Despite her demure stage name, Shygirl isn’t afraid to embrace her sexuality. The British hyper-pop artist sings bluntly about her late-night escapades, with wispy vocals over bouncy, synth beats. Her light, falsetto voice contrasts with the provocative lyricism behind songs like “Shlut” and “Nasty,” creating surprisingly introspective dance anthems.

Shygirl elevates her exploration of women’s sexuality with her live shows. At The Wiltern on March 24th, the singer-songwriter performed a stunning set illuminated by flashing strobe lights. In the historic theater, Shygirl set up a more elaborate stage design than most artists I’ve seen in recent years. She stood in front of a mirror placed at a 45-degree angle, with images and video footage projected on the surface.

For hit songs like “Cleo,” an ode to supportive lovers, the mirror reflected images of arms dressed in blue fingerless gloves grasping at each other. With the beautiful string arrangement at the start of “Cleo,” I wish Shygirl featured a live band for a more dynamic rendition of the song. Although she’s a commanding presence on stage, instrumentals would’ve produced a stronger acoustic performance. But Shygirl comes from a DJ-ing and experimental club background, so I can’t blame her decision to sing over a backtrack.

The highlight of the night came early on when Shygirl brought out Tinashe to perform the “Heaven” remix off Nymph_o, the deluxe edition of her debut full-length album coming out on April 14th. The two’s vocals shined in unison on the song dedicated to romantic regret. The surprise guest sparked mass hysteria from the crowd, as the duo (no doubt) share similar fan bases.

But she didn’t lose energy after Tinashe’s departure. Shygirl kept attendees wired in with the introduction of two pole dancers who flanked her on stage. The dancers flipped and spun around for songs like “Poison” and “Siren,” demonstrating her commitment to unabashed sexual expression. While the dancer’s impressed with their ability to swing on stand-alone poles, they never distracted from Shygirl’s cheeky on-stage demeanor, with her playful moans and gasps.

Shygirl delivered a dramatic and engaging set that highlighted her impressively versatile discography, from sugary, upbeat dance tracks to pulsing house raps.

- Maria Eberhart

REVIEW: Shygirl 3/24/23