Shygirlとの50の質問 | AnOther

Every day people take risks – some small, while others uproot their entire lives in the hopes of something better. Seven years ago, Shygirl was one of those people. Quitting her day job to pursue her dream of being a musician, she took the risk of losing it all and went from working in an agency to performing in front of tens of thousands of people.

Born Blane Muise in south London, since 2016 the former AnOther Magazine cover star has been releasing genre-bending projects, seamlessly weaving rap, electronic and pop into music that feels urgent, unpredictable and unapologetically her. A founding member of the NUXXE collective alongside collaborators like Coucou Chloe, Oklou and Sega Bodega, Shygirl’s voice fuses a unique mix of sultry precision and raw attitude. Her debut album, Nymph, cracked open her world even further, inviting listeners into her world of experimental sounds.

Her recent EP, Club Shy, distils her creative vision into a sonically rich and in-real-life experience. A tribute to the energy and chaos of nightlife, Club Shy is not just a collection of tracks, but a conceptual space and a reflection of Shygirl’s unrestrained artistry. Part club, part community and part escapist fantasy, the project’s club nights honour the rave culture that she grew up in.

In December, following a successful run as the opening act on Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s Sweat tour, she also was featured on the four-show Brat Tour line-up. After performing to over 20,000 people at the London show, a lucky few people got to experience a special iteration of Club Shy. Hosted with Coach at the east London nightclub The Cause, the night featured sets from Mura Masa, Angelita, Hasani b2b & Miss Jason, Rose Gray, and Manara. Arriving in head-to-toe Coach, Shygirl was spotted wearing the Crystal Tabby 20 bag, a baby-pink trench coat and a lacy black top worn as a dress.

Below, the artist discusses Club Shy, how she got her name and why she wants Michelle Pfeiffer to play her in her biopic.

1. What’s the first thing you did this morning when you woke up? The first thing I did was reply to Charli [XCX] because she texted me this morning.

2. Where do you go to feel the most you? When I’m in the bath. The bath is my favourite place to be.

3. If your life had a soundtrack, what would the opening song be and why? Hunter by Björk, purely because it’s really cinematic and moody and that’s my vibe.

4. Who was the last person you texted? The last person I texted was the group chat with my label. It’s literally just loads of EP chats right now.

5. Were you shy growing up? I’ve never actually been shy.

 6. Where did the name Shygirl come from then? I thought it was funny when my friend and I came up with it, just because that’s what people want girls to be. They want us to be shy and demure but that’s just never been my vibe. I’ve always been quite direct and it’s fun to play with that idea of what women should be like.

7. Would you consider yourself shy now? I was probably more annoying when I was younger because I was not shy and I was not shy about letting people know that. Now I think I’m a bit more reserved but still confident.

8. Do you remember your first rave? What was it like? There’s a real time of my life that was a period of firsts – the first time I went to a club in Soho, thinking that was a real rave, and then the first time I actually went to a warehouse rave in Glasgow and feeling like, ‘My god, this is what a real rave is like.’

9. When did you decide you wanted to pursue music? In 2018 – that’s when I quit my day job. [I thought] I should just quit and do this music thing. ‘I’m good at my job and I can always go back to it if it does not pan out, but the music might not work for me.‘

10. What was your day job? I was an agent and a manager at Nevs model agency. I worked there for three years.

11. How do you find the courage to get on stage in front of 20,000 people? I honestly think for any artist to find the courage to be on stage, you have to have a delusionary level of ego. You just have to delude yourself a little bit. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what I do on that stage. If I fuck up I’m not going to die, I just have to live with that embarrassment and that’s fine.

12. What’s the first concert you ever went to? Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball at the O2.

13. What is your favourite memory from the Sweat and Brat tours? It’s really hard to pick. I think the first night of both stay in my mind because no other night really holds that level of anticipation. You never know what it’s going to be like. Getting to share the stage with Charli, Yung Lean and Robyn was so nice because you stop being the pop star for a second. You’re just up there with your friends.

14. What is your favourite song to perform? It changes depending on my mood, but I’ve put thicc as my first song and it’s quite a high-energy one to step out to. You have to meet me at that energy straight away.

15. Three things you need to survive a Club Shy rave? Tequila and two more of that.

How do you find the courage to get on stage in front of 20,000 people? “I honestly think for any artist to find the courage to be on stage, you have to have a delusionary level of ego“ – Shygirl

16. Are you a perfectionist or do you embrace the imperfect? I definitely embrace the imperfect but I would say my main word is ’efficiency’. Time is the most precious element.

