A lot of people start by learning other people's songs, but the idea of singing someone else's music didn't excite me. I just wanted to write my own. It was really bad to begin with. It's improved slightly since.
— Shura
Someone will say, 'Shura's album is about being a gay woman in London.' Umm, I feel like my album's just about me. I am a gay woman, and I live in London... It's not about being a gay woman in London.
As I grew in confidence, I was able to come out and say that I'm a musician.
I found my own voice slowly. I don't do big tricks like Mariah Carey, so I've found this weird way of singing that works for me.
When I wasn't working, I was learning how to use production software on YouTube and making music.
Is the mainstream becoming more queer? Or is it the opposite? That artists like me are mainstreaming queer music?
I don't care about how many records I sell, but the main thing is people like it.
I started playing when I was about 13, mainly because Dad had guitars lying around the house. My dad taught me my first three chords, and I taught myself from there.
I've had relationships before where you break up, and you think you're going to die, and then you realise you're definitely not going to die, and actually, you're probably better off without them.
I'm a lesbian. That's how I identify myself, but I think there's a massive spectrum for everyone.
Perhaps a young boy or girl, after watching my video, can go, 'Maybe I don't have to be embarrassed. Maybe I can come out at school, maybe I can tell my best friend... and maybe I don't have to be afraid anymore.'
It is important that you're out, and it is important that you're visible.
I didn't really want anyone to know that I wanted to write music or make songs because, in a way, I didn't necessarily know if I wanted to do it for a profession. I wanted to do it to express myself.
I'm massively inspired by Janet Jackson, and I adore Whitney Houston and Madonna.
I'm a bit of a geek: I just love being able to play with dials and buttons.
You have to challenge yourself about the choices you make as an artist.
I love PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Pixies, Portishead, and Massive Attack: a lot of what I would describe as alternative and indie music.
I love scarves and hats and coats. I love it.
On one level, I am a massive joker and can't take anything seriously, but on the other hand, I'm incredibly serious and a deep thinker, so I have that dichotomy within me.
I'm massively inspired by 'True Blue'-era Madonna, but she is absolutely confident and in control of the situation.
'Nothing's Real' is about my first-ever panic attack, which I had about four months after getting my record deal.
I'm actually really impressed with everyone at Polydor.
I felt that pop music didn't represent me. And that's why I made my own.
Do stuff that is true to your own experiences.
If you told teenage me that I would end up supporting Tegan and Sara for a month in North America, my head would have probably exploded.
The first time I shared music was on Myspace. Then SoundCloud came along. The difference with SoundCloud is that people can comment on stuff, which was more frightening but also way more fun - especially if they liked it.
I'd written songs since I was 16, but I never thought that I would be a musician full time.
When you have a lot of gay friends, you don't think of that as being different or divisive or weird; that's just your reality.
