Sha Ru, a boundary-pushing duo formed by Masha and Ru, stands at the intersection of punk’s rebellion and dance music’s liberation, moulded by their experiences with queer identity. Emerging from the vibrant scenes of NYC and Berlin, their incendiary works and dynamic performances have made them a potent voice in electronic music. Their inaugural Monkeytown EP, “They Are Textural,” marks a bold leap, intertwining their personal quests and sociopolitical narratives into a sonic exploration of deep emotional landscapes. The record is an honest reflection of their most daring expressions—charting a journey through love, heartbreak, and the struggle of self-identity, framed against a backdrop of pulsating rhythms and rich sonic layers.
This EP isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a manifesto of self-discovery, echoing the challenges of growing up in societies that have often marginalized queer identities. Tracks like “Not Your Steps” and “Tranqui Call” personify the contrasts of past and progress, while “Get Lost” and “Crawl” navigate the spectrum of human relations, from enduring connections to poignant endings. The duo’s music is an immersive experience, melding Masha’s hypnotic vocals with a tapestry of sound that accommodates both intensity and tenderness.
As “They Are Textural” delves into the multifaceted nature of humanity, it beckons us to embrace the intricate layers that comprise our own selves. Our conversation with the duo reveals the depths of their EP, their evolving narrative, and anticipates the paths they will tread next.
How would you describe the overall message and themes behind Sha Ru’s music, particularly in the upcoming EP?
Ru: With “They Are Textural” EP we turned our personal narratives into music, delving into our experiences as queer individuals. It was both scary and exciting to open up like this. This EP serves as a reflection of our lives intricacies and the complexity of the human experience, inviting listeners to explore their own identities. Our previous records also carried a message related to our personal experience but with different topics. Created while living in Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia, they explored the themes of resistance, unity and fight for freedom.
Can you discuss how Sha Ru’s background and personal experiences have influenced your unique sound and artistic approach?
Masha: When we met back in Berlin in 2017 and decided to be together, we knew we were signing up for a chaotic lifestyle. With different passports came different travel restrictions, so we’ve been on the move ever since. In the beginning of our music journey, Ru had a bunch of gear we’d jam with, especially for our first EP on Sorry Records. Those late-night sessions in our apartment near Viktoriapark, just playing with the Korg Minilogue, Novation Bass Station, and the MPC, were so vibey! But then the pandemic hit, and we had to pack up and fly out in a hurry. We grabbed a suitcase of clothes and music equipment, and our KRK monitors took up half the space. Sha Ru productions went mostly in the box, and later on, we started using some cool vocal effects like TC Helicon and Kaoss Pad, with the occasional use of Ableton Push. Our lifestyle influenced our creative process and shaped the sound of the band.
What musical (or other) influences can be heard in Sha Ru’s music, especially in terms of blending various genres?
Ru: I played in punk/post-punk bands throughout my teenage years. Then, right after high school, I moved to London. Once I arrived, I started DJing and got sucked into electronic music. After four years, I moved to Berlin. I believe that living in those places shaped my personality and my taste in music. When we do live shows, I usually play a MIDI guitar, essentially trying to mix all my favourite things. We’ve got the deep bass vibe you find in sound system culture, mashed up with the raw punk energy I grew up with, all set within a queer and inclusive club environment. For me, it’s like the best of all worlds.
Masha: Growing up, breakdancing was my thing throughout my teenage years, and I was super lucky to have teachers with amazing taste in music. They’d play this cool mix of electro, breakbeat, and house, which left its mark on me. Even now, when we’re playing around with different ideas in our music, I always think about how a track makes you want to move. All those breakdance jam sessions made catching the rhythm feel completely natural to me. During these years I also practised while the DJ was mixing tracks with live vocals and old-school electro with vocoder effects. So I’m all about mixing live and electronic vibes now. To me, that blend lives in its universe. So, when we started exploring vocal productions, it just made sense to me — it felt like everything clicked into place.
How has Sha Ru used their platform as musicians to address issues of queer identity and LGBTQIA+ rights in your music and/or performances?
Masha: Our EP “They Are Textural” on Monkeytown is our first release where we dive into our queer identity, our background, desires, and fears. While our earlier releases talked about our background, this EP comes from a different angle. It wasn’t easy for us to open up about our personal lives in detail and be vulnerable, given the fear of criticism or judgment. Both Ru and I grew up in places where being queer was stigmatized, and LGBTQIA+ rights were under threat, so we often pushed aside our questions and feelings. It wasn’t until I left Russia at 18 and moved to NYC that I began to discover my true self in a supportive and open environment. This move shaped who I am today. By speaking openly about pansexuality and our experiences and relationships that inspired the record, we hope to connect with others who may resonate with our journey.
Ru:I grew up in this little village in Italy, where everything was pretty traditional. That kind of environment made me keep a lot of my feelings inside, feeling pretty alone in it all. Then, Masha came into my life, and that’s when I started to explore who I am, especially my pansexuality. Maybe this EP can reach someone who feels the same way, maybe make them feel less alone. Sometimes it’s about finding that person or thing that lights up your world, you know? We just want to share our story and maybe inspire someone else to find their way and people who get them.
What challenges have you faced in your journey as an artistic duo, and how did you overcome them?
Masha: Ever since we started dating six years ago, we’ve pretty much been spending 24/7 together, something neither of us anticipated from the start. Being both a couple and an artistic duo brings its own set of unique challenges, mainly finding the right balance between our personal and music lives. We love creating or playing music together, it’s what we do every day. But, when personal disagreements creep in, it can make working on music a bit tricky. Like, sometimes if I’m annoyed with Ru, I might not vibe with any percussion he picks, or I struggle to find the right sound myself, which doesn’t exactly speed up our process. Over the years, we’ve been figuring out how to manage the different aspects of our relationship. We’ve set up separate telegram chats for personal versus band-related stuff and try to organize our tasks with a Google calendar. But, to be honest, music is so intertwined with our relationship that keeping them separate is challenging. Nonetheless, we’re navigating it with plenty of fun and joy.
Can you discuss the evolution of Sha Ru’s sound from previous releases to the upcoming debut on Monkeytown?
Ru: With this record, we ventured into new musical territories, drawing inspiration from various genres that have recently inspired us. We aimed to give each track a distinct flavour while trying to retain the essence of our sound. Moreover, we delved deeper into personal themes, making this record sound more introspective not just through its sounds, but also because each track reflects a journey into ourselves, touching on emotions and experiences that are very close to us. Additionally, we experimented with our approach to vocals, introducing more melodic elements and sometimes heavily processing them, using them as a synth or an effect.
What else can we look forward to from you two this year?
Masha: We’re gearing up for an exciting year ahead! First off, we’re working on a new live set filled with the latest material we’ve been working on. It’s going to introduce a fresh vibe and energy to our performances, and we’re looking forward to sharing it with you soon. We’re also planning to tour Europe again this Summer, where we’ll get the chance to showcase our new work. Plus, we’ve been experimenting a lot with our sound recently, creating new tracks that we’re really excited about. It’s shaping up to be a great year, let’s rock it :)
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Photos by Karla Del Orbe
They Are Textual is out now on Monkeytown: https://sharu.lnk.to/Textural
