Pop star Shura: ‘I’ve always wanted to play Pride’

Electro pop star Shura has creativity in her DNA, it seems.

The 25-year-old singer-songwriter spoke about her family’s artistic background in an interview with Attitude:

“My dad’s a documentary filmmaker, and my mum and twin brothers are actors”, she said of her family. We didn’t really have normal jobs so it wasn’t weird that I was making music.

The Manchester lass, who describes herself as a “massive tomboy,” also described Madonna as a massive influence, as well as Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd.

Speaking of her sexuality and its effect on her image, Shura claimed she didn’t want to just be seen as a gay pop act. On pop due Tegan and Sara, she said, “For years, people always asked about the fact they were twins and lesbians”.

“I mean how about the fact they’re brilliant artists and musicians, how about that?”

Despite not wanting to be known solely for her sexuality, Shura is proud of who she is.

“I’ve always wanted to play Pride. If you think of how much music has come out of gay culture, like New York everything comes from either black people or gay people”

“Interesting art comes from people who have been repressed,” she adds.

You can read the full interview of Shura along with our special feature on Orlando and its aftermath in the new issue of Attitude, available to download now from pocketmags.com/attitude, in shops and print copies are available to order from newsstand.co.uk.

Also in Attitude’s August issue, alongside all your usual news, reviews, fitness & travel:

• 20 years of Girl Power: Spice Girl Emma Bunton recalls the highs and lows of life as part of the world’s most famous girl groups ever.
• Three years before Stonewall… there was the riot at Compton’s cafeteria in San Francisco. Attitude commemorates 50 years since the queer community fought back against an oppressive police force.
• Pop’s new sensation Shura on why she doesn’t want to be compartmentalised as a queer artist.
• Out gay Iraqi activist Amir Ashour on why he’ll never stop fighting for LGBT liberation in his homeland.
• Willam reveals why he has no love for RuPaul’s Drag Race.

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