1. Hi Shira! Happy (early) Birthday, another year around the sun. What’s one lesson you’ve learned about yourself this past year? 
Thank you! At the end of last year, my cat Sherbert got very sick, and I had to take care of him. I learned how strong I could be, and it brought out the nurturing side of me. Sadly, we lost baby Sherby, but we gained an angel.
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2. Your cover shoot in the streets of NYC is very reminiscent of Sex and the City vibes. If you were on the show, what character would you be and why?     
I spent a lot of time in NYC this summer, between NY Tech Week and our Shiragirl Brooklyn shows. Gritty and the City! Samantha was always my favorite character on Sex and the City because of her sense of humor, self-confidence, and unapologetic lifestyle. But I always said I’d love to play myself as a character on the show. They could have used a little more grit and queer woman authenticity. NYC will always be my spirit city, but I’m an LA girl now.    
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3. What has been the most significant lesson you've learned as a founder within the last year? What has been the biggest challenge you've faced so far?
I’ve learned that as important as it is to form your dream team, it’s equally important to let go of anyone who may not be the right fit. When I bring someone onto the Gritty team, they’re like family to me, so I tend to have trouble letting people go. It’s important to listen to your gut.

4.Who has been your biggest supporter or mentor in helping you navigate the startup world, especially within the tech industry, which is often seen as a boys' club?
I’ve been lucky to have so many incredible mentors and advisors. I also have a mastermind group of badass women founders who help each other through fundraising and other startup hurdles.
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5. Let’s switch gears and focus on you as an artist. Recently, your band Shiragirl was in the studio with Tim Armstrong of Rancid. What is it like being in the studio with him? 
Tim is a musical genius. It’s always such an honor to work with such a legend, and yet he’s so down to earth. Tim has been our producer for many years, as well as a good friend. His producing style is the perfect balance of visionary guidance and giving us the freedom to explore everyone’s ideas. It was great to be back in the studio with Rainey P, Constance Antoinette, and Leanne Bowes.
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6. When can we expect new music, and what direction or sound are you exploring this time around?
We had to pause on finishing the recordings due to Tim’s touring schedule with Green Day. We hope to wrap up in the fall, and I’m guessing we will release in early 2025. We’ll see! More to come on that.
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7.  Shiragirl made its return to Brooklyn back in July as part of a mini homecoming tour, where you opened up for NOFX on their farewell tour and Bad Cop Bad Cop. What was it like returning to your old stomping grounds and opening for NOFX?
Returning to Brooklyn was so magical—having all our old friends and family at the shows was so nostalgic. I’m very grateful for that experience. It takes a village to make a band and keep it going all these years, and I’m thankful for our village of love and support. Being on stage is my happy place. So much love to NOFX and their crew for having us at the beautiful, sold-out Punk in Drublic show at the Brooklyn Paramount—and it was a special bonus to join the band on stage for 'Lori Meyers!

8. How do you find balance between being an artist and founder/CEO? 
This is something I navigate constantly. Where I’m at in my career now and the life cycle of the company, my role as Founder/CEO currently takes priority. That said, at the start of this year, I told myself I was alright with taking a year off from Shiragirl, and then we got the offer from NOFX to play on their farewell tour—an offer I couldn’t refuse. That inspired us to get back in the studio and record new songs. I guess sometimes you just have to go with the flow and see what comes!

I also have my fun side project, Sheblime, our all-girl tribute to Sublime, which is a perfect creative outlet. Especially since my drummer Raine moved back to the East Coast, and our guitarist Constance is constantly out on tour with Demi Lovato and other artists. Everyone is super busy and spread out these days, growing in different directions but still down to come together when we can.
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9. Tell us more about Sheblime, you recently rocked the Surf Rodeo Festival. How has Sublime influenced your music, and how do you feel about their recent reunion at Coachella?
Sublime has been the #1 influence on my music, as they were my gateway into punk rock, ska, and other genres, showing me how many styles can be effectively blended to create a new sound. The music industry often likes to put artists in a box with one genre, but Shiragirl never fit into a single category—we liked to blend styles from punk to hip-hop, and Sublime demonstrated how it could be done. They also explored controversial topics in their lyrics that other bands weren’t touching at the time.

Last December, I had one of the biggest honors of my musical life—I got to watch the very first Sublime reunion show from side stage, with the original singer Bradley Nowell’s son Jakob taking over as lead singer, months before Coachella was even announced. I’ve since become friendly with Jakob, and it’s been very inspiring. Sheblime had a blast playing shows this year, from Garden Amp to Surf Rodeo fest. It’s a very fun show, and I think we catch Sublime fans by surprise with how hard we rock out. I love seeing the fans sing along.
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10. If your life were a movie, what would the title be, and who would play you?
The title of my biopic I think would have to be 'Shiragirl: Gritty In Pink' or something along those lines. I would love for Lady Gaga to play me, and perhaps Sabrina Carpenter or Renee Rapp could portray the younger version of me!
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11. As summer comes to a close, what were some of your favorite songs? Are there any albums you've been enjoying lately?
My songs of the summer were definitely 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter, 'Lunch' by Billie Eilish, '360' by Charli XCX, and 'Hot to Go' by Chappell Roan.

12. What’s a personal achievement or milestone from this past year that you’re proud of?
I became an aunt this past year to my dear niece Chiara Gal, aka Kiki! She was born in Singapore, and I got to meet her at 5 months old when she returned to the States. I’m very proud and planning to be the Best Aunt Ever.
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‍13. What next for you, Gritty In Pink and INPINK? 
As we approach the next year, I’m in my transformational era, both personally and professionally. I’m coming into my own as a grown woman, balancing my personal life, love life, and role as a businesswoman. INPINK has some exciting new developments on the horizon, which we will announce when ready. This year, we are taking it to the next level!


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