17. What song do you want to hear at a party? I Can’t Lose You by Confidence Man.

18. Tell us about your Coach look for the afterparty. I love that look. [Since] it was a really cold venue, I was actually glad to be able to wear a jacket because oftentimes in the rave I end up stripping down to as bare minimum as possible. It was really fab to have this really big pink jacket on and this lacy barely there dress. I think it was actually a top, but I was wearing it as a dress.

19. Did you have fun at the after-party? Yes. That party really allowed me to do that and to take space and be self-congratulatory a little bit.

20. How would you describe your personal style? I usually dress from day to night. I never know where I’m going and if I’ll be able to go somewhere to change again.

21. Who is your favourite designer and why? My friend Maximilian [Davis] who is currently at Ferragamo. He knows how to make you feel sexy, which is my priority.

22. What’s a piece of clothing you’d never part with and why? One thing I renew every year is my Uggs.

23. Which city in the world is the best place to go shopping? The only city I ever go out and do real on-the-ground shopping is Tokyo.

24. What is one thing you’ve lost at a party you wish you could get back again? My dignity but that’s long gone.

25. Do you believe in soulmates? Yes, I do.

26. Do you still find time for love? Yeah, definitely. There was a moment when I wasn’t but when you chill out about it and just enjoy meeting people you actually make more room for them and are not just thinking about yourself.

27. What’s the last picture you took on your phone? The last picture I took was of a duck.

28. Do you think astrology is real? I think so. There are so many different interpretations of it but I feel anytime I’ve read anything about Taurus it really is my energy.

29. What’s your big three? Sun, moon, rising. Taurus sun, Virgo moon and Leo rising.

30. You studied photography. Who is your favourite photographer and why? Eric Johnson. I’ve worked with him a couple of times. He shot a cover of mine for 032C and he recently just shot some pictures for my artwork. He’s one of the most iconic photographers and has shot Biggie, Aaliyah, Missy Elliot, Common, Erykah Badu, Kelis – all the greats. I’m happy to be up there with his amazing subjects.

31. If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be? None because they’re all racist.

32. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? To ride a motorbike.

33. Do you remember your dreams? Are they prophetic? Yes. I basically reorganise my memory, so that I actually don’t remember what’s real and what’s fake.

34. If your life was a movie, what would the title be? Who’s That Girl? after the Eurythmics track. I always like movies that use a song as the title.

35. Which DJ would you most like to go B2B with? Kaytranada. He’s just so fun and every time we’ve partied together he just literally makes me so happy.

Who would you want to play you in a biopic? “I love a reimagining, but someone who could give my energy. I feel like Michelle Pfeiffer would do as me“ – Shygirl

36. Who would you want to play you in a biopic? That’s hard. I would like it kind of swapped, no one who looks like me. I love a reimagining, but someone who could give my energy. I feel like Michelle Pfeiffer would do as me.

37. You took Björk to dinner in London once. What was that like? I feel like such a nerd when I talk about this but it was really fun. It’s always nice to get to know the person behind the music.

38. What are the best words of wisdom she’s ever shared with you? I actually can’t say the best stuff out loud. I’m taking it to my grave.

39. What scares you more, heights or the deep sea? That’s really hard because I have equal fear of both. I think I’m less likely to be in the deep ocean so I’d probably say heights.

40. What’s a phrase you say all the time? I don’t say it, it’s an emoji, an expression – when you stick your tongue to the side. That’s my word of the year.

41. If you could throw a dinner party for three musicians, who’s getting an invite? Charli [XCX] and Troye [Sivan] because they give complimentary but completely different energies. Troye is quite chill but naughty and Charli is very straight-talking and naughty, same as me. Then I would say LSDXOXO because I love hanging out with him.

42. If you could tattoo any lyric or quote on yourself, what would it be? I would go with something Shakespearean … A rose by any other name or something. I think of myself as a poet but I would still choose one of his most bait lines ever.

43. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself this year? That I really enjoy playing arenas.

44. How would your best friend describe you in three words? Loyal, protective and fun.

45. What’s your favourite kind of chaos? That minute when the function is about to finish and everyone starts trying to find me to go to the afters and I have already French-exited. 

46. What’s your favourite way to waste time? I know this is boring, but a bath.

47. What’s a moment you wish you could relive? The night I met my boyfriend. It was like love at first sight.

48. Who’s the first person you call when something amazing happens? My manager. Amazing usually means we’re about to get paid.

49. Did you have your own version of Club Shy when you were growing up? What was your favourite night in London and why? Yeah, there’s a night that a big majority of all my friends and creative collaborators are from called PDA. [It] was the first place I ever did a live PA, the first place I ever DJed, and was where me, Maximilian [Davis], Mischa Notcutt and so many others met.

50. What are you doing after this? I’m getting a massage in an hour because I am still recovering from tour.

Club Shy by Shygirl is out now. 

