We bumped into UK songstresses La Inifinite, they gave us a candid interview with all the gossip from the La Infinate camp. They are set to take the UK by storm, let's see what they had to say.
1.Girls introduce yourselves
Gift: My name is Gift and I’m the baby of the group.
Shae: I’m Shae, I’m the older one. The quiet one, well…sometimes I am…depends on when you catch me. lol
2.How old are you both?
Gift: We’re both 22.
Shae: my birthday very soon and Gift’s birthday is a month after mine.
How long have you been together?
Shae: We’ve known each other for about 11 years; we went to secondary school together. During school we always sang at the school talent shows, performances and recitals, we had spoken about singing together numerous of times but it wasn’t until Gift asked me if I wanted to form a group in 2002. From then was when we began to work towards the project.
4. You are currently unsigned at the moment right? Tell us have you had any interest from record labels and if so what are your hopes for the future? Where do you hope to take your music?
Shae: We have had interest from labels but to be honest, some only go as far as a phone call or email because frankly, it takes more than good will and good intentions to put out a group…It is business! So like any good business person or people, we keep our wits about us. We have to be sure that any offers are carefully looked at and so far we haven’t found the one for us.
We are not exclusive to major labels nor are we exclusive to independent labels; we want a label that is looking to make a success out of themselves and us as an act. We don’t want to be a one hit wonder; we want to make it big. God-willing sell enough to show that we can make it in America, Germany. We want to be successful with longevity.
5. You did very well in the Hugo Urban rules contest, but you didn’t win how did this make you feel?
Gift: We try to perform like its our last time every time we’re on stage. So we can say we gave it our all. I guess it must have came down to technicalities because all the acts chosen in the top three were class acts: Si Phili has some serious hiphop grooves and This Boy That Girl are cool London duet.
It sucked not winning because we put so much work in BUT we were able to gain contacts and exposure from the show which will be aired in January sooooo….i guess it’s alright! Lol.
6. Your Debut single was slow down, have you had good feedback from the song so far?
Gift: Slow Down is at present a promotional track along with Do Your Thing. Both tracks have received positive feedback from a lot of radio djs. Slow Down was one of the Hot Tracks of the week on Pulserated.com and Do Your Thing was given a ‘KillaKut’ gratification by Wayne C McDonald on Galaxy FM. We feel confident, as diverse as the tracks are that they’ll appeal to a vast audience.
7. Who have you worked with so far? And who would you like to work with in terms of production and song writing?
Gift: Well so far we’ve been self supported but was fortunate to work with Silvastone. It would be a dream to work with Will.I.Am. He’s is so talented and eclectic in his music production. He’s definitely is one of our inspirations for our musical style. Hopefully we’ll become fortunate to work with more talented producers and writers.
8. How would you describe your style of music?
Shae: Sophisticated-street music! The ‘street’ reflecting the untenable eclectic sounds of our music and style. The ‘sophistication’ is how Shae and I write and structure each and every song. Three words: Energetic and heart-felt and real.
9. Do you have any musical influences?
Shae: I love music from Vivaldi to Beyonce. But I guess my main influences are the ones I grew up with; Freddie McGregor, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Micheal Jackson, SWV, En Vogue, Janet Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald, to name a few. Gift: Lately, I’m definitely loving Amy Winehouse, Will.I.am, Ciara, Robin Thicke, Usher. Let’s say anything that can get me moving on a Saturday night!
10. Have you been compared to any other duos?
Shae: Not really, truth is, there are not many duets quite like us, all female and can actually dance and sing. Dunno…we’re definitely not Millivanilli.
We tried being a trio a few times but its always ended up coming back to Gift and I. As a duet we are strong together, we know the others strengths and weaknesses. There are any holes to pick between us because what makes our duet work is that we are different. Being different in a trio is always a good thing. Too different and your stealing the limelight, all the same and you’re bland. As a duet we have been able to focus on the group and our presentation has fallen in line.
11. Do you feel that the UK is struggling to keep up with the standards of the US when it comes to music?
Shae: yes and no. Its not that British music is below average, look at Kaiser Cheifs or Amy Winehouse, they’re great quality. The problem is everything else that is tooo Urban. Sad to say, the UK’s music industry has a very old image of what Urban is and sounds like. I don’t know if it’s that they are looking to the US for guidance on what is hot and what is not but they are looking at the 90’s streaming of what the US says is Urban music. Until they catch up, Urban UK groups who are really making something of themselves will be left on the way side until the UK catches up with their market and peers.
12. Do you feel that you can be compared to US acts and still be seen as being on the same level or above them?
Gift: what it will ultimately come down to is the music and the marketing. We are a Pop/R&B act. As writers its important that the producers we work with know that we want a song to be no less than a radio playing standard. For as long as we manage that part of things and the lable, promoter markets us to the appealing audience and push us as well as we need to be pushed then we know that we can be compared to successful US acts. Not for being like them, but for producing quality, ready-to-go music!
13. Do you think that UK artists just do not get enough exposure, when it comes to RnB and Hip Hop??
Gift: The UK doesn’t promote and sustain their Urban acts well. Its like they don’t know what to do with us…the UK just sticks to old tried and tested formulas…indie bands, pop and the acts that the US send over. Worst thing is…the UK music industries can promote unknown US Rnb/HipHop acts but can’t promote their homegrown talent well…sad
14. What are your hopes and dreams for the future? And what is on the agenda for LA INFINITE for the New Year?
Shae: We hope to have something that lasts. We love what we do in this group and we would like to this on a larger scale. La Infinite is a life-long project, whether song-writing or performing, I want to be doing this for the rest of my working life.
Gift: we’re looking forward to doing our first video in the new year so please look out for that and working hard to get our name, La Infinite out there. Nothing worth having come easy!
15. Tell us where we can find out more information about you guys?
Gift: You can check us out on www.myspace.com/OfficialLaInfinite
Look out on their for our new website, soon to be launching & our Youtube channel www.youtube.com/LaInfinite
Photo credits: Bernard Miller and Mac Photography
