We have a very special guest for this episode of the pod - singer-songwriter-producer Shura drops in for a chat, as Lesbian Visibility Week 2022 draws to a close.

Shura’s fans will be very familiar with the role that football has played in her life and career to date. She was part of the Manchester City youth set-up as a teenager before she started recording music at the age of 16 and followed that path instead.

She began to rise to fame in 2014 when her song ‘Touch’ picked up industry buzz, with her debut album ‘Nothing’s Real’ following in 2016 - it went Top 20 in the UK album charts. Shura’s second album ‘Forevher’ followed three years later, further building her fanbase, and her songs have been streamed millions of times on Spotify and YouTube.

At the moment, ‘What’s it Gonna Be?’ can be heard in Netflix smash Heartstopper and is picking up loads of plays and downloads!

She started playing football with Goal Diggers FC in London a couple of years ago, and during the pandemic she got into Twitch and Discord streaming, creating her own Shutopia community online.

Speaking to Sports Media LGBT+’s Jon Holmes, Shura discusses how she got her break in football as a young girl; the ups and downs of supporting Manchester United men and Arsenal Women; what she makes of Heartstopper; the importance of her Goal Diggers FC family; some of the good and not-so-good aspects of being an out lesbian in both music and football environments; the fun of Twitch streaming, particularly when she’s doing cosplay; and what she’s working on right now.

We hope you enjoy our conversation with Shura!

Shura on Twitter - https://twitter.com/shura

Shura on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/shura/

Shura on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/weareshura

Football v Homophobia - https://www.footballvhomophobia.com/

Sports Media LGBT+ - https://sportsmedialgbt.com/

Lesbian Visibility Week - https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/