Aziya

Name, where are you from?
I’m Aziya and I’m from East London.

Describe your style in three words?
Ethereal Punk Energy.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Santigold 2010 at Lovebox. I was ten and I was in the crowd with my parents and she invited a few people up on stage just for fun, and I was one of them! I think she was playing 'Creator' (Banger) My first taste of festival life.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
Prince because his Sign O’ The Times tour is a spectacle and a half - especially the track 'The Cross'. As well as Tame Impala because Kevin’s shows make you feel like you're on a whole other visual universe flying through anecdotes of his love life.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
The south London New/ Electronic Jazz scene with bands like Steam Down. Hearing 'Free My Skin' for the first time down in New Cross was insane, they really reintroduced that DIY punk sensibility. It definitely inspired me to take that approach on in my own career. But also the more indie end of that scene has influenced me, with bands like ALASKAALASKA coming out. I remember when I first heard 'Bitter Winter' there was nothing like it.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Probably Sister Rosetta Tharpe: An incredible rock 'n' roll guitarist and singer (in my opinion the queen of rock 'n' roll) I mean have you heard 'Up Above My Head I Hear Music In The Air'? Yet she was also heavily involved in the gospel world. The clash of rock and church, how interesting. An hour of chat would only skim the surface.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
Probably Blondies. It's tiny. Jam-packed, sweaty. I remember seeing Bo Ningen play '4 Seconds to Ascension' whilst tryna avoid getting squashed by some big guy who decided it was a good idea to crowd surf. That's also where I met some of my band too. On that note, I can’t wait to play my track 'Blood' live, I expect moshing at my headline show at Paper Dress Vintage on 21st July.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
June Millington from the band Fanny. That band was so transgressive. She is such a virtuosic player. For me, it was so inspiring to see a band with so much representation. I remember watching the video to the song 'Ain’t That Peculiar' and being so blown away.