Shygirl brings guitars and a live band to her new album, *Swallow!*

Shygirl has released her second album, *Swallow!*, with a more guitar-led, stripped-back sound than the club anthems that made her name. The British singer and DJ says the shift reflects a desire to make music that feels more authentic, rather than a break with her electronic roots.

The record, released on Friday, blends guitar and more personal songwriting with the pulsing beats heard in earlier tracks such as “mr useless”. Shygirl, whose real name is Blane Muise, told BBC Newsbeat she wanted to use natural instrumentation and had become more confident about taking creative risks.

She said the inspiration came partly from nostalgia for indie music and the feelings she associated with being a teenager. Long-time producers Karma Kid and Casey MQ were surprised by her interest in the direction, she said, but trusted her to pursue it.

Shygirl describes the change as an evolution, not a reinvention. “It’s not like I changed overnight,” she said, adding that she would hate to repeat herself.

The new sound will also shape her live shows. Shygirl said she now works with a drummer and multi-instrumentalist, and sometimes a bassist, as she prepares to take the album on a European tour starting in March.

She also sees the move towards more organic sounds among British electronic artists including Charli XCX, PinkPantheress and Fred Again as part of a wider desire for music that feels grounded. For her, genre matters less than whether listeners feel something: “To be apathetic to my music would be the biggest insult to me.”