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What, no scandal?
29/ 4/2005
Shelina Begum speaks to Ms Scandalous who is putting 'Ladies First' with her debut album
SHE'S been causing waves throughout the Asian music circuit
after her promo track Aaja Soniya hit all the major music channels
in the UK - she's the Asian answer to Beyonce - she's Ms
scandalous.
But don't be deceived by the name, the 21-year-old who was
discovered by major bhangra group, Punjabi Hit Squad three years
ago insists she's a good girl and the only scandal according to her
mum is that she cant cook chappatis.
For someone who has only been in the music scene for three years,
Ms Scandalous has featured in Squad's hit track 'Hai Hai' but is
about to release her debut album 'Ladies First' on 2 May.
Not only does she sing as well, but she MCs and raps, talents that
will set her apart from other female artists, of whom there are few
in the UK's bhangra industry.
Her image is sleek and sexy and she is probably more likened to
female black artists like Beyonce, Lil Kim and Clara rather than
those in Bollywood.
And her debut will put the female prospective on relationships, to
going out with the girls to being one of the every few female
artists in a male dominated environment.
Said Ms Scandalous: "I think its about time us ladies got a shout
instead. We listen to so much music about relationships for
example, sung by female artists but they're all from India or they
are sung by men in the UK. I'm a British born Asian and I wanted to
sing about issues affecting us here, in the UK. So I set about
writing the lyrics and started working in the album six months
ago.
"I think it will make a big impact because the music and lyrics are
so different, but most importantly, I am being myself in the album
and the videos. Some people might think my video and my image is a
bit daring even, but I have had no complaints about it as people
can see I am not fake and they appreciate that."
So for someone who is "straight as lace" why does she call her self
Ms Scandalous?
She said: "It's because scandals hit the news first, they make the
front page and everybody talks about it. So That's is why I chose
the name as I want to be at the forefront of everything."
While many artists struggle to get a record deal, Ms Scandalous got
her big break after she gave a on-the spot audition to the Punjabi
Hit squad in Southall - a starting point for Ms Scandalous's
career.
She said: "I was working in the legendary Asian Record Store 'Metro
Music' and would get talking to all the DJ's who would come in to
buy fresh tunes. A chance meeting with Punjabi Hit Squad one
afternoon in 2002 resulted in an impromptu performance. They liked
my style and asked me to rap on their track 'Hai Hai.'
"Even before I signed to Hit Squad I rated what they were doing, I
already related to what they were doing and how they go on. As a
unit they are taking an Asian sound into Hip-Hop in a credible way,
and there aren't many Artists in our scene capable of doing
that.
"Since 'Hai Hai' came out two years back there hasn't been any
Asian female rapper to come through. It's great that the likes of
Jay Sean and Raghav are doing great - but it's been more than 20
years since an Asian female artist has had a record on Top Of The
Pops. With the support I have behind me I'm hoping to take it
there."
Ms Scandalous said growing up in Southall has had a big influence
on her music as she found lyrical inspiration from the area she
grew up in.
"They don't call Southall 'Little India' for nothing. On a Saturday
afternoon on Southall Broadway you feel, with all the bazaars,
street-traders, mango sellers and sari shops that you're in the
middle of India.
"But then you might hear some Hip-Hop out of someone's ride and you
realise this is West London, this isn't a Bollywood film, this is
real. This place where I grew up has made me who I am and gives me
a lot of inspiration for my lyrics. I wouldn't have wanted to grow
up anywhere else, this is me. I'm proud of my roots".
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