Every day people take risks – some small, while others uproot their entire lives in the hopes of something better. Seven years ago, Shygirl was one of those people. Quitting her day job to pursue her dream of being a musician, she took the risk of losing it all and went from working in an agency to performing in front of tens of thousands of people.

Born Blane Muise in south London, since 2016 the former AnOther Magazine cover star has been releasing genre-bending projects, seamlessly weaving rap, electronic and pop into music that feels urgent, unpredictable and unapologetically her. A founding member of the NUXXE collective alongside collaborators like Coucou Chloe, Oklou and Sega Bodega, Shygirl’s voice fuses a unique mix of sultry precision and raw attitude. Her debut album, Nymph, cracked open her world even further, inviting listeners into her world of experimental sounds.

Her recent EP, Club Shy, distils her creative vision into a sonically rich and in-real-life experience. A tribute to the energy and chaos of nightlife, Club Shy is not just a collection of tracks, but a conceptual space and a reflection of Shygirl’s unrestrained artistry. Part club, part community and part escapist fantasy, the project’s club nights honour the rave culture that she grew up in.

In December, following a successful run as the opening act on Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s Sweat tour, she also was featured on the four-show Brat Tour line-up. After performing to over 20,000 people at the London show, a lucky few people got to experience a special iteration of Club Shy. Hosted with Coach at the east London nightclub The Cause, the night featured sets from Mura Masa, Angelita, Hasani b2b & Miss Jason, Rose Gray, and Manara. Arriving in head-to-toe Coach, Shygirl was spotted wearing the Crystal Tabby 20 bag, a baby-pink trench coat and a lacy black top worn as a dress.

Below, the artist discusses Club Shy, how she got her name and why she wants Michelle Pfeiffer to play her in her biopic.

1. What’s the first thing you did this morning when you woke up? The first thing I did was reply to Charli [XCX] because she texted me this morning.

2. Where do you go to feel the most you? When I’m in the bath. The bath is my favourite place to be.

3. If your life had a soundtrack, what would the opening song be and why? Hunter by Björk, purely because it’s really cinematic and moody and that’s my vibe.

4. Who was the last person you texted? The last person I texted was the group chat with my label. It’s literally just loads of EP chats right now.

5. Were you shy growing up? I’ve never actually been shy.

 6. Where did the name Shygirl come from then? I thought it was funny when my friend and I came up with it, just because that’s what people want girls to be. They want us to be shy and demure but that’s just never been my vibe. I’ve always been quite direct and it’s fun to play with that idea of what women should be like.

7. Would you consider yourself shy now? I was probably more annoying when I was younger because I was not shy and I was not shy about letting people know that. Now I think I’m a bit more reserved but still confident.

8. Do you remember your first rave? What was it like? There’s a real time of my life that was a period of firsts – the first time I went to a club in Soho, thinking that was a real rave, and then the first time I actually went to a warehouse rave in Glasgow and feeling like, ‘My god, this is what a real rave is like.’

9. When did you decide you wanted to pursue music? In 2018 – that’s when I quit my day job. [I thought] I should just quit and do this music thing. ‘I’m good at my job and I can always go back to it if it does not pan out, but the music might not work for me.‘

10. What was your day job? I was an agent and a manager at Nevs model agency. I worked there for three years.

11. How do you find the courage to get on stage in front of 20,000 people? I honestly think for any artist to find the courage to be on stage, you have to have a delusionary level of ego. You just have to delude yourself a little bit. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what I do on that stage. If I fuck up I’m not going to die, I just have to live with that embarrassment and that’s fine.

12. What’s the first concert you ever went to? Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball at the O2.

13. What is your favourite memory from the Sweat and Brat tours? It’s really hard to pick. I think the first night of both stay in my mind because no other night really holds that level of anticipation. You never know what it’s going to be like. Getting to share the stage with Charli, Yung Lean and Robyn was so nice because you stop being the pop star for a second. You’re just up there with your friends.

14. What is your favourite song to perform? It changes depending on my mood, but I’ve put thicc as my first song and it’s quite a high-energy one to step out to. You have to meet me at that energy straight away.

15. Three things you need to survive a Club Shy rave? Tequila and two more of that.

How do you find the courage to get on stage in front of 20,000 people? “I honestly think for any artist to find the courage to be on stage, you have to have a delusionary level of ego“ – Shygirl

16. Are you a perfectionist or do you embrace the imperfect? I definitely embrace the imperfect but I would say my main word is ’efficiency’. Time is the most precious element.

17. What song do you want to hear at a party? I Can’t Lose You by Confidence Man.

18. Tell us about your Coach look for the afterparty. I love that look. [Since] it was a really cold venue, I was actually glad to be able to wear a jacket because oftentimes in the rave I end up stripping down to as bare minimum as possible. It was really fab to have this really big pink jacket on and this lacy barely there dress. I think it was actually a top, but I was wearing it as a dress.

