Rotting Television

Get to know me | Nola Darling x Madme: The Interview

Posted byM A N N Y T O R O On February - 5 - 2010

In Spike Lee’s, She’s Gotta Have It, Nola Darling is a young, attractive, sexually-independent Brooklynite who juggles three suitors. Nola is attracted to the best in each of them, but refuses to commit to any of them, cherishing her personal freedom instead, even though each man wants her for himself. Jaquita Ta’le and Alex Lavelanet embody this.

NOLA DARLING’s distinct look and sound is new school, yet reminiscent of the past; Their tongue in cheek sensibility and innovative sound combined with a unique image make Nola Darling incomparable.

We recently had a chance to g-chat with these cuties. CH-CH-CHECK IT OUT!

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photo credit: Angelo Baque

MM: Who are Nola D’s inspirations?

ND: Just to name a few (in no particular order…besides stream of conciousness) Nina Simone , Fela Kuti, Lauryn Hill, Tanya Stephens, Martha Jean-Claude, Grace Jones, Gil Scott Heron, Zap Mama, and Queen Latifah. On the film side, we love the magical realism of some French New Wve.

MM: How did you two come together as NOLA D?

ND: We were both accepted into a summer arts program at NYU when we were 16. Unbeknownst to us, we were laying down the foundation….but Nola Darling was born while we were editing our first documentary, “Word.” We were/are truly inspired by the hundreds of artists we interviewed across South Africa, Western Europe and the States.

MM: Are you guys anything like the character “Nola Darling” in She’s Gotta Have It? If so, in what ways?

ND: We’re pretty headstrong, determined, and fearless like the o.g. Nola. But this time the narrative of ND is being told in the first person, from her point of view, not through the eyes of a dude. And if you’re asking us if we’re “freaks,”….. well, that’s subjective.

MM: You guys looked great in MadeMe for your New EP promo shots! How would you describe your style?

ND: Thank you! Shout out to Erin for the fly pieces! Two words: Rude Gal. A Rude Gal will mix high end and low end, streetwear, thrifted and designer. She isn’t afraid to push the envelope.

MM: Pumps or dunks?

ND: Love dunks, but we gotta go with pumps! But if we’ve got a pair of pumps on our feet, we probably have a pair of kicks in our bag, just in case.

photo credit: Angelo Baque

MM: Fave Madonna song?

ND: We Love Into The Groove….but our favorite album is Bedtime Stories.

MM: I LOVE IT! No one likes Bedtime Stories except me!! Anyhooo, if you could open up on tour for anyone in the business right now, who would it be and why?

ND: N.E.R.D. and Kanye. Maybe do a Glow In The Dark pt. 2.