Sound Of Scotland
Scottish-portuguese songwriter, SHHE, gathers artists from around the world in her newest album
Scots-Portuguese artist SHHE reveals her latest project of international collaboration
SU SHAW is an explorer. Although based in Dundee, the Scottish-portuguese producer and songwriter lists recent stretches in Lisbon and Iceland on her resume, where she sought inspiration in her roots and her surroundings.
On her debut album as SHHE, released last year, she pursued themes of identity and personal evolution through sparse electronics and evocative vocals.
Now, one year on from its release and locked down at home, Su is revisiting those tracks as Re: – a collection of remixes and reworkings which have been created with collaborators from around the world, most of whom she is yet to meet.
“I’d been thinking a lot about identity for both the album and the reworks.” Su says.
“I think, because I’ve spent so much time in Scotland over the last few months, I was interested in hearing perspectives from other people in other locations – so that probably informed a bit of the decision-making when it came to who we got involved with the album.” Although those perspectives come from Sophia Loizou in Bristol, rroxymore in Berlin, and even as far afield as Black Taffy in Dallas, the genesis of the collection was much closer to home.
Frequent collaborator Tommy Perman, visual artist and co-founder of experimental pop group FOUND, had remixed Saint Cyrus – a song about rebuilding yourself in new surroundings, named for the area of Dundee in which they both live, locally known as Sinderins.
“It felt special because we were both sharing these spaces, and sharing them for a long time before we realised we actually lived on the same street.” Su says. “It set the idea in motion that it would be nice to get perspectives on all of the tracks.