Jaz Karis

Musician — London

01Profile

A Jaz Karis Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Jaz Karis, London.

Describe your style in three words?
Be the change.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Favourite gig would have to be D'Angelo - he was two hours late but when he started playing none of us in the audience even cared. Best live music I’ve ever heard - good job as I went to the concert alone.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Hmm, Erykah Badu and Frank Ocean. Erykah would just be pure vibes, and I can only imagine what backstage with Badu would be like. Frank evokes an emotion in me that is like a high - so to perform feeling like that would be amazing. Also not to mention to say I shared a stage with these two would be mentioned to everyone I meet.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Listened to a lot of Gospel, Jazz and '80s funk growing up. Why? Because my mum had control over the CD player and luckily she had great taste.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
My first thought was Adolf Hitler. I’d like to actually find out what he was really like, try and see the light in him and ask him why he done so many awful things. Why his beliefs were his beliefs and if he ever saw what he was doing was wrong but thought it was too late to turn back.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
My favourite venue I have played would be Zigfrid Von Underbelly in Hoxton. It's not the best venue, nor does it have the best acoustics or set up but the memories and magic I’ve experienced in that place has yet to happen somewhere else in the same way.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Joey Badass - 95 til’ infinity - This guy is so underrated, so many people should know his name, so many people should hear his words. Everything from his music to his lyrical content to his visuals are so powerful. Love.


Jaz Karis is a Brit School graduate who cites influences that include modern R'n'B and soul artists such as Erykah Badu and Amy Winehouse.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Hey Lover' by LL Cool J ft Boyz II Men.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'You' by Chris Brown.

One record you would keep forever?
'Pretty Wings' by Maxwell.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
“You cut your hair but you used to live a blinded life
Wish I was there, wish we had grown up on the same advice”

From 'Self Control' by Frank Ocean. If you don’t know the song shame on you.

A song you wished you had written?
'Slow Dancing In A Burning Room' by John Mayer.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Catch Me Outside' by Ski Mask the Slump God.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Ashawo' by Flavour.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Gotta Go My Own Way' by Troy and Gabriella (HSM).

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Daniel Caesar, all day every day.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Jaz Karis, London.

Describe your style in three words?
Be the change.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Favourite gig would have to be D'Angelo - he was two hours late but when he started playing none of us in the audience even cared. Best live music I’ve ever heard - good job as I went to the concert alone.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
Hmm, Erykah Badu and Frank Ocean. Erykah would just be pure vibes, and I can only imagine what backstage with Badu would be like. Frank evokes an emotion in me that is like a high - so to perform feeling like that would be amazing. Also not to mention to say I shared a stage with these two would be mentioned to everyone I meet.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Listened to a lot of Gospel, Jazz and '80s funk growing up. Why? Because my mum had control over the CD player and luckily she had great taste.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
My first thought was Adolf Hitler. I’d like to actually find out what he was really like, try and see the light in him and ask him why he done so many awful things. Why his beliefs were his beliefs and if he ever saw what he was doing was wrong but thought it was too late to turn back.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
My favourite venue I have played would be Zigfrid Von Underbelly in Hoxton. It's not the best venue, nor does it have the best acoustics or set up but the memories and magic I’ve experienced in that place has yet to happen somewhere else in the same way.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Joey Badass - 95 til’ infinity - This guy is so underrated, so many people should know his name, so many people should hear his words. Everything from his music to his lyrical content to his visuals are so powerful. Love.


Jaz Karis is a Brit School graduate who cites influences that include modern R'n'B and soul artists such as Erykah Badu and Amy Winehouse.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Hey Lover' by LL Cool J ft Boyz II Men.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'You' by Chris Brown.

One record you would keep forever?
'Pretty Wings' by Maxwell.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
“You cut your hair but you used to live a blinded life
Wish I was there, wish we had grown up on the same advice”

From 'Self Control' by Frank Ocean. If you don’t know the song shame on you.

A song you wished you had written?
'Slow Dancing In A Burning Room' by John Mayer.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Catch Me Outside' by Ski Mask the Slump God.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Ashawo' by Flavour.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Gotta Go My Own Way' by Troy and Gabriella (HSM).

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Daniel Caesar, all day every day.

 

05Videos

Jaz Karis - Sugar Don't Be Sweet (Official Video)

Jaz Karis | Doubt My Love (2019)

Jaz Karis | Summer Story (2019)

Juls ft. Busiswa & Jaz Karis | Soweto Blues (2020)