Shygirl
Shygirl in 2022
Shygirl in 2022
Background information
Birth nameBlane Muise
Born (1993-05-04) 4 May 1993 (age 30)[1]
London, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record executive
  • DJ
Years active2016–present
Labels
Websiteshygirl.tv

Blane Muise (born 4 May 1993),[2] better known by her stage name Shygirl, is an English singer, DJ, rapper, songwriter and co-head/founder of record label and collective Nuxxe. Shygirl's music incorporates elements of dance music, industrial hip-hop, experimental pop, 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 producers Arca and Sophie, and gaining attention from the likes of Rihanna, who has used 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. Her debut studio album Nymph was released on 30 September 2022 to widespread acclaim from music critics.

Early life and career

Shygirl was born in South London and grew up around Blackheath.[3][4] She is of Grenadian descent. She describes herself as a "total homebody"[5] and "delving into fantasy and reading constantly" growing up.[6] She was her secondary school's head girl.[7] She went on to study practical photography at the University of Bristol, travelling back to London on the weekends for parties.[4][8]

Shygirl released her first single "Want More", produced by Sega Bodega in 2016.[9] This was the first song released on the Nuxxe label, founded by Shygirl, Sega Bodega, and Coucou Chloe.[10] 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.[11] In 2018, Shygirl quit her day job at a modelling agency to pursue her music career.[12][13][14]

In May 2018, Shygirl released her debut EP, Cruel Practice, on Nuxxe. The EP received positive reviews from Pitchfork,[15] Crack Magazine[16] and Tiny Mix Tapes.[17]

She featured on Arca's song "Watch" on her 2020 album, Kick I.[18] 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.[19] In November 2020, she released her second EP, Alias on the Because Music label. This EP received positive attention from Pitchfork,[20] Vogue[21] and NME.[22] Alias was listed as one of the best EPs of 2020 by audio and music publication MusicNGear.[23]

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.[24][25] 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.[26]

In September 2022, Shygirl released her debut studio album titled Nymph.[27] The album received critical acclaim from NME,[28] Crack Magazine[29] and Pitchfork.[30] On 15 September 2023, Shygirl was the opening act for the Sugababes' One Night Only concert at The O2 Arena.[31]

Influences

Shygirl has listed Mariah Carey, Aphex Twin, Madonna, Rihanna, Björk, and Róisín Murphy as her biggest musical influences.[32]

Discography

Shygirl discography
Studio albums1
Music videos18
EPs6
Singles23
Remix albums1

Albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[33] 		UK
Dance
[34] 		SCO
[35] 		US
Dance
[36] 		US
Heat.
[37] 		US
Sales
[38]
Nymph 34 1 12 7 10 64

Remix albums

Title Details
Nymph_o
  • Released: 14 April 2023
  • Label: Nuxxe, Because Music
  • Formats: LP, CD, digital download, streaming

Extended plays

Title Details
Cruel Practice
  • Released: 25 May 2018
  • Label: Nuxxe
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Alias
  • Released: 20 November 2020
  • Label: Because Music, Nuxxe
  • Formats: Vinyl, digital download, streaming
Alias (Remixed)
  • Released: 12 June 2021
  • Label: Because Music, Nuxxe
  • Formats: Vinyl
Apple Music Home Session: Shygirl
  • Released: 20 September 2022
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: Streaming
Nymph in the Wild
  • Released: 28 July 2023
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
Club Shy[39]
  • Released: 9 February 2024
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: Vinyl, digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

