Inside Five: Fleur Shore talks about school, Birmingham and Kerri Chandler

Fleur Shore has already secured a well deserved #1 top spot on Beatport with a hefty EP on Yaya’s Tamango Records, as well as BBC Radio 1 support from Danny Howard with her release on intercontinental label Frame Music.

Her records have received acclaimed support from the industry’s finest, with the likes of The Martinez Brothers, Richy Ahmed and Darius Syrossian regularly supporting her music.

Before Fleur got to grips with the art of production, she had already been making a name for herself on the DJ circuit with residencies at Lab11 in Birmingham, and elsewhere in Nottingham and Liverpool, as well as gigs at clubbing institutions including Fabric.

Naturally, we wanted to catch up and find out more about the recent rise of Fleur Shore and her plans for the future ahead of her monster daytime party this Sunday in Birmingham for Come Together at Lab11, where she will be playing before Michael Bibi and Archie Hamilton.

Hey Fleur, thank you for joining us today. Firstly can you tell our readers a little bit about yourself – How did you get into dance music, DJing and production?

Hey, I’m Fleur Shore and I’m a DJ and producer from Birmingham, UK. As cliché as it sounds it all started when I was little, as I was constantly surrounded by music. It’s so funny watching old videos from when I was little as you can barely hear anyone talking as MTV is constantly blasting haha! Music had been bred into me since I was knee-high.

Then when I went into high school, this was a ritual every Sunday before school I would download new music to blast out on the Sony Ericsson and show everyone. Then naturally because I was into music at every house party I went to as a teenager my phone was always on the speakers showing everyone new music.  

At 18 I brought myself a controller and it all sort of went from there. I taught myself to DJ and to produce. I’ve been producing for about three years now and it’s the best thing I have ever done. Thinking about it like this, this is what I find incredible..the fact that every track I have ever listened to is influenced in my music, whether that’s down tempo, hip hop, jazz etc etc. it blows my mind!

Who have been the biggest influences on your music career so far?

I always look back for influences, I collect records and love 1991-1996 house, it’s got so so so much groove. The way they used to sample records back in the day is so smart. There are too many artists to mention, but to be warming up for Kerri Chandler at The Warehouse Project this Saturday is a real privilege.

We have seen your profile rise in the past 12-months even with lockdown, what would you say has been your standout moments so far as an artist?

I’m so grateful to now be focusing on music full time, as that’s been a massive milestone for years, so I’m super happy about that! A personal standout moment for me is being able to do what I love every day. I get to make music every day, I somehow managed to get my head down despite a difficult 18 months when the clubs were closed and I’ve come out making music that I’m really happy with…and I’ve signed to two of my target labels for this year… all to be revealed in the next few weeks.

You have been out playing out a lot since the reopening of clubs – any favourite venues or performance highlights? 

Well recently everything has been like a massive snowball effect and it’s so exciting! The standout for the past few months gigs wise would definitely be getting flown to Ibiza to play with The Martinez Brothers at Ushuaia which was insane. 

Last Friday I also made my debut at Fabric, that club is insane! I have never heard or felt a sound system like that before. I’m also making my debut at The Warehouse Project on Saturday, so to be lining up alongside so many artists who I’ve been to watch as a raver over the years is unreal!

What can we expect next from Fleur Shore for the rest of 2021 and beyond?

I’m super excited for the next few years as things are going to start getting crazy with releases and travelling for gigs. 

Although I’m looking forward to visiting new cities and countries, I can’t wait to focus on my residency at Lab11 in Birmingham. The likes of Will, Dee & Tom Shorterz have believed in me pretty much since the start of my journey, and they’ve got some wicked shows coming up that I’m super grateful to be a part of and cannot wait to announce. I’m playing there this Friday for TRMNL supporting The Martinez Brothers again, and on Sunday for the Come Together show with Michael Bibi and Archie Hamilton.

I’m just going to keep focusing as I have done for the last three years, keep my head down and make some serious beats.

Thanks for speaking with us Fleur, I am sure we’re going to be seeing a lot more of you out and about. Smash it this weekend!

Thanks for having me guys 🙂