Shygirl
Blane Muise,[1] better known by her stage name Shygirl, is an English rapper, DJ, singer, songwriter and co-head/founder of record label and collective NUXXE. Shygirl's music incorporates elements of hip house, industrial hip-hop, grime and deconstructed club. She has also been associated with the hyperpop music scene. Shygirl rose to prominence after working with close collaborator and friend Sega Bodega, as well as other well-known experimental pop producers Arca and Sophie, gaining attention from the likes of Rihanna, using various NUXXE tracks for her Fenty Beauty commercials and fashion shows. Shygirl has released various singles since 2016, and two EPs titled Cruel Practice and Alias.
Shygirl | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Blane Muise |
| Origin | South East London, England |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 2016–present |
| Labels |
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| Associated acts | |
Early life and career
Shygirl was born in South London and grew up around Blackheath.[2][3] She describes herself as "delving into fantasy and reading constantly" growing up.[4] She was her secondary school's head girl.[5] She went on to study practical photography at the University of Bristol, travelling back to London on the weekends for parties.[3][6]
Shygirl released her first single "Want More", produced by Sega Bodega in 2016.[7] This was the first song released on the NUXXE label, founded by Shygirl, Sega Bodega, and Coucou Chloe.[8] She went on to work with Sega Bodega on her singles "Msry" and "Nvr" in 2017, having featured on his song "CC" earlier in the year.[9] In 2018, Shygirl quit her day job at a modelling agency to pursue her music career.[10]
In May 2018, Shygirl released her debut EP, Cruel Practice, on NUXXE. The EP received positive reviews from Pitchfork,[11] Crack Magazine[12] and Tiny Mix Tapes.[13]
She featured on Arca's song "Watch" on her 2020 album, Kick I.[14] The pair had previously collaborated on the song "Unconditional", with all of the proceeds from that single going towards Black Lives Matter and Inquest UK.[15] In November 2020, she released her second EP, Alias on the Because Music label. This EP received positive attention from Pitchfork,[16] Vogue[17] and NME.[18] Alias was listed as one of the best EPs of 2020 by audio and music publication MusicNGear.[19]
In June 2021, Shygirl released a performance film titled "Blu". It featured performances of songs from her Alias EP, as well as a new song, titled "BDE" featuring British rapper slowthai. She released the song as a single the next day.[20][21] She would later release the BDE 3XL remix EP in September. Shygirl and British producer Mura Masa were additionally featured on a remix of Lady Gaga and Blackpink's "Sour Candy" on Lady Gaga's Dawn of Chromatica remix album.[22]
Influences
Shygirl has listed Mariah Carey, Aphex Twin, Madonna, Björk, and Róisín Murphy as her biggest musical influences.[23]
Discography
Extended plays
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Cruel Practice |
|
| Alias |
|
| Alias (Remixed) |
|
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK [24] | |||
| "Want More" | 2016 | — | Non-album single |
| "Msry" | 2017 | — | |
| "Nvr" | — | ||
| "O" | 2018 | — | Cruel Practice |
| "Gush" | — | ||
| "Nasty" | — | ||
| "Uckers" | 2019 | — | Non-album single |
| "BB" | — | ||
| "Freak" | 2020 | — | Alias |
| "Slime" | — | ||
| "Lapdance from Asia" (with Cosha) |
2021 | — | Mt. Pleasant |
| "Tasty" | — | Alias | |
| "Siren" | — | ||
| "BDE" (featuring Slowthai) |
— | TBA | |
| "Cleo" | — | ||
| "Bbycakes"[25] (with Mura Masa, Lil Uzi Vert and PinkPantheress) |
2022 | 71 | Soundtrack to a Death, Part 2 |
Other charted songs
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Dance [26] | |||
| "Sour Candy (Mura Masa remix)" (Lady Gaga and Blackpink featuring Shygirl) |
2021 | 24 | Dawn of Chromatica |
| "Papi Bones" (FKA Twigs featuring Shygirl) |
2022 | 32 | Caprisongs |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "CC" | 2017 | Sega Bodega | Ess B |
| "Take the L" | Lyzza | Powerplay | |
| "Requiem" | Sega Bodega | SS (2017) | |
| "Mellow" | 2018 | Georgia | Seeking Thrills |
| "Juicy" | 2019 | Coucou Chloe | Naughty Dog |
| "Origami" | LYAM, John Glacier | N_O Caller ID | |
| "Raising Hell" | 2020 | Sega Bodega | Salvador |
| "Lick It n Split" | Zebra Katz | Less Is Moor | |
| "Watch" | Arca | Kick I | |
| "Lapdance From Asia" | 2021 | Cosha | Mt. Pleasant |
| "Sour Candy" (Shygirl and Mura Masa remix) |
Lady Gaga, Blackpink | Dawn of Chromatica | |
| "Papi Bones" | 2022 | FKA Twigs | Caprisongs |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | AIM Awards | Best Independent Track | "Tasty" | Nominated | [27] |
References
- Thomas, Katie. "Shygirl's living her best life". The Face. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Kleih, Helene. "SHYGIRL". Coeval Magazine. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Madden, Emma (30 January 2020). "Shygirl // Interview | BERLIN IN STEREO". Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "Shygirl can do anything". Mixmag. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- Madden, Emma (30 January 2020). "Shygirl // Interview | BERLIN IN STEREO". Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- Farrell, Michael (11 November 2020). "Artist To Watch: Shygirl". Stereogum. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- Mickles, Kiana. "RA Reviews: Shygirl". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Belut, Selim. "Nuxxe: future forever". Dazed.
- Kent-Smith, Jasmine. "ESSENTIAL: SHYGIRL'S DYNAMITE NEW SINGLE, 'MSRYNVR'". Mixmag. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Dazed (17 November 2020). "Shygirl is the shapeshifting rapper for head-splitting times". Dazed. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- "Shygirl : Cruel Practice". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- "Shygirl's cybernetic tracks and downplayed style is constructed for the club". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- "Music Review: Shygirl - Cruel Practice". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- Bell, Kaelen. "Arca's Stunning 'KiCk i' Is a Fully Realized Vision of the Future". Exclaim. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Kreps, Daniel. "Shygirl Recruits Arca for 'Unconditional,' Donating Proceeds to Black Lives Matter". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Bardhan, Ashley. "Shygirl - Alias EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Hess, Liam. "The Many Faces of Shygirl, London's Most Stylish Breakout Rapper". Vogue. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- Jolley, Ben. "Shygirl – 'Alias' review: futuristic club-rap bangers from underground queen's fantasy universe". NME. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- "Goodbye 2020: A lookback at some of our favourite albums". MusicnGear.
- Brady, Keegan (29 June 2021). "The U.K. Rapper Shygirl Makes Futuristic Club Anthems for Whatever Comes Next". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- "Shygirl on exploring her many aliases and getting filthy with Slowthai on "BDE"". The FADER. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- Curto, Justin (3 September 2021). "Get in Girls, We're Going Back to Chromatica". Vulture. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- "Get To Know: Shygirl | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100 – 4 March 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- Richards, Will (23 February 2022). "Mura Masa, Lil Uzi Vert, PinkPantheress and Shygirl flip a '00s classic on 'Bbycakes'". NME. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
- "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
- Grein, Paul (6 June 2021). "Arlo Parks Leads 2021 AIM Awards Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2021.