Sona Family is one of the hottest bands on the Desi music scene at the moment. Their album ‘Make Some Noise’ is out, and has been doing very well in the Asian charts, they are also due to be touring the US, where they have received excellent reception in the past, promoting the band and the album.

While we love the whole collective, we were particularly interested in talking to Kazz, the group’s female vocalist. Kazz met up with the InsideDesi team at Spitalfields in East London for an unusual photoshoot. I caught up with her afterwards and here’s what she had to say…

The Music

Pras: First of all how did you enjoy the photoshoot?

Kazz: It was fun! It was very different…you guys made me do a whole lot of different mad poses and it was a whole different kind of venue. It was good, it was fun.

Pras: You’ve got the album out, Make Some Noise and the third single is out on video as well, which is Taali…my favourite video so far

Kazz: Good, have you been practicing the Ride the Rickshaw dance moves?

Pras: Of course! But how do you feel about the recent success with Sona Family?

Kazz: It’s good. I’m really happy with how far we’ve come. I’ve been in the group for over 2 years now and a lot has happened within these 2 years. We have been touring around in a lot of places and the album has been doing really well so far. We will also get to release it in India so hopefully it’ll take off over there. Hopefully they’ll love the Taali video, because it was especially made for the Indian crowd.

Pras: I’ve also noticed a few familiar faces in the video; tell us who made appearances in Taali.

Kazz: Alright we had Raghav, MC Menis, Swami Baracus, June25th and Tino Attila doing their little cameo on the video.

Pras: As for the album, how long did it take you to produce it?

Kazz: Production took about half a year. We were really really picky because obviously there are four people in the group. I am into my rock and JC is into his Desi and Hip Hop whereas Harry and Riz are strictly Hip Hop so we obviously had to satisfy everyone’s vibes. We just took our time with it and made sure everyone was happy - picked out songs and left out songs hence why it took a long time.

Pras: What about your creative input in terms of song writing, did you have any major influence on this album?

Kazz: Yep! We obviously write our own songs, all of us do. Therefore it is really personal when you write your own stuff. We don’t have any outside writers at all.

Pras: What’s your favourite track on the album and your favourite video?

Kazz: My favourite track is Get On Down, which is on the Make Some Noise album and there’s actually a snippet of it at the end of the Taali video. My favourite video has to be Taali, because it was mad fun to shoot and I had to dance. I hadn’t danced in a long time and I even had to practice a routine, it was mad!

Pras: Who would you class as your idols or people that you would like to work with?

Kazz: You know what, I would love to do a track with Madonna. I love her, she is my idol.

Pras: And why?

Kazz: Because she is my idol! (laughs)

Pras: In terms of work, how does your schedule look like these days?

Kazz: Well I’ve just finished university so I’m going to be back on the music. We’re going to go out to America for three weeks and that’ll be in a couple of week’s time. Then we’re heading out to India to release the album, then Dubai. We’re all working on our own projects at the moment, and the second album, so that means back in the studio every day!

Pras: So we’d all like to know what it’s like to tour the world?

Kazz: It’s amazing! You see things on TV and you dream about going there but with the music, I actually get to go there and see it for myself. It’s amazing to meet new fans from different places. They love us and we love them back.

Pras: Do you look forward to revisiting certain places or are there any places you’d still like to go to with Sona Family?

Kazz: You know it’s really weird but we haven’t actually been around Europe properly. We’ve obviously been to India and America. I definitely want to go back to America and tour all the states. I love that place. I can’t wait to go out to LA actually.

The Fashion

Pras: Right Kazz, it’s rather apparent that you have a unique fashion sense. How do you come up with ideas for your style?

Kazz: Basically, I dress to make myself happy and not to make anyone else happy. As in, I don’t care what people think when they look at me, so I kind of just do what I want to do. My influences…you know what, I used to love Cindi Lauper and Madonna back in the day. You know how they had their crazy styles? And I know he’s a guy but I love Boy George as well. Everyone used to say ‘You are the female Boy George’ but that guy could do his eye make-up so perfectly (laughs)

Pras: Where do you shop and how do you shop? Do you have an idea of what you want when you go into a shop or do you just get inspired as you go in?

Kazz: Some days I go into shops and I have a particular outfit in my head. I’ll then go and see it and get it. And sometimes I just walk in and get inspired by whatever is on the models or even if I see people walking down the street that make me think ‘hey that’s crazy!’. I love what you’re wearing…obviously. You inspire me with your yellow…jumper (laughs out loud). You know what, I actually shop at Primark. I know people will laugh at me.

Pras: Hey I sometimes get my socks and boxers from there.

