Womad Q&A: Arrested Development

A few quick questions with vocalist Tasha, dancer Fareeda, and rapper 1 Love from conscious American hip hop outfit Arrested Development.

What are you reading at the moment, and what's currently playing on your iPod/record player?

Tasha: I am currently reading 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey, and in my record player is Billie Holiday's Lady In Satin.

Fareeda: The last books I read were The Hunger Games Trilogy. I listen to Pandora mostly and I have a Janelle Monet station - I love her style and sound.

What was the first piece of music which really affected you?

1 Love: Country music.

Fareeda: I was exposed to a lot music through my parents and extended family, everything from jazz and Motown classics, to pop and early hip hop, but I was, like many others, in love with Michael Jackson! Thriller (both the song and video) had a very memorable and lasting impression on me. I loved everything about it, the music, the dancing, the theatrics, everything. I had both versions of the Thriller jacket growing up too. I also loved Prince in Purple Rain. Looking back, I was clearly too young, but I would literally perform songs from that album around the house.

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

1 Love: I have a one-of-a-kind Bob Marley freedom flag - a fan threw it on stage on tour in South Africa.

Fareeda: I still have the first piece of music I bought myself, the Michael Jackson Bad album on vinyl, bought from Turtles record store in Atlanta.

Arrested Development are currently working on their next album Splash, due out this year.