S.H.E.D.'s Poetic Journey "For The Lover In You"

Go 'head Shed. Athens-native Shedrick S.H.E.D. Barnett recites his poetry around town and sells books and CDs full of verses that “Share Humane Experiences Devoutly.” Earlier this year, Shedrick released a new auditory experience on all streaming platforms, fusing his poetry with music and singers to create a unique journey in For The Lover In You.

The album is full of “real talk” drawn from life experiences that explores love, feelings, and relationships in a playful and vulnerable way. This is carefully balanced by Shedrick’s words and the accompanying music, one never stepping on top of the other yet giving the poetic words the spotlight they deserve. Just as the positioning and placement of the different elements are attentively arranged, so are the featuring singers chosen: Mista Lee, L.G. (how could you not feature the Heart of the City on a love-infused album?), Andreana Williams, and Stella Groove.

“Can’t Blame Love” comes in with a catchy hook by Mista Lee, “We make it harder than it has to be,” that’ll bounce around in the back of your head long after the song has stopped playing. Tuneful and captivating truths are a common thread here. “Dance Floor” steps up the tempo with an unsurprisingly dancy rhythm, just before the high energy “Kountry Lemonade” that plays out a frisky exchange between Shedrick and L.G. The few songs featuring female voices are a nice highlight that balance the masculine and feminine energy exchange present throughout the tracks.

Outside of the gooey romantic themes of pursuit, connection, confiding, and making amends, there are lessons about the individual as well. “Trust Your Gut” is a fairly self-explanatory title, but Shedrick discusses the power of listening to your intuition—which is applicable in any personal or confrontational situation, not just in matters of love. “Self Love” is another track that feels more like a general life lesson with broad applications.

At almost exactly an hour's worth of content, there’s something in the realm of love that can appeal to anyone woven through Shedrick’s smooth words and the various R&B beats carrying them along. Likewise, fans of poetry and music can enjoy the separate elements, while also hopefully finding something new to enjoy. This listening experience is truly something that you won’t find everywhere.

For past work and more information, visit wordsbybarnett.com. Be sure to listen to For The Lover In You, available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.