Shura (musician)

Shura
Birth name Aleksandra Lilah Denton
Born 17 June
Origin Manchester, United Kingdom
Genres Electropop, synthpop, R&B, indietronica, new wave
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter, Producer
Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizer
Years active 2011–present
Labels Polydor
Website weareshura.com

Aleksandra Denton, better known by her stage name Shura, is a British singer, songwriter and producer.

Life and career

Shura grew up in Manchester; her mother is a Russian actress, and her father is an English documentary filmmaker.[1] She has two brothers, one of whom is her twin.[2] She attended Altrincham Grammar School for Girls. She began playing the guitar when she was 13 years old and started recording music at 16.[3][4] During university, she formed a band with guitarist Patrick Duncombe and collaborated with producer Hiatus (Cyrus Shahrad), who remixed Shura's 2011 debut single "River".[4] Shura features on six tracks on Hiatus's 2013 album Parklands, including "River" and the singles "Fortune's Fool", "Iran Air" and "We Can Be Ghosts Now". Shura took a gap year after her university studies and developed her songwriting skills while working in the Amazon rainforest.[5]

Following her work with Hiatus, Shura decided to assume creative control over the production of her music.[1] During night shifts at her workplace (a video editing facility), she watched YouTube tutorial videos on how to use music production software.[6][5] Her single "Touch", co-produced with Joel Pott of Athlete, drew positive notice from internet blogs during early 2014; its music video was directed and edited by Shura herself.[1][5][7] 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".[8][9][10][11] Shura has been longlisted on the BBC Sound of 2015 poll, and her debut album is due for release in 2015 via Polydor Records.[12][13] Shura is also signed to Universal Music Publishing Group in the United Kingdom.[14]

Shura's musical influences include Blood Orange, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, J Dilla, Drake, Peter Gabriel, Haim, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Madonna, Massive Attack, Pink Floyd, Pixies, Portishead, Prince, Diana Ross, Ed Rush, Patrice Rushen, Raphael Saadiq, KT Tunstall, and Tina Turner.[6][1][5][15][2]

Discography

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.thefader.com/2014/11/11/meet-shura-electro-pops-sleepy-new-poster-girl
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/shura-best-fit-newcomers
  3. ↑ http://www.nylon.com/articles/shura-touch
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.creaturemag.com/tag/aleksandra-denton/
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 http://www.hungertv.com/feature/get-know-shura/
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/new-music/11210882/Shura.html
  7. ↑ http://www.clashmusic.com/features/next-wave-597-shura
  8. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/18/the-playlist-new-bands-jagaara-movement-and-shura
  9. ↑ http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/16993-shura-just-once/
  10. ↑ http://consequenceofsound.net/2014/10/shura-shares-gorgeous-synthpop-song-indecision-listen/
  11. ↑ http://www.stereogum.com/1700755/jessie-ware-say-you-love-me-shura-remix/mp3s/
  12. ↑ http://diymag.com/2014/12/09/shura-interview-class-of-2015
  13. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/profiles/3pBLZF6Z1XgLKJWH7Y6J0wF/shura
  14. ↑ http://www.umusicpub.co.uk/en-GB/Artists/S/Shura.aspx
  15. ↑ http://www.loudandquiet.com/2014/10/shura-interview/

External links