7 hours ago
4
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 to
Let’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.
The song I want played at my funeral
Irma Thomas, Time Is on My Side. A good way to leave on a laugh.
Eliza Rose x Oppidan’s Too Slow (All Night) is out now.
