I remained largely immune to the music of Shura, the BBC Sound of 2015 shortlisted artist. I had sort of dismissed her music as lacking and more about industry hype – her songs thus far fit into the trend for gossamer beautifully-sounding R&B but didn’t catch.
‘White Light’ shatters that perception for me. It’s a song with bite, with an electronic disco rhythm that suggests something more ambitious at play. It’s more upbeat than languid and moves with lyrics about being different (and addressed to her twin brother) before the song’s disco swing gives way to a pristine outro of guitar-lead swirls.
The single is out on July 24th and Shura plays Electric Picnic among other festivals this summer.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
