Allow British Rapper-DJ Shygirl to Introduce Herself

Make no mistake, there's nothing shy about British rapper and DJ Shygirl. You only need to watch one of her music videos to be convinced — the nocturnal "BB," the sharp "Uckers," or the intense "Slime," among others. Extroverted, determined, daring, sexy and in full possesion of herself, the Londoner is completely fearless. “I have never felt the slightest shyness," she tells L'OFFICIEL over the phone from her London apartment. "It happens, of course, to have moments of nervousness or apprehension, but it passes very quickly. I force myself to overcome them to move forward. Pretending to have self-confidence ends up giving you real confidence. When I started looking for a stage name, the word 'shy' attracted me because the concept is totally foreign to me. It's the exact opposite of my personality!”

Her out-there temperament is not incompatible with a taste for introspection; in fact, quite the contrary. On her EP, ALIAS, which was released at the end of November, Shygirl reviews the different facets of herself. We're inroduced to her four alter egos — Baddie, Bonk, Bovine and Bae — who appear in her music videos as digital avatars. “I've always wanted to explore these variations on my own because they reflect my music,” she says. "I almost extracted the character traits that I express most often.”

This roster of characters would not be complete without one more name beginning with “B” — the one written on Shygirl's passport: Blane, a complex young woman from south London. Before launching her musical career, Shygirl worked first at a design agency and then as a booker at a modeling agency. At the time, she wrote down her song ideas or lyrics while on public transport, just for herself, without plans to share them. Since then, several lines have been added to her CV: DJ, co-founder of Nuxxe (the record label of Coucou Chloé, Oklou, and Sega Bodega), director of her own videos, and a collaborator for avant-garde electronic acts such as the producer Arca and hyperpop powerhouse SOPHIE.

Her kaleidoscopic vision of music is not new. When asked about her first sonic fascinations, two major works come to mind: the soundtrack for Disney's The Jungle Book and the song "Firestarter," a thundering single from '90s EDM pioneers The Prodigy. “Two contrasting atmospheres,” she admits, bursting into laughter. "Strangely, it always calmed me down when I was in a rowdy mood at home.”

Shygirl was convinced to work on music by musician and producer Sega Bodega, who was drawn to her sugary voice and submachine gun delivery. In 2016, the duo created the experimental single "Want More," and the rest is history. “Surprisingly, everything went very naturally from the start,” says Shygirl. "I didn't have to compromise or change who I am. I tried things out, I liked the process, and by happy coincidence there are other people who also appreciate what I create. I post my new songs as they come, as soon as they're ready. The public sees me evolve in real time, at the same time as I reveal myself to myself.”

Shygirl's latest self-discoveries light up the seven tracks on ALIAS. Her detached yet punchy flow mingles with a clever mix of all her obsessions, from grime to R&B, rap to acid house, drum and bass to club pop. The singer feeds off teamwork and surrounds herself with guests such as Sega Bodega and SOPHIE, her longtime collaborators, but also Karma Kid, Oscar Scheller and Happa. “When it comes to design, I tend to want to do everything,” says Shygirl. "Collaborations force me to come out of my shell and provoke a spontaneity that is difficult to achieve for a perfectionist alone in the driver's seat. The unexpected can work wonderfully. It's also interesting to see new ways of working. I want to discover all the possible parameters for my music. My first EP was darker and anguished; it felt like stepping into a room for the first time, seeing if I belonged. With this new EP, I feel more confident and walk around every corner, speaking to different people and making my way through musical styles.”

This quest of self-discovery also involves the musician's wardrobe, and using fashion as a means of expression. Her music was the backdrop for the launch of Kenzo Folio in 2017, or more recently, last October in a Mugler campaign. “I have to say that my look was a disaster when I was younger,” she laughs. "Later, I worked as an assistant to stylist Mischa Notcutt, who is now my creative director, and I learned a lot from her. When I feel bad, I make an effort to dress well, for example putting on a GmbH dress that I love and that helps me feel better. Clothes have that power. Fashion is very important for this very reason, not so much for the trends it dictates, but to help us better understand who we are and what we want to feel.”