Shygirl, the rapper and DJ who has become a fixture of the underground club scene, doesn’t just make music—she creates experiences. Her nights are long, her energy relentless, and her approach to life as unpredictable as the beats she spins. “I don’t even take my keys with me when I go out,” she laughs. “I make my boyfriend wake up to let me in.” For Shygirl, the club isn’t just a venue; it’s a battleground where identity is forged and boundaries dissolve.
Shygirl’s journey began in the dimly lit corners of London’s club nights, where she cut her teeth as a DJ before releasing her own music in 2016. Her debut album, shortlisted for the 2023 Mercury Prize, catapulted her into the spotlight. Since then, she’s become a collaborator of choice for artists like Charli XCX, Björk, and Lady Gaga, remixing tracks and infusing them with her signature blend of grime, garage, and reggaeton.
Her latest project, Club Shy, began as an after-hours experiment at Primavera Sound in Los Angeles. What started as a space to play demos and experimental tracks has evolved into a global phenomenon, with Shygirl hosting rave-like nights for thousands of fans. “Club Shy is where I feel most alive,” she says. “It’s raw, it’s unfinished, and that’s where the magic happens.”
For Shygirl, the club is more than just a place to party—it’s a space of transformation. “I like that sometimes the club is dangerous,” she reflects. “You have to fight for your space, secure it, and hold onto it. That’s where you find your strength.” This ethos permeates her music, which she describes as a soundtrack to her life. “Every song I make is a scene from the movie of my life. I want to feel like I’m that character in the video, even when I’m just walking down the street.”
Shygirl’s collaborations are as spontaneous as her club nights. “I don’t plan them,” she admits. “I just follow the energy.” From Charli XCX to FKA Twigs, her partnerships are born out of genuine connection rather than industry pressure. “I want to hear people in my world, where genres collide and boundaries blur. That’s where the excitement lies.”
As she works on her second studio album, Shygirl is embracing the chaos of creation. “The album is the best thing I’ve ever done,” she says with a grin. “It’s a blend of classic and experimental, and it’s going to surprise people.” For now, she’s content to let the music speak for itself, one electrifying beat at a time.
Whether she’s on stage, in the studio, or lost in the haze of a club night, Shygirl remains a force of nature—a reminder that sometimes, the most dangerous spaces are the ones where we find ourselves.
