Trust” came together, the creative spark behind the partnership, and why some of the strongest songs are born from life’s most difficult moments.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I’m Richandell — pronounced “Riech-sjen-dol” a Dutch singer-songwriter, producer, audio engineer and workshop teacher with Antillean roots. I was born and raised in the Netherlands and grew up in a Jehovah’s Witness community, where there wasn’t always much room for creative self-expression.
Music was always around me though. My mother and my brothers introduced me to a lot of Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul and Caribbean music. I started out beatboxing, then moved into rapping, writing and eventually producing. When I was younger, I formed a group with friends and we started performing together. We got opportunities to do support shows for international artists such as The Game, Lil’ Kim and Rhazel. Those experiences gave me my first real look inside the professional music world and put me around studios, artists and people I could learn from.
When the group eventually split up, I decided to continue on my own. That pushed me to discover who I really was as an artist and also made me more independent. Over time I learned how to produce, record, mix and master my own music. Today I’m involved in almost every part of the creative process, and I make music in Dutch, English, Papiaments and sometimes Spanish.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
My influences come from different worlds. I grew up listening to Hip-Hop, R&B and Soul, but because of my Antillean background, Caribbean rhythms and melodies have always been part of my musical DNA as well.
Rather than trying to stay inside one genre, I’ve always been interested in combining those influences. That’s why my music can move between Hip-Hop, R&B, Afro, Soul and Caribbean sounds. Sometimes the production is very melodic and emotional, while another record might be much more energetic and made to move to.
Working as a producer has influenced that a lot too. I don’t only hear a song from a singer or rapper’s perspective. I’m thinking about the drums, melodies, arrangement, vocals, mix and the overall feeling at the same time. That allows me to experiment and create my own crossover sound.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
There wasn’t just one moment. It was more like a series of experiences that kept confirming that music was what I wanted to do.
Performing when I was young and getting opportunities to support artists like The Game, Lil’ Kim and Rhazel definitely made a big impact on me. Being inside professional studios and seeing how records were actually created made music feel like something that could become more than just a hobby.
Later, being recognised as FunX Artist of the Month with “They Know” alongside UK artist Kritikz was another important moment. I’ve also had opportunities to work with artists such as Kempi and produce records including “Favela” featuring J Brown and “Ik Kom Vandaag” featuring J Brown and Hector Nazza.
I also produced, mixed and mastered “Un Paseo” by Hector Nazza ft. Kempi & J Brown. The track has been doing really well, particularly in Colombia, and has now reached around 300K streams.
All of those experiences showed me different sides of the industry and made me want to keep developing, not only as an artist but as a complete creator.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
It changes almost every time. Sometimes I start by producing the beat myself. I’ll find some chords, a melody or drums that immediately give me a certain emotion, and then I start freestyling melodies over it until something catches my ear.
Other times I already have something I want to talk about, and the lyrics or concept come first.
Because I produce and engineer as well, songwriting and production often happen together for me. I might change the beat because of something I sing, or change a vocal melody because the production takes me somewhere else.
I like capturing the first feeling because sometimes the first melody or line you record has an energy that’s difficult to recreate once you start overthinking it.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
A lot of my inspiration comes from real life. Relationships, trust, betrayal, ambition, mistakes, growth, attraction, family, culture and things I see happening around me can all become part of a song.
My own life has had different chapters, so I have a lot to draw from. I’m interested in making music people can actually recognise themselves in.
Working with young people has also changed my perspective. Through workshops and projects like From Scratch, I get to see how the next generation thinks, communicates and expresses themselves creatively. That keeps me connected to new energy while also reminding me why I started making music in the first place.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Authenticity is probably the biggest one. I want people to feel like they’re hearing a real person rather than somebody trying to create a perfect image.
Some songs are emotional, some are about relationships, some are confident and playful, and other records have a deeper message. I don’t think every song has to teach you something, but I do want it to make you feel something.
Outside of my own releases, my bigger mission is about showing people especially young people that creativity can give you direction. Music gave me a way to express myself when I didn’t always feel like I had that space growing up. Now I want to create that space for other people too.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
One of the biggest challenges is having to wear so many different hats at the same time. As an independent artist, you’re not only making music. You’re thinking about production, engineering, visuals, content, marketing, releases, networking and finances.
I’m a singer-songwriter, producer and engineer, so being able to do a lot myself is definitely an advantage, but it can also be challenging because you have to know when to stop working on something and release it.
Another challenge is staying patient. You can put years of work into your craft before people really start recognising what you’re building. I’ve learned that consistency matters more than chasing one moment.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
The most rewarding part has been seeing music create opportunities that go beyond my own career.
Of course, things like being FunX Artist of the Month, performing, getting radio exposure and working with established artists and producers mean a lot to me. But I’m equally proud of the work I’ve done with young people.
Through workshops and community projects, I’ve reached more than 6000 young people in Rotterdam and the surrounding area. Projects such as From Scratch are important to me because they allow young people to experience the creative process themselves — writing, producing, recording and discovering talents they might not have realised they had.
I’ve also had opportunities through former diplomat, author and Arabist Petra Stienen to perform and give workshops in cultural and social settings. My story was included in the book “Terug naar de Donderberg,” and I performed alongside Gé Reinders at the Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam.
Those experiences taught me that success in music doesn’t only have to be measured in streams. The impact you can have on somebody through music is just as important.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
By allowing myself to evolve without chasing everything that becomes popular.
I pay attention to what’s happening musically and online because I think every artist should understand the environment they’re releasing music into. But I always bring things back to my own identity.
My background is already a mixture of cultures, languages and musical influences, so versatility feels natural to me. I can make an R&B record, a Hip-Hop record or something with Afro or Caribbean influences and still sound like myself.
I think staying authentic doesn’t mean staying exactly the same. It means evolving while keeping the core of who you are.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
Definitely a lot more music. I’ve been building a catalogue that shows the different sides of me as an artist and producer.
I’m also continuing to build Sound Co-Lab Studios in Rotterdam with my partners. For me, Sound Co-Lab is bigger than simply having a recording studio. We want it to be a creative environment where artists, songwriters, producers and young talent can meet, create and develop. We’re working towards more writing camps, collaborations, workshops and opportunities for upcoming creatives.
From Scratch is another part of that bigger vision. I want to keep developing projects where young people can learn about songwriting, production and recording while having access to professional creative environments.
There are also plans for my debut album. Before that, people can expect more singles, collaborations and different sides of my sound. I’d also like to expand internationally with both my music and workshops. Touring and performing internationally is definitely part of the long-term plan.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
I see myself operating internationally as both an artist and producer, with a strong catalogue and my debut album out in the world.
But I want the infrastructure around the music to grow as well. One of my biggest goals is to further develop Sound Co-Lab Studios into a creative hub in Rotterdam where established artists and upcoming talent can work alongside each other.
Eventually, I want to build a label and create more writing camps that connect artists and producers from the Netherlands, the Caribbean and other countries.
I also want to establish a foundation focused on helping young people through music and creativity and take projects like From Scratch further, including internationally.
In five years, I don’t want people to know Richandell only as an artist. I want to be known as somebody who creates music, develops talent, builds bridges between cultures and creates opportunities for the generation coming after me.
For me, the bigger picture has always been music, culture and impact working together.
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Listen to Shelana Azora & Richandell’s new single ‘Can’t Trust’ below.
