Start Listening To: Shangri-Lass

Shangri-Lass talks songwriting, production, and a possible Captain Beefheart cover.

Introducing Shangri-Lass: a Leeds-born, Sheffield-based musician who blends 60s girl group, psych, and glam rock with synths to create a unique sound. In a Q&A session, Shangri-Lass shares insights into her songwriting process, influences, and hopes for listeners. With her latest EP, "Over & Over," set to release soon, Shangri-Lass discusses the production process behind her hit single "Parallel" and even teases a possible cover of Captain Beefheart's "Lick my decals off, baby" for her next project. Though she admits health issues make playing gigs difficult, Shangri-Lass is eager to rope in some friends and hit the stage soon. For aspiring musicians, her advice is to learn the basics, trust your ears, and write whatever comes out, even if it's deemed "weird."

For those unfamiliar with your music can you tell us who you are, where you’re from, and something about the music you make?

Hello I’m Shangri-Lass, otherwise known as Rose Love, and I’m from Leeds but live in Sheffield. The music I make varies but the songs all have some kinda 60’s girl group, psych, glam thread running through them but darker & with more synths.

Can you describe your songwriting process?

It’s pretty intuitive, a process of being totally consumed without overthinking. I’ll usually start with a bass or keys riff or some melody I’ve sung into my phone, then I get on Logic and just keep adding instruments and messing about until it’s got a structure. Then I’ll go back & tweak it to ecstasy or scrap all but one thing and start over. I have limitations with gear and my health so I try to just get it down most of the time & not second guess myself too much or it’ll never get done. 

What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your music?

Whatever they want! A mood, the urge to dance or have an intense snog. 

How did you come up with the name Shangri-Lass?

I thought it’d be funny do a Shangri-Las cover band at the Brudenell Social Club’s NYE party years ago but sung dead yorkshire and call it Shangri-Lass. It didn’t happen (yet!) but the name stuck with me and this project is like a homage to The Shangri-Las’ attitude via my own so it made sense.

We’re loving Parallel, could you tell us more about how it was produced?

Thank you! It was recorded in 3 houses over 2 years but I wrote the bass line and lyrics years ago so it started with demos of those. Synth and guitar came next, I wrote both of those parts on the piano first. We used my bass head as a preamp for the guitars and went through pedals but no mic’d amps or anything fancy. I recorded the vocals at home on the only mic I own, an Aston Origin. My brother recorded the drums and all the dreamy percussion at his house in Ireland. I had a strong idea of how I wanted it to sound production wise and did some stuff to it but sending it to Dean Honer for his magic production touch really brought it all together!

What songs from Over and Over are you most looking forward to playing live?

None of them.. haha! In an ideal world I wouldn’t do it live because health issues makes playing gigs difficult and my other band, Sister Wives, kinda takes up that quota currently. But I do hope to play some gigs later this year and I reckon Father’s Daughter will be fun to play live.

Can you tell us more about the story behind The Scandal?

It’s about trying to get over the dissolution of a very close friendship, seeing both sides but struggling to let go. I wanted to write it with that Shangri-Las sass & treat it like a break up because it kinda felt like that. See, I told you this was a thinly veiled Shangri-Las cover band!

How do you stay creative and inspired?

It comes and goes but listening to lots of different kinds of music, new and old, helps and making music with Sister Wives because it’s such a supportive crew. Also walking around at sunset, overwhelming emotions, reading, sounds in the wild, all that stuff inspires me.

Your EP features a cover, Dragonfly by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, are there any other songs you’d like to cover?

Yeh I love covers! Lick my decals off, baby by Captain Beefheart is next on the list I reckon.

Name an artist you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why?

The Miracles because Smokey Robinson.

What do you love right now?

I’m on holiday right now so cola ice pops, hanging out with my mum & sunshine!

What do you hate right now?

Abuse of power, always and in every situation.

Are there any particular artists or bands that have influenced your music?

Loads probably but definitely Danny Kirwan (who wrote Dragonfly that I covered), Little Ann, Ty Segall, Tirzah, Slade, Powerplant, Thin Lizzy, The Shocking Blue, many badly recorded one hit wonders and I hate to be predictable but The mf Shangri-Las.

What’s next for Shangri-Lass?

I’m working on more music at the moment so recording another EP which I’m excited about & then roping some pals into playing shows with me. 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians just starting out?

Learn the basics, trust your ears and write whatever comes out even if people say it’s weird!

Thanks for speaking with us! Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

Thanks for reading! My EP Over & Over is out 28th April so have a listen & follow Redundant Span Records, they’ve got some cool stuff coming out this year.