Kazz: Hell yeah! Go in there, 2 to 3 pounds, get it, rip it up, proper cut it and stick stuff on it, done. All good!

Pras: Who in your opinion has a great taste in fashion?

Kazz: Gwen Stefani. She’s crazy! I love what she does with her hair, make-up. She has crazy outfits in her videos. I don’t know if it’ll catch on straightaway, because it’s so crazy, but I love her stuff!

Pras: Can you remember any fashion faux pax of yours?

Kazz: Mine? Noooo….

Pras: As in, you look back and think ‘What the hell was I wearing then?’

Kazz: Erm…I think fashion changes every year I guess, so you would always look back and think ‘What the hell was I wearing then?’, but at the time it was fashionable. So I don’t think so, and just kind of leave it to when it was fashionable and think to myself ‘cool…I won’t ever do that again!’. (laughs)

The Men

Pras: Now, my favourite question…how would you describe your perfect guy?

Kazz: My perfect guy? Okay…are we talking looks or personality?

Pras: Both.

Kazz: Personality wise he has got to be really really understanding about my career, my schedule and not pick on me too much. He has to get on with the people that I work with. He has to just really really understand and not be pushy towards me. You know guys can be a little… (pauses)

Pras: ‘Do this’ and ‘do that’?

Kazz: See you’re a guy, so you know. You expect too much from us so yeah, very understanding. Looks wise, it doesn’t matter too much. But I like my funky punky guys. I do like my punky guys!

Pras: Which celebrity would you agree to go on a date with if he asked you out? Anybody from Bollywood, Hollywood, singers etc

Kazz: Okay, I am a massive fan of Chris Brown, I love him!

Pras: (laughs) He’s too young for you!

Kazz: I don’t care! (laughs) I love him, but when it comes to Bollywood, it’d have to be John Abraham. He’s taken but whatever.

Pras: Your perfect date?

Kazz: I actually just like chilling. Chilling at home, smoking sheesha and watching a DVD, have some dinner. I am quite a homely girl like that.

The Fun

Pras: Now this summer is going be full of superhero blockbuster movies. If you were a superhero, what would be your super power?

Kazz: What would be my super power? I don’t know…that’s an interesting question.

Pras: I can think of one.

Kazz: What is it?

Pras: If you see someone who is committing major fashion crime, you’d use your super power and sort out their wrongdoings.

Kazz: (laughs) That could be cool. That would be a good one but, not so much as a power, but I’d love to have the ability to just change the way I look by clicking my fingers.

Pras: Like a wardrobe change?

Kazz: Yeah. You know when you’re walking down the street and you see your ex or something, you just click your fingers and suddenly you’re blonde and they can’t recognise you. That’d be such a cool power!

Pras: What does your perfect day look like compared to your daily routine right now?

Kazz: Well my daily routine is to wake up really early in the morning, put my wall paint on my face and go to the studio and work on some tracks. We finish up really late, sometimes around 10 or 11 at night. I’d then come home, go to bed and do the same thing again the next day. That’s probably my daily routine. My perfect day would be to sleep in till about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, watch some TV, chill out with friends and then perhaps have a music session in the evening. I wish there were more hours in the day so that way you can do everything!

Pras: What’s your favourite fast food?

Kazz: Pizza.

Pras: Favourite ice cream?

Kazz: Ice cream, I love mint ice cream. Anything, Haagen Dazs or whatever.

Pras: Favourite movie?

Kazz: I’ve got loads but I’d have to say Grease.

Pras: Nice, I was listening to the soundtrack the other day.

Kazz: It’s amazing.

Pras: Favourite drink?

Kazz: Coca cola.

Pras: Diet or full fat?

Kazz: Full fat! (laughs)

Pras: Right, now I am going to read out a number of incomplete statements to you. It’ll be ‘Kazz’ plus an adjective and you just complete it with whatever comes first to mind.

Kazz: (laughs) Ok!

Pras: Ok, first one is very easy. Kazz is…

Kazz: Crazy.

Pras: Kazz wants…

Kazz: Everything! (laughs)

Pras: Kazz hates…

Kazz: Erm fake people.

Pras: Kazz loves…

Kazz: Normal people. (laughs)

Pras: Kazz admires…

Kazz: her mum.

Pras: And finally, Kazz wishes…

Kazz: …to have more wishes! (laughs)

Pras: So finally, do you have any words of wisdom or encouragement to all your fans and our readers out there?

Kazz: Well firstly I would like to thank everyone who has been mad supportive of me and my craziness, helping me fulfil my dreams. It is possible if you have the right people around you and believing in you. The main thing is to believe in yourself before other people can take you seriously.

Pras: Thank you very much!

For more pictures, be sure to visit the InsideDesi Gallery.

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