SHERELLE’s Raw Beats Shake Up UK Dance with New Album

From Chaos to Creation

SHERELLE’s journey hasn’t been all smooth sailing. Back in 2019, a Boiler Room set blew up online, catapulting her into a whirlwind of gigs and a BBC 6 Music slot by late 2023. It was a dream ride—until it wasn’t. “Everything blurred together,” she admits to Billboard U.K., calling in from Salford’s Media Centre during the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival. Overworked and stretched thin, turning 30 hit her hard. “I panicked—‘I’m not where I thought I’d be,’” she recalls. Then her laptop got stolen, wiping out her music and demos. It was a gut punch that forced her to step back, switch management, and rethink everything. A vegan diet and a clunky old desktop sparked a creative reboot, with soul legends like Earth, Wind & Fire and jazz flutist Bobbi Humphrey fueling her fire.

Now, With a Vengeance—out on London’s Method 808 label—is her comeback anthem. Tracks like “XTC Suspended” and “XTC” tell her story: the first channels the burnout, all heavy vibes and forced smiles, while the second lifts off with garage and two-step warmth, a nod to her recovery. “I want people to feel the raw energy,” she says, “but not drown in it.” She’s not sweating the critics either. “It’s mine, and I love every track. It’s real—not some polished fake.” Jungle vet Tim Reaper nudged her to keep it quick—15 minutes max per section—and suddenly, she was churning out tunes she couldn’t get enough of.

Keeping It Real—and Affordable

SHERELLE’s not just about the music; she’s about the people. Raised in east London’s Walthamstow, she’s seen the dance scene’s glitzy side and its corporate cash grabs up close. That’s why her SHERELLELAND club night tour—hitting Newcastle, Edinburgh, Sheffield, and wrapping up April 11 at London’s Roundhouse—keeps tickets at a wallet-friendly £10 ($13). “The DJ world’s a money machine for some,” she shrugs. “I’d rather give fans a break.” It’s the same spirit behind BEAUTIFUL, her 2021 project lifting up Black and LGBTQIA+ creators with workshops and real talk about breaking in. She’s all in for kids getting a shot at music too, echoing Ezra Collective and Myles Smith: “So many talents get left behind without the cash or tools to shine.”

Her rise has been a wild ride—championing Nia Archives and Loraine James early on, earning a nod from the late Virgil Abloh, and now headlining at 160 BPM. The Roundhouse gig’s her big finish, tying together her roles as performer, community builder, and truth-teller. “I’ve got a team that gets it—community’s everything,” she says. “They’ve got my back, and it’s made this simple.” For SHERELLE, it’s not just about dropping beats—it’s about keeping the dance floor alive, authentic, and open to all.