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, 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 three EPs titled Cruel Practice, Alias and Club Shy. Her debut studio album Nymph was released on 30 September 2022 to widespread acclaim from music critics.

Shygirl
Shygirl in 2022
Shygirl in 2022
Background information
Birth nameBlane Muise
Born (1993-05-04) 4 May 1993 (age 31)[1]
London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • rapper
  • record executive
  • DJ
Years active2016–present
Labels
Websiteshygirl.tv

Early life and career

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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] Shygirl appears as opener across North America from September 15-October 23, 2024 as part of Sweat Tour with Charli XCX and Troye Sivan.[32]

Influences

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Shygirl has listed Mariah Carey, Aphex Twin, Madonna, Rihanna, Björk, and Róisín Murphy as her biggest musical influences.[33]

Discography

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Shygirl discography
Studio albums1
EPs6
Singles23
Music videos18
Remix albums1

Albums

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Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[34]
UK
Dance

[35]
SCO
[36]
US
Dance

[37]
US
Heat.

[38]
US
Sales

[39]
Nymph 34 1 12 7 10 64

Remix albums

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

Extended plays

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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[40]
  • Released: 9 February 2024
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: Vinyl, digital download, streaming
Club Shy RMX
  • Released: 7 June 2024
  • Label: Because Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

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As lead artist

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Title Year Album
"Want More" 2016 Non-album singles
"Msrynvr" 2017
"O" 2018 Cruel Practice
"Gush"
"Nasty"
"Beauts" 2019 PDA Volume 1
"Uckers" Non-album singles
"BB"
"Unconditional"
(with Arca)
2020 Nymph_o
"Freak" 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
"Mr Useless"
(with SG Lewis)
"Making the Beast" Fabric Presents Shygirl
"Encore"
(featuring Danny L Harle)
Club Shy RMX
"Immaculate"
(featuring Saweetie)
TBA
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Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[41]
NZ
Hot

[42]
"Bbycakes"[43]
(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
"Look at My Body"
(Mabel featuring Shygirl)
TBA
"—" denotes items which were not released in that country or failed to chart.

Other charted songs

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Title Year Peak
chart
positions
Album
US
Dance

[44]
"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

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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
"365" Charli XCX Brat and It's Completely Different but Also Still Brat

Music videos

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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

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Award Year Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Category Result Ref.
AIM Independent Music Awards 2021 Best Independent Track "Tasty" Nominated [45]
2022 "BDE" (Florentino Remix) (featuring Kaydy Cain) Nominated [46]
2023 "Schlut" Nominated [47]
UK Independent Breakthrough Herself Won
Best Independent Album Nymph Nominated
Libera Awards 2023 Best Electronic Record Nominated [48]
Mercury Prize 2023 Album of the Year Nominated [49]
Popjustice £20 Music Prize 2024 Best British Pop Single "encore" (with Danny L Harle) Nominated [50]
MOBO Awards 2024 Best Electronic / Dance Act Herself Won [51]
UK Music Video Awards 2024 "Look at My Body Pt. II" (with Mabel) Best R&B/Soul Video - UK Pending [52]

References

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