Pritt

South London’s Pritt, grew up with her strict yet liberal immigrant Tamil parents, honing her Carnatic training as a hobby from the age of eight, hoping that one day she could bring her eclectic taste in R&B, and her South Asian roots in too blend - ‘Eastern meets Western R&B’ Aside from her music we atNEOlove Pritt because she is our type of lady, a Krispy kreme original glazed Doughnut lover! Classic with a little sugar on top!

NEO:How long have you been making music?

PRITT: I have been making music for about 6 years and professionally releasing music for 3. But I’ve been singing all my life, from the age of 2 I want to say - my mum’s a drama teacher so performing arts was compulsory in our household.

NEO: Who inspires you musically?

PRITT:I don’t really take inspiration from artists as such. I love Tamil songs and how every song has a memory and a relationship with the past me so I guess... my inspiration would be my parents for instilling beautiful music in my life and I do love listening to 90’s R&B like Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, SWV but also more recent alternative R&B artists like Frank Ocean, Giveon, Kehlani so I think the R&B as well inspires me to merge these 2 worlds into 1.

NEO: What genre would you say your music falls under?

PRITT:It sounds so cliché like ‘not wanting to be put in a box’ but with the ‘genre’ that I’m in, I don’t think it exists so made up a genre! – ‘Eastern meets Western R&B’ so basically South Asia meets the Western world.

NEO:What was the reason behind the title of your last release?

PRITT:My last release was Identity – it was a song to vent all my anger - at Asian stereotypes, at customs that were made to make women feel inferior, and at comments that dark skin women feel insecure and undesirable. Growing up I had aunties tell me that if I was lighter, I would be a lot prettier or if I stopped hanging around my boy friends, I would actually have a man? Or if my career was less creative, then I wouldn’t bring shame on my family! I hated pleasing people and the toxic environment I was in was clouding my judgment a lot and I found it really hard to be nice to myself. I could hardly take a compliment without cringing or speak to anyone without doubting how I came across. Regardless of all this, being Tamil is part of my Identity whether I like it or not but I wasn’t going to let anyone tell me what to do or who to be in big 2020, hence ‘ஐ’ being in the title – it is a vowel and a strong letter in the Tamil alphabet.

NEO:What is the biggest misconception people have about you?

PRITT:That I'm like 5ft 9 haha, I don't know where people get that from but nope, 5ft 2.5 queen! The .5 is key.

On a serious note though, people assume that things don't phase me? Like I've always had thick skin? We're all human and we all have feelings but I think when your career is up for people to criticise and bring down, it does get to you. I think I try to be positive and professional but I do sometimes feel the urge to bite back and vent so people can see what really happens behind the scenes! I hate the phrase - 'it comes with the career' because people shouldn't have to tolerate that but they do and I respect that. Social media is a façade and we need to remember that it’s just a highlight reel of our lives so stop bringing people down for showing you what you signed up for.

This completely goes against my mantra : 'everyone is entitled to an opinion but it is up to you what you do with it' but even I don't listen to my own advice sometimes!

But God-willing, I’m still standing so cheers to that."

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NEO:If you were a snack what would you be and why?

PRITT:I love Krispy Kreme doughnuts like I’m obsessed so I would probably be that. I would have to be the original glazed (I know, boring!) but honestly, I can eat an entire box in one sitting, it’s disgusting!

NEO:You are in a small party with people you do not know. What would be your party trick you would bring out to lighten the mood?

PRITT:I can sing the alphabet backwards, kind of like a rap.

NEO: What is something you used to believe in that you do not believe in anymore?

PRITT:That my man is not in London, he is definitely in a different country!

NEO:If you could pick any three artists to collaborate with (dead or alive) who would it be?

PRITT:It would have to be Frank Ocean, Sid Sriram and Jhene Aiko but this changes all the time so who knows who it would be next week!

NEO: For your listeners and followers who are looking for some advice about life, what key advice would you give them?

PRITT: Keep going, you may want to give up or feel like you haven’t been given a chance but trust me when I say, things always work out. It may not be exactly how you pictured it but keep faith, stay focused and don’t forget to give yourself a break when you need it. It’s not just working hard, it’s working smart and being true to yourself that lures people in. I am not the same person I was 3 years ago and that’s fine, life is about growing and changing but I was going to give up then and look at me now! I have 3 more years of experience and things are finally starting to work out!

Another piece of advice that I tell everyone and I swear by it, is everyone is entitled to an opinion but it is up to you what you do with it. You can either let it get to you or let it go.

NEO:Let us know where to find you, on your social media.

PRITT:@prittmusic on Instagram