The DJ, producer and singer likes the kind of dancehall her dad disapproves of, and her funk to be electronic. But whose songs make her feel bougie?
The first single I ever bought
Aaliyah, Rock the Boat. My nan sent me and my cousin to pick up some bits in Dalston and there was some change left over so I went into HMV and bought this CD for £1.99. I shouldn’t have been stealing my nan’s change but I felt so grownup. If my Jamaican dad had found out, he wouldn’t have been happy. I would have got a couple of licks.
The song I inexplicably know every lyric to
Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit of …) by Lou Bega. I was working on my album recently and realised I knew every word. I was so impressed because I barely remember my own lyrics.
The song I’ve streamed the most
Witness (1 Hope) by Roots Manuva. It’s an island track that suits any occasion. If I’m feeling a bit down it gives me some bad girl energy and reminds me to come correct. It also gives me a good adrenaline hit on a run.
The song I can’t help singing
Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. They had a real influence on my sound and the newer stuff I have coming out soon. I love funky, electronic dance and I also love soulful stuff.
The song I pretend to hate that I secretly like
Nuttin Nuh Go So by Notch. There’s a lot of dancehall artists whose music I love but they have problematic lyrics. One day my dad was like: “Do you know what they’re saying?”
The song I tell people is my favourite
Billie Holiday’s I’m a Fool to Want You. When I started working at a record shop age 15, Billie Holiday was my introduction into music that wasn’t so commercial. I feel like if you say you like Billie Holiday, you sound a bit bougie.
My karaoke go-to song?
Amy Winehouse, You Know I’m No Good. I’m bussing out Amy on any occasion, I’m a diehard fan. This was my anthem at Stoke Newington School where I went. We even had an Amy Winehouse concert. It was an amazing school with a lot of funding for the arts. A plethora of great artists have come out of that school.
The song that is my actual favourite
Wifey Riddim by Voltage. A love ballad by a grime artist. A song of teenage angst. It reminds me of being 15, a little rude girl in my feels, with my hair slicked down, sitting at the back of the bus.
The best song to have sex toLet’s Straighten It Out by John L Watson. It feels like a make-up song. His voice is so soothing and sultry. If I ever got into an argument with my partner, I would play this to get him back into bed.
The best song to play at a party
I’ll go with one of mine: BOTA (Baddest of Them All). I’ve been told it was the soundtrack to people’s best nights out and that people have got married to it. It’s a safe bet for me.