VIPER PRESENTS: SHORTSTRAW. INTERVIEW [2026 FEATURE]
VIPER PRESENTS: SHORTSTRAW.: Hailing from Coventry with a sound that aggressively refuses to be pinned down, shortstraw. is currently carving out a lane that is as abrasive as it is infectious.
Blending the raw energy of Punk with the sharp technicality of Hip Hop and the frantic pace of Jungle, the rising artist is quickly becoming a vital voice in the UK’s experimental underground.
Following a string of high-octane releases, the momentum is reaching a fever pitch. Their latest single, Pattern Up, is out now—a relentless release of energy that serves as the perfect primer for what’s to come. We sat down with shortstraw? to talk through the madness ahead of their highly anticipated new mixtape, coinstar, arriving 22nd May via Our House Online.
What five words define your sound?
Five words to define my sound would have to be: energy, cheeky, rave, vulnerable and cutthroat.
Tell me something unique about your creative process
We record everything in a garden shed, the only time me and Leo have recorded outside the shed was at a premiere inn hotel room in Exeter. Everywhere but an actual studio [laughs].
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
I think ‘pattern up’ for me would be the best introduction. It’s packed full of energy and its a bit of a smack in the face which I think is some good preparation for the rest of our tracks.
What inspired you to make that song?
I’ve always loved jungle, me and Leo, my producer, were at an ‘up ya archives’ Warehouse Project and were just getting gassed like “we neeeed to make a jungle song oh my days!” Then within a week Leo sent this beat over and I was all over it. The lyrics kind of speak for themselves like I need to fix up but I just love shaking ass.
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This interview is part of our long-form content series, now hosted exclusively on our Substack. To read the full conversation with shortstraw. and gain access to our archive of deep-dives into the architects of Hip Hop and global culture, head over to the Viper Substack.
[READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE]
