World, meet Tanika. Pop that name down in your iPhone notes, ladies, you're going to be hearing it a lot over the next few months. The 25 year old, from Brixton, is currently busy making herself known on the UK music scene with her rather rudely named new EP, Fucking With My Heart. We caught up with her to talk about her cute son, flirting with lorries, and Taylor Swift.
So your Tumblr is FULL of catwalk pictures – are you really into your fashion?
Yeah, I love it so much! I’m a sucker for great outfits. If I had loads of money, I would be looking like I just got off the runway every day. I’m a massive high street girl, though, to be honest. I love me some Topshop, some River Island, H&M. But I can’t lie, I’m a sucker for Cavalli and Versace dresses. And Moschino’s new collection – I love it.
Have you got to wear anything on shoots that you really, really wanted to keep?
Oh God, this Stella McCartney jumpsuit, I got to wear it for the MOBOs and, when I had to give it back, my eyes watered. It was black with glittery beads. It was so expensive.
You're a big Taylor Swift fan…
You cannot deny those songs. Trouble is undeniable. I like 22 as well. Katy Perry also never loses – every song is a sing-along, everything is a win. The thing is, even if I wanted to, I can’t get away from cheesy music, because my kid loves it. He loves Jason Derulo.
Your new single is called Fucking With My Heart, which is a bit naughty, Tanika.
Yeah, I didn’t think anyone was going to hear it in a million years, honest to God. It was so self-indulgent, I was so angry. I actually just wanted to do it so my ex-boyfriend heard it, and I couldn’t wait to drop it through his email and say, ‘listen.' And now it is mad because now he is going to be in his car and hear it. Even though the title is a bit out there, it was exactly what it was. I couldn’t think of any nicer way to put it, because there was nothing nice about the situation.
What was it like working MNEK?
I love him. I was with him last night. He is out of this world. He is one of the most talented people out there – he writes, he plays music and he is the nicest person.
And you’re good friends with Ella Eyre, too?
Yeah, I’m really close with her, it was her birthday the other day, so she stayed at my house, and I cooked dinner for her. I got her some vodka, and just got her on it.
So when you guys go out together, are you badly behaved?
I would say we are the right amount of wrong – ha, I might Tweet that. To be fair, though, when I’m hungover, I’m just really honest, because otherwise it’s like, ‘Oh she looks tired.' Yeah, I went out last night, got on it, and got shit-faced. We’re all human.
Do you feel any pressure to look a certain way in this industry?
I’m in the gym almost every day. But for me it is more about when I had my son, I went really big – stretchmarks everywhere. For me, it’s more about feeling and looking healthy. I do squats, I just want good bum cheeks.
Have you seen those pants that have bum pads in?
Yeah! Beyoncé wears them all the time. Why not? Iggy Azalea’s body is to die for. I doubt her bum is real, but still.
Being a mum, do you look at people like Miley Cyrus and think, ‘Put some clothes on?’
The thing is, everything might look great, but the reality of the situation is that so much work goes into a project. You sacrifice so much, you sacrifice love and, if that's what you want to do after all that, do it. Anyway she’s got the body of a 12 year old. Who are we to be like, ‘Put some clothes on?’ If that is how you feel, that is how you feel. Beyoncé and Rihanna have been doing it forever and no one has ever had a problem with that. She’s just being her, everyone should be left to their own devices.
Follow Jess on Twitter @jess_commons
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.