Songs To Live By is a podcast celebrating different generations of Black culture through a shared love of music. Host Vick Hope is joined by two guests, who grew up at different times, to share the songs that shaped their lives.

In this episode, Vick is joined by singers Cat Burns and Shakka to talk about self acceptance, honesty and owning your truth, hypermasculinity and rejecting musical stereotypes, all soundtracked to India Irie, Kanye West, Tori Kelly and Daft Punk.

Cat Burns is a former BRIT school student who went from busking on the Southbank to garnering a huge following for her music on TikTok in lockdown which landed her a record deal. Shakka is a two-time MOBO Award winner who over the last decade has gifted us silky, smooth R&B tracks. You’ll recognise his pitch-perfect vocals from his summer hits ‘Man Down’ and ‘Too Bad Bad’.

Producer: Abla Klaa