Alexandra Lilah Denton (also known as Aleksandra Lilah Yakunina-Denton, born 17 June 1991 in Hammersmith, England), known professionally as Shura, is a British singer, songwriter and record producer. She is best known for her work in the genres of electropop and synth-pop. Shura released her debut single Touch in February 2014. She started to record with Hiatus in 2011 with their project Hiatus & Shura. Her debut album Nothing's Real was released on 8 July 2016 via Polydor Records.
Shura grew up in Manchester. Her mother is a Russian actress and her father is an English documentary filmmaker. Her parents divorced when she was three. Shura has two brothers, including a twin, Nicholas, who has starred in four of her music videos: "Touch", "White Light", "2Shy" and "What's It Gonna Be?". She began playing the guitar when she was 13 years old and started recording music at 16. Shura had been a promising footballer in her youth and played for Manchester City from under 11 to under 16 level. While reading English Literature at University College London, she formed a band with guitarist Patrick Duncombe and collaborated with producer Hiatus (Cyrus Shahrad). Shura took a gap year after her university studies and developed her songwriting skills while working in the Amazon rainforest.
Shura is an out lesbian. In summer 2014 she experienced a severe panic attack, which she described as "feel[ing] like I [was] dying." Her stage name comes from a Russian short form of her first name. Shura is also fluent in Russian.
https://soundcloud.com/shura