Shygirl @ QMU, Glasgow, 4 Dec

“Glasgow holds a very special place in my heart,” purrs the London-based rapper, DJ and singer-songwriter Shygirl, as she holds court at the QMU. “There would be no Shygirl without Glasgow… so this one’s for you.” She launches into Heaven – a track with sweet, dreampop vibes that could be described as a love song – and the crowd go wild.

Shygirl’s star has been rising ever since her single Want More was released in 2016, but she really went into orbit in 2022 with the release of her debut album Nymph. As she embarks on a second world tour with new single Thicc just out and a 2023 Mercury Prize nomination under her belt, she seems poised to take off into the pop stratosphere.

Such a take-off would be well-deserved. 2022’s Nymph was a dazzling, genre-splicing debut, containing elements of hyperpop, Y2K R'n'B and UK garage, all sprinkled with infectiously catchy pop riffs and delivered with a decidedly female gaze. Pop experiments like this can sometimes seem laboured, but Shygirl’s music maintains a fun, serene feel – it never feels like she’s trying too hard.

As a live performer, the same quality shines through. Shygirl shifts seamlessly from rapping verses to singing like an angel and never once slips up, making it all look effortless. She moves between the musical moods of her setlist deftly, amping up the playfulness of songs like Coochie (a bedtime story), bringing the energy for new club banger Thicc and playing on the intimacy of the setting for slower, more ethereal tracks like Honey. Her performance style is somehow both relaxed and impressive, too. Swaying in front of a glowing structure of mirrors, occasionally flicking her hair back or smiling at fans, she seems almost more like a friend dancing with you than a performer tipped for stardom.

But this is all part of Shygirl’s charm. There are no elaborate dance routines here, no stagey gimmicks or scene-stealing outfits – she doesn’t need them. Shygirl’s natural charisma keeps all eyes on her from start to finish.