19. Did you have fun at the after-party? Yes. That party really allowed me to do that and to take space and be self-congratulatory a little bit.

20. How would you describe your personal style? I usually dress from day to night. I never know where I’m going and if I’ll be able to go somewhere to change again.

21. Who is your favourite designer and why? My friend Maximilian [Davis] who is currently at Ferragamo. He knows how to make you feel sexy, which is my priority.

22. What’s a piece of clothing you’d never part with and why? One thing I renew every year is my Uggs.

23. Which city in the world is the best place to go shopping? The only city I ever go out and do real on-the-ground shopping is Tokyo.

24. What is one thing you’ve lost at a party you wish you could get back again? My dignity but that’s long gone.

25. Do you believe in soulmates? Yes, I do.

26. Do you still find time for love? Yeah, definitely. There was a moment when I wasn’t but when you chill out about it and just enjoy meeting people you actually make more room for them and are not just thinking about yourself.

27. What’s the last picture you took on your phone? The last picture I took was of a duck.

28. Do you think astrology is real? I think so. There are so many different interpretations of it but I feel anytime I’ve read anything about Taurus it really is my energy.

29. What’s your big three? Sun, moon, rising. Taurus sun, Virgo moon and Leo rising.

30. You studied photography. Who is your favourite photographer and why? Eric Johnson. I’ve worked with him a couple of times. He shot a cover of mine for 032C and he recently just shot some pictures for my artwork. He’s one of the most iconic photographers and has shot Biggie, Aaliyah, Missy Elliot, Common, Erykah Badu, Kelis – all the greats. I’m happy to be up there with his amazing subjects.

31. If you could live in any time period, past or future, which one would it be? None because they’re all racist.

32. What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t yet? To ride a motorbike.

33. Do you remember your dreams? Are they prophetic? Yes. I basically reorganise my memory, so that I actually don’t remember what’s real and what’s fake.

34. If your life was a movie, what would the title be? Who’s That Girl? after the Eurythmics track. I always like movies that use a song as the title.

35. Which DJ would you most like to go B2B with? Kaytranada. He’s just so fun and every time we’ve partied together he just literally makes me so happy.

Who would you want to play you in a biopic? “I love a reimagining, but someone who could give my energy. I feel like Michelle Pfeiffer would do as me“ – Shygirl

36. Who would you want to play you in a biopic? That’s hard. I would like it kind of swapped, no one who looks like me. I love a reimagining, but someone who could give my energy. I feel like Michelle Pfeiffer would do as me.

37. You took Björk to dinner in London once. What was that like? I feel like such a nerd when I talk about this but it was really fun. It’s always nice to get to know the person behind the music.

38. What are the best words of wisdom she’s ever shared with you? I actually can’t say the best stuff out loud. I’m taking it to my grave.

39. What scares you more, heights or the deep sea? That’s really hard because I have equal fear of both. I think I’m less likely to be in the deep ocean so I’d probably say heights.

40. What’s a phrase you say all the time? I don’t say it, it’s an emoji, an expression – when you stick your tongue to the side. That’s my word of the year.

41. If you could throw a dinner party for three musicians, who’s getting an invite? Charli [XCX] and Troye [Sivan] because they give complimentary but completely different energies. Troye is quite chill but naughty and Charli is very straight-talking and naughty, same as me. Then I would say LSDXOXO because I love hanging out with him.

42. If you could tattoo any lyric or quote on yourself, what would it be? I would go with something Shakespearean … A rose by any other name or something. I think of myself as a poet but I would still choose one of his most bait lines ever.

43. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself this year? That I really enjoy playing arenas.

44. How would your best friend describe you in three words? Loyal, protective and fun.

45. What’s your favourite kind of chaos? That minute when the function is about to finish and everyone starts trying to find me to go to the afters and I have already French-exited. 

46. What’s your favourite way to waste time? I know this is boring, but a bath.

47. What’s a moment you wish you could relive? The night I met my boyfriend. It was like love at first sight.

48. Who’s the first person you call when something amazing happens? My manager. Amazing usually means we’re about to get paid.

49. Did you have your own version of Club Shy when you were growing up? What was your favourite night in London and why? Yeah, there’s a night that a big majority of all my friends and creative collaborators are from called PDA. [It] was the first place I ever did a live PA, the first place I ever DJed, and was where me, Maximilian [Davis], Mischa Notcutt and so many others met.

50. What are you doing after this? I’m getting a massage in an hour because I am still recovering from tour.

Club Shy by Shygirl is out now.