Interview

On song

Shura may have switched lanes from football to music in her youth, but the London singer has lost none of her fervour for the game

WORDS Niall Doherty

Singer-songwriter Shura is set to make waves again this May with the release of her third album, I Got Too Sad For My Friends, a record with a hazy, folk-pop sway and warm 70s melodies that marks a significant retooling of her sound. It’s an album that feels like it’s not in a hurry, which is fitting because Shura took six years to make it, even giving up playing football to get it finished. A Manchester United fan who was on Manchester City’s books as a teen, she met up with us in London to talk about the two big passions of her life.

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

It was a completely new process – new producer, completely different approach. It was about jumping in the deep end and trying new things and being slightly uncomfortable. It feels very organic, part of the natural world. I love pop music, but this is a more indie, folky record. It’s closer to the stuff I made as a kid, because it would just be me in my bedroom with an acoustic guitar, writing. I picked up a guitar when I was about 13. Up until that point, I’d mostly been doing football.

What was the spark for you getting into football?

My dad is not remotely a football dad but he dated a huge West Ham fan when EURO ’96 was happening. I saw David Seaman in the most colourful kit you’ve ever seen and I was like, “I want to wear that!” That’s what got me into football, that goalie kit. I wanted to be a goalie. I loved the fact you were jumping around and putting your body on the line. The fact that I didn’t continue to grow meant I was forced into a new position, because there came a point when the goals were just too big!

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

Yeah, I got scouted in my last year of primary school in 1998 and played for them until I was 16. I remember Godfrey Williams – our trainer, bless him – with this rowdy bunch of girls. How did he do it? He got us playing really good football.

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

Read the full story

Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

My tour manager’s daughter is playing football and I’m so excited that she gets to grow up in a world where you’re seeing all these incredible footballers.

Shura in her suit of armour (top); playing for Goal Diggers (above); starting out in music (top right); in Man City’s academy (right)

Did you start playing music while you were also playing for City?

Yeah. It coincided with a period when the City team completely stopped for a bit. There was obviously some politics or funding issues and it just stopped. It came back and I went back, but it just felt different. I think that’s when I started to play guitar and take that more seriously.

You’re well placed to talk about how the women’s game has evolved, then.

I can’t believe it. I was at the Women’s EURO final at Wembley in 2022 and it was emotional. I think part of why I ended up doing music instead of football was that it didn’t feel at that time like you could play for the City senior team. It wouldn’t be your job – you’d have to do other stuff. It didn’t really feel like it was a career you could have. My tour manager’s daughter is playing football and I’m so excited that she gets to grow up in a world where you’re seeing all these incredible footballers.

You were also involved in making the Lionesses’ unofficial anthem, Call Me A Lioness…

That’s the quickest “Yes” I’ve said to anything in my entire career! I’d met Mel C before, because I’d written a song with her for her record, but getting to sing alongside Sporty Spice on a song about football… Can you imagine telling ten-year-old me who’s playing for Man City and listening to the Spice Girls that?

You’re a United fan, though, aren’t you?

Yeah. It’s hard for me to engage with the men’s game at the moment – I’m so distracted by just how depressing it is to be a Manchester United fan right now.

Who’s your women’s team?

Arsenal. I felt like I couldn’t support United because I played for City, and then I couldn’t support City because I support United. So, I was like, “I’m living in London now. All my friends are Arsenal fans…” They’re a brilliant team – they have some of my favourite players.

Are you still playing?

I still play for fun. I have a club, Goal Diggers. I stopped playing when I was making the record, but I love Goal Diggers. It’s a huge operation, and it’s so welcoming. The first time I went, I was really scared because not often as an adult do you go somewhere where you know there’s gonna be loads of people you don’t know. I was really nervous and the first training session I went to, everyone was just really lovely. I love football. I love playing it, love watching it.

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Interview

On song

Shura may have switched lanes from football to music in her youth, but the London singer has lost none of her fervour for the game

WORDS Niall Doherty

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

Read the full story

Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

My tour manager’s daughter is playing football and I’m so excited that she gets to grow up in a world where you’re seeing all these incredible footballers.

Shura in her suit of armour (top); playing for Goal Diggers (above); starting out in music (top right); in Man City’s academy (right)

Did you start playing music while you were also playing for City?

You’re well placed to talk about how the women’s game has evolved, then.

You were also involved in making the Lionesses’ unofficial anthem, Call Me A Lioness…

You’re a United fan, though, aren’t you?

Yeah. It’s hard for me to engage with the men’s game at the moment – I’m so distracted by just how depressing it is to be a Manchester United fan right now.

Who’s your women’s team?

Are you still playing?

Interview

On song

Shura may have switched lanes from football to music in her youth, but the London singer has lost none of her fervour for the game

WORDS Niall Doherty

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

Read the full story

Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Let’s start with your new record. What can you tell us about how it was made?

What was the spark for you getting into football?

What position did you end up in?

I was a rather modern attacking left wing-back, before Trent Alexander-Arnold made it cool.

And then you joined City’s academy?

My tour manager’s daughter is playing football and I’m so excited that she gets to grow up in a world where you’re seeing all these incredible footballers.

Shura in her suit of armour (top); playing for Goal Diggers (above); starting out in music (top right); in Man City’s academy (right)

Did you start playing music while you were also playing for City?

You’re well placed to talk about how the women’s game has evolved, then.

You were also involved in making the Lionesses’ unofficial anthem, Call Me A Lioness…

You’re a United fan, though, aren’t you?

Yeah. It’s hard for me to engage with the men’s game at the moment – I’m so distracted by just how depressing it is to be a Manchester United fan right now.