WHO’S THAT GIRL?

Meet the women of Friday Jams

ESTELLE

This is your first time in NZ — are you excited?

Yes. I’m just excited to see the people, I know it’s a big hip-hop country and I’m told it’s quite a similar scene to London — people want to hear you do things your way in your accent and your style. I don’t know how much time we’ll have but I will find a way, I swear.

What can we expect from you at Friday Jams?

It’s cool because it’s a good chance for me to get out and talk about my new album (Lovers Rock) while being on the road and learning from these legends.

What’s it like being on this tour?

You know, there are people who were doing this when I was 10 — they were out here performing when I was still a child so it’s an honour to even be on the same line-up. It’s good vibes . . . amazing.

Any message for your Kiwi fans?

I cannot wait to come and see you, come be at the front of the stage, come turn up — I might not do 1980 but we’ll have fun either way. I’d like to do a rap after-party one day, where I do it, who knows, I might kick it at a hip-hop club in Auckland and do it then. You never know.

This is your first time in NZ — are you excited?

I can’t wait, it’s my first time ever. I got offered to come like three different times and it just didn’t work out but this is the right time. Trust me, I tried to make it. I know it’s beautiful, I’m just excited to check it out.

What’s it like being on this tour?

I actually want to watch the show — it’s funny me and my dancers were talking before we came and we were like, “damn everybody on this line-up has dope records, this is the ultimate playlist”. If it wasn’t for people like Salt-N-Pepa . . . I wouldn’t be here . . . and beyond that, Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown wouldn’t be here . . . Nicki and Cardi wouldn’t be here, you know? Music is cyclical it changes with the times, it changes with the world but I think always, no matter what, good music is forever, classic music is forever and I think that those few artists will always be around.

Dares led you to change your hair and get your iconic paw-print tattoos — are you still a daredevil?

I am . . . . even though I’m getting older.I feel like that part keeps you happy — you have to do things that scare you a little bit to keep life exciting, because otherwise you put yourself in a box and we see people all the time who get stuck and I get it, being in a box is comfortable, it’s easy, but it’s not me.