Title Year Album
"Want More" 2016 Non-album singles
"Msry" 2017
"Nvr"
"O" 2018 Cruel Practice
"Gush"
"Nasty"
"Uckers" 2019 Non-album singles
"BB"
"Freak" 2020 Alias
"Slime"
"Lapdance from Asia"
(with Cosha) 		2021 Mt. Pleasant
"Tasty" Alias
"Siren"
"BDE"
(featuring Slowthai) 		Non-album singles
"Cleo"
"Firefly" 2022 Nymph
"Come for Me"
"Hollaback Bitch"
(with Mura Masa and Channel Tres) 		Demon Time
"Coochie (A Bedtime Story)" Nymph
"Nike"
"Shlut"
"When You Wish Upon a Star" Non-album single
"Poison" (Club Shy Mix) Nymph_o
"Heaven"
(featuring Tinashe) 		2023
"Woe (I See It from Your Side)"
(Björk Remix)
"Playboy / Positions"
"Thicc"
(featuring Cosha) 		Club Shy
"F@k€"
(featuring Kingdom)
"Tell Me"
(featuring Boys Noize) 		2024

As featured artist

Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[40] 		NZ
Hot
[41]
"Bbycakes"[42]
(Mura Masa and PinkPantheress featuring Lil Uzi Vert and Shygirl) 		2022 71 24 Demon Time
"Pressure"
(Florentino featuring Shygirl) 		2023 — — Kilometro Quinze
"Holier" (JD. Reid Remix)
(Kelela featuring Shygirl) 		2024 — — RAVE:N, The Remixes

Other charted songs

Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Album
US
Dance
[43]
"Sour Candy" (Mura Masa remix)
(Lady Gaga and Blackpink featuring Shygirl and Mura Masa) 		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
"Sour Candy"
(Shygirl and Mura Masa remix) 		2021 Lady Gaga, Blackpink Dawn of Chromatica
"Papi Bones" 2022 FKA Twigs Caprisongs
"Ovule"
(Sega Bodega remix) 		2023 Björk The Fossora Remixes
"Ex-Girlfriend" 2024 Erika de Casier Still

Music videos

Title Year Director(s)
"Gush" 2018 Shygirl and Samuel Ibram
"Nasty" Shygirl
"Uckers" 2019 Margot Bowman
"BB" Shygirl
"Freak" 2020
"Slime" Aidan Zamiri and Shygirl
"Siren" (lyric video) Shygirl
"Leng" (lyric video)
"Tasty" (lyric video)
"Bawdy" (lyric video)
"Freak" (lyric video)
"Twelve" (lyric video)
"Tasty" 2021 Shygirl and Yasser Abubeker
"Blu"
(Short film featuring Siren, Slime, Twelve, Freak, Bawdy, & BDE) 		Shygirl and Mischa Notcutt
"BDE" Shygirl
"Cleo" Trinity Ellis
"Cleo at Abbey Road" Ali Clifton
"Firefly" (Midnight Edition) 2022 Yasser Abubeker
"Come For Me" (Visualiser)
"Firefly" (Dawn Edition; lyric video) Shygirl & Yasser Abubeker
"Coochie (a bedtime story)" Samuel Ibram
"Shlut" Diana Kunst
"Poison (Club Shy mix)" Samuel Ibram & Jacob Erland
"Heaven" (Remix; feat. Tinashe)" 2023 Actual Objects
"Woe (I See It From Your Side) (Björk Remix)" Samuel Ibram
"Playboy / Positions"
"Thicc"
(featuring Cosha) 		Jake Erland

Awards and nominations

Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 Best Independent Track "Tasty" Nominated [44]
2022 "BDE" (Florentino Remix) (featuring Kaydy Cain) Nominated [45]
2023 "Schlut" Nominated [46]
UK Independent Breakthrough Herself Won
Best Independent Album Nymph Nominated
Libera Awards 2023 Best Electronic Record Nominated [47]
Mercury Prize 2023 Album of the Year Nominated [48]

References

  1. ^ "Shygirl biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  2. ^ Thomas, Katie. "Shygirl's living her best life". The Face. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  3. ^ Kleih, Helene. "SHYGIRL". Coeval Magazine. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b Madden, Emma (30 January 2020). "Shygirl // Interview | BERLIN IN STEREO". Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  5. ^ Francombe, Amy (16 June 2022). "Shygirl opens up". Evening Standard. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Shygirl can do anything". Mixmag. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  7. ^ Madden, Emma (30 January 2020). "Shygirl // Interview | BERLIN IN STEREO". Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  8. ^ Farrell, Michael (11 November 2020). "Artist To Watch: Shygirl". Stereogum. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  9. ^ Mickles, Kiana. "RA Reviews: Shygirl". Resident Advisor. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  10. ^ Belut, Selim (24 May 2018). "Nuxxe: future forever". Dazed.
  11. ^ Kent-Smith, Jasmine. "Essential: Shygirl's Dynamite New Single, 'MSRYNVR'". Mixmag. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  12. ^ Dazed (17 November 2020). "Shygirl is the shapeshifting rapper for head-splitting times". Dazed. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Shygirl Announces Debut Album Nymph, Shares Video for New Song "Firefly": Watch". Pitchfork. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Shygirl Announces Debut Album Nymph". Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Shygirl : Cruel Practice". Pitchfork. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  16. ^ "Shygirl's cybernetic tracks and downplayed style is constructed for the club". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Music Review: Shygirl - Cruel Practice". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  18. ^ Bell, Kaelen. "Arca's Stunning 'KiCk i' Is a Fully Realized Vision of the Future". Exclaim. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  19. ^ Kreps, Daniel (5 June 2020). "Shygirl Recruits Arca for 'Unconditional,' Donating Proceeds to Black Lives Matter". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  20. ^ Bardhan, Ashley. "Shygirl - Alias EP". Pitchfork. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  21. ^ Hess, Liam (2 December 2020). "The Many Faces of Shygirl, London's Most Stylish Breakout Rapper". Vogue. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  22. ^ Jolley, Ben (25 November 2020). "Shygirl – 'Alias' review: futuristic club-rap bangers from underground queen's fantasy universe". NME. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Goodbye 2020: A lookback at some of our favourite albums". MusicnGear.
  24. ^ Brady, Keegan (29 June 2021). "The U.K. Rapper Shygirl Makes Futuristic Club Anthems for Whatever Comes Next". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Shygirl on exploring her many aliases and getting filthy with Slowthai on "BDE"". The FADER. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  26. ^ Curto, Justin (3 September 2021). "Get in Girls, We're Going Back to Chromatica". Vulture. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  27. ^ Balram, Dhruva (29 September 2022). "Shygirl – 'Nymph' review: pop rulebreaker shines with a little help from her friends". NME. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  28. ^ Balram, Dhruva (29 September 2022). "Shygirl – 'Nymph' review: pop rulebreaker shines with a little help from her friends". NME. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  29. ^ "Shygirl: 'Nymph' review". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  30. ^ "Shygirl: Nymph Album Review". Pitchfork.
  31. ^ Peake, Amber (12 September 2023). "Sugababes at London O2 Arena: Full info on last-min tickets, event times and possible setlist". London World. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Get To Know: Shygirl | MTV UK". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Shygirl | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  34. ^ "Official Dance Albums Chart Top 40: Week of 7 October 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  35. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100: Week of 7 October 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  36. ^ "Top Dance/Electronic Albums: Week of October 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  37. ^ "Heatseekers Albums: Week of October 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  38. ^ "Top Album Sales: Week of October 15, 2022". Billboard. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  39. ^ "Shygirl announces new EP". Instagram. 24 December 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 – 4 March 2022". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  41. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ "Lady Gaga Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  44. ^ Grein, Paul (6 June 2021). "Arlo Parks Leads 2021 AIM Awards Nominations". Billboard. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  45. ^ "AIM Independent Music Awards 2022 Winners & Nominees". AIM Awards. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  46. ^ Carter, Daisy (19 July 2023). "AIM AWARDS ANNOUNCE 2023 NOMINEES LIST, INCLUDING RAYE, LITTLE SIMZ AND EZRA COLLECTIVE". DIY. Retrieved 23 July 2023.
  47. ^ Aswad, Jem (22 March 2023). "Wet Leg Leads Nominations for A2IM's Indie Libera Awards". Variety. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
  48. ^ Savage, Mark (27 July 2023). "Mercury Prize 2023: Arctic Monkeys, Jessie Ware and Fred Again lead shortlist". BBC News. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
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