Shura (English singer)

Alexandra Lilah Denton (also known as Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton, born 17 June 1988),[5][6][7] known professionally as Shura, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. She is best known for her work in the genres of electropop and synth-pop.

Shura
Birth nameAlexandra Lilah Denton
Born (1988-06-17) 17 June 1988
Hammersmith, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • synthesiser
Years active2011–present
Labels
Websiteweareshura.com

Career

2011–2016: Nothing's Real

During night shifts at her workplace (a video editing facility), she watched YouTube tutorial videos on how to use music production software.[8][9] Her single "Touch", co-produced with Joel Pott of Athlete, drew positive notice from internet blogs during early 2014; its music video was co-directed and edited by Shura herself.[1][8][10] Two other singles, "Just Once" and "Indecision", followed the same year, and Shura produced a remix of Jessie Ware's single "Say You Love Me".[11][12][13][14] Shura was longlisted in the BBC Sound of 2015 poll.[15] Shura is also signed to Universal Music Publishing Group in the United Kingdom.[16] She released the single "2Shy" in March 2015, followed by "White Light" and a performance film titled Three Years in June 2015.[17][18][19] An EP titled White Light was released in the United States in July.[20] The same year, Shura performed at music festivals including Bestival, Festival N°6, and Latitude.[19]

In December 2014 she was named as one of the nominated acts on the longlist for the BBC music poll Sound of 2015.[21] Mumford & Sons have covered her song "2Shy".[22]

Shura's "Touch" was released on 18 February 2016 alongside a version featuring Talib Kweli.[23] The Original Mix was released on Record Store Day 2016 as a limited 12" single featuring remixes from Canvas and Delorean.[24]

Her debut album Nothing's Real was released on 8 July 2016 via Polydor Records.[25]

2017–present: forevher

In 2018, she was reported working in the studio on new music with frequent collaborator Joel Pott, as well as Tourist and Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs.

In 2019, she made a comeback after three years of silence, when she collaborated with British musician Tourist on the song "Love Theme", which was released on Valentine's Day through his second album Everyday. Tourist explained that the song was a concept originally written by Shura and had a piano demo that was sent to him by her with the lyrics "I don't want to be the centre of attention, but I want your love". The following month, Shura announced her comeback single, entitled "Blynldn", alternatively titled "Brooklyn London". It was premiered by Phil Taggart on BBC Radio 1 on 10 March 2019 where it was revealed as the "Chillest Record".

Shura's album Forevher was released on 16 August 2019 via Secretly Canadian. Shura announced the album on 12 June 2019 with the release of single "Religion (U Can Lay Your Hands on Me)".[26]

In a November 2019 interview with The Guardian, Spice Girl Melanie C revealed she has been working on her eighth studio album with Shura.[27]

Personal life

Shura grew up in Manchester. Her mother is a Russian actress and her father is an English documentary filmmaker.[1] Her parents divorced when she was three.[28] Shura has two brothers, including a twin, Nicholas, who has starred in three of her music videos: "Touch", "White Light" and "What's It Gonna Be?".[29][30] She began playing the guitar when she was 13 years old and started recording music at 16.[31][32] Shura had been a promising footballer in her youth and played for Manchester City from under 11 to under 16 level.[33]

Shura is an out lesbian and an atheist, despite a long-standing fascination with religion.[34][35][36] In summer 2014 she experienced a severe panic attack, which she described as "feel[ing] like I [was] dying."[28] Her stage name comes from a short form of her first name in Russian, a language Shura is fluent in.[28]

Artistry

Shura's music has been described as "infectious but melancholy electropop"[35] as well as "slow-burning synth-pop" but has said that pop music "didn't represent" her.[30] The singer has said that "missed opportunity, regret, nostalgia" are some of the main themes in her work.[30]

Discography

Albums
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[37]		 BEL
(FL)
[38]		 BEL
(WA)
[39]		 IRE
[40]		 SCO
[41]		 SWI
[42]		 US Heat
[43]
Nothing's Real 137313073153512
Forevher 61———32—18

Singles
Title Year Album
"Touch" 2014 Nothing's Real
"Indecision"
"2Shy" 2015
"White Light"
"Touch"
(re-release featuring Talib Kweli)		 2016 Non-album single
"What's It Gonna Be?" Nothing's Real
"The Space Tapes"
"311215"
"Nothing's Real"
"Love Theme"
(with Tourist)		 2019 Everyday
"Blynldn" Forevher
"Religion (U Can Lay Your Hands on Me)"[45]
"The Stage"
"Elevator Girl"
(feat. Ivy Sole)		 2020 Non-album single

Remixes
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References
  1. Cragg, Michael (11 November 2014). "Meet Shura, Electro-Pop's Downy New Poster Girl". The Fader. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  2. Hillyard, Kim (9 September 2014). "Next Wave #597: Shura". Clash. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  3. Levy, Joe (29 July 2016). "Review: Shura's 'Nothing's Real' Is a Downer Glam Gem". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  4. DeVille, Chris (25 November 2014). "Artist To Watch: Shura". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  5. The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers, record for 'Touch', Work ID 886607565
  6. "Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton – Creature Blog". Creaturemag.com. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  7. "Young Writers Anthology Launch Party/Open Mic Night". Heyevent.com. 11 June 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  8. "Get To Know: Shura". Hunger TV. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  9. Vincent, Alice (5 November 2014). "Shura - New Music". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  10. Hillyard, Kim (9 September 2014). "Next Wave #597: Shura". Clash. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  11. Lester, Paul (18 August 2014). "The playlist – new bands: Jagaara, Movement and Shura". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  12. Dombal, Ryan (22 July 2014). "Shura: "Just Once"". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  13. Geslani, Michelle (14 October 2014). "Shura shares gorgeous synthpop song "Indecision" — listen". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  14. Breihan, Tom (22 August 2014). "Jessie Ware – "Say You Love Me (Shura Remix)"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  15. "BBC Music - BBC Music Sound Of, 2015 - Shura". Bbc.co.uk. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  16. "Universal Music Publishing Group | UK". Umusicpub.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  17. Hunt, El (9 March 2015). "Shura - 2Shy". DIY. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  18. White, Caitlin (3 June 2015). "Shura – "White Light"". Stereogum. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  19. Milton, Jamie (10 June 2015). "Shura shares 'Three Years' short film". DIY. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  20. Thomas, Russell (7 July 2015). "Shura announces White Light EP". The 405. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  21. "BBC Music Sound Of 2015 longlist revealed". BBC News. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  22. Hannah J Davies. "SOAK: the indie-folk prodigy fighting for gay rights in Northern Ireland | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 29 December 2016.
  23. "Shura new album | Talib Kweli Touch remixes | Nothing's Real". Never Enough Notes. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  24. "Shura". recordstoreday.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2016.
  25. Hunt, El (9 December 2014). "It's a Shura thing: "My boobs, licensed to Polydor"". DIY. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  26. "Shura". Secretly Canadian. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  27. Snapes, Laura (27 November 2019). "Melanie C: 'I've had an incredible career. It's time I accepted myself'". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  28. "How Shura Turned Growing Pains Into A Glittering Pop Record". The FADER. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  29. Hambro, Maya (25 November 2014). "Shura: "I'm more of a monogamous songwriter"". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  30. Savage, Mark (13 July 2016). "Shura: 'Pop music doesn't represent me'". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  31. Madden, Josh (19 February 2014). "shura "touch"". Nylon Guys. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  32. Wood, Betty (17 June 2011). "Introducing: Shura". Creaturemag. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  33. "Shura: 'Football has affected my character and my work ethics which definitely affects my music'". WomensSoccerUnited. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  34. ""I Was Never Interested in Hiding My Sexuality": Exploring Shura's Teen Crush Triumph". Noisey. 18 July 2016. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  35. "'I'm a lesbian': Electropop star Shura comes out as gay ahead of Manchester gig | Mancunian Matters". www.mancunianmatters.co.uk. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
  36. Pollard, Alexandra (14 August 2019). "Shura interview: 'God can't hate the gays – I was blessed by the Pope'". The Independent. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  37. "UK Charts > Shura". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  38. "Shura albums (Flanders)". Ultratop. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  39. "Shura albums (Walloon))". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  40. Steffen Hung. "Discography Shura". irishcharts.com. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  41. Peaks in Scotland:
  42. "SHURA IN DER SCHWEIZER HITPARADE". Hit Parade. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  43. "Shura - Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard.com. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  44. "forevher by Shura". Apple Music. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  45. "Shura - religion (u can lay your hands on me)". YouTube. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
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