Get Kandi hearted

Your favourite gig
It is actually a more recent one when I played a Sephora party at B-Bar in Delhi. The venue, ambience and vibe were super cool. The event showcased several designers’ creations in live model installation style, so I was able to wear one of the designer dresses as well, along with wings and some fantastic hair and makeup.

It was an incredible experience to not only play music but become a character performing in such an artistic and chic event—it allowed me to really capture the music on a whole other level of expression. The one music festival everyone must absolutely attend is the
Ultra Music Festival in Miami. Having lived there for a time, I’m addicted to the cultural richness, the aesthetics, and the downright sexiness of this city. Add the top DJs and groundbreaking music to that, and it’s an experience above the rest!

A DJ who truly inspires you...
Miss Nine is a female DJ I really find inspiring. Whether it’s starting her own label, her place at number 1 on iTunes for a compilation she’s mixed, or playing on the main stage at Ultra Music Festival, she’s obviously talented. But what I really love is that she uses that talent and influence to give voice to organisations that aid children internationally and aim to break the cycle of poverty.

That combination is the essence of cool.

Five trending tracks that are on your current playlist...
My special mixes and mashups of tracks like Coming Home, Antidote, Pursuit of Happiness, Leave the Atom, and Ladi Dadi.

Fashion to you is...
Communication. It tells the world where you’re from, your passions, who you are,  and (a lot of times) who you want to be. Fashion combines layers of culture and history with the hopes for what the future will hold. I love the fluidity between those two places that fashion allows us. When I was in my high school years, I used to stitch together my own wardrobe or put together crazy pieces because I wanted to be unique. As the years went on, I fell in love with dark and subtle colors and styles, wanting to be seen for what I was doing with my life as opposed to only my outer appearance. In that way, fashion is also about growth. Now, I allow myself to mix all of that, akin to having a rotating playlist of styles.

Your favourite food...
Being a born and bred Texas girl, I have to admit that it’s sizzling fajitas off my dad’s grill. I used to go with him to the carniceria—Mexican food shop—in Dallas where he’d get the most deliciously seasoned fajitas. I’d heat up tortillas while my mom finished the homemade salsa. Best meal ever!

To you, family is...
Unconditional partnership. Coming from a family of six, with all of us in different parts of the country or world now, we’ve realised that the little fights or differences don’t matter in the greater light of the amazing memories we have and the way we continue to love and support each other.

Family is sharing life with people who love you at your worst and bring out your best.

Does love make your world go round...
Definitely. I’m an independent woman, but I’m also a hopeless romantic. Whether it’s being in love with a man, friendships, or family, love is the best teacher. I’m not sure I believe that there’s that one and only person out there for each of us, but I do believe in being open to loving the people that life brings us together with. Surrendering to the vulnerabilities of love makes us better versions of ourselves, not only for the benefit of our own lives but to be better for the world around us as well.

The world could do less with...
Labelling. Whether it’s superficial labelling like brand names alone giving a person status, even more dangerous classification in regards to ethnicity and skin color, or socio-economic characterisations, I think humanity would do well to evolve beyond the damaging effects of labelling.

What would you never change about yourself...
I wouldn’t ever want to change my thirst for adventure and my desire to somehow change the world. It doesn’t mean I don’t have fears or insecurities, but pushing past those has led to some of the greatest rides of my life — one of which I’m