Young DJ, music producer and singer Bklava is a genre-defying artist who can often be found DJing and singing at the same time during her sets.

Her love of dance music stemmed from her father, an Irish folk singer and songwriter whilst her mother’s Lebanese roots immersed Bklava in a music culture steeped with deep history and diversity from a young age.

See our exclusive interview with Bklava below:

Tell us about your earliest musical memory?

When I was little, my mum and my Teta used to play Lebanese music all the time, at family parties and Sunday dinner.  Obviously I would always try to dance along –  belly dancing! I also remember putting on a show for my family using a toy whistle as a mic and singing to Barbie Girl!

At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”

When I was 16 I got into house music and dubstep, obviously I was too young for clubs but I went to house parties. The first club I went to was the Ministry of Sound.  I always thought the DJ’s were really cool! Honestly, I just love the music but didn’t really ever have a defining moment.  Singing was always the thing for me.

Please list some of the most influential albums on your creative outlook and output:

Aretha Franklin ‘Young Gifted and Black’, Amy Winehouse ‘Frank’, Kate Bush ‘Hounds of Love’ and Imogen Heap ‘Speak For Yourself’, Erykah Badu “Baduism”

What key pieces of gear/software are you using to define your sound?

My voice!

What inspires you outside of music? What do you turn to when the creative well runs a little low?

I love dancing, gym, pole dancing and theatre singing. I live in Brighton and when it’s sunny I love to walk along the beach with my writing book and just jot down ideas when I feel inspired, it calms my mind.

What is your opinion on the ever-spreading sub-genre vine? Are there too many? Do you think there’s perhaps a sub-genre that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

I just love all music – it shouldn’t be boxed or confined.  The latest track I’ve been working on combines about 5 genres into 1!

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?

I am not sure about this one, I think performing slightly out-weights studio as I’m a performer at heart!  I have been dancing, acting and singing for as long as I can remember. However I love how therapeutic being in the studio can be, it’s such a great release and can really clear my head.
As a music artist, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business.

Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?

Not right now.

Any new or upcoming artists on your radar? Who shouldn’t the world sleep on?

Yes, there is a singer called Summer Banton who I’ve been listening too.  She’s got this garage track called ‘Wake You Up’ which I’ve been listening to on repeat. Also Gia Ford’s new EP “Poster Boy” – Moody pop vibes!

What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?

At the end of the month I’m at DB events in Loughborough, just did a show for Rinse FM and Boomtown on NYE. Also, I’ve got a load of releases this year so watch this space!

Famous last words?

I thought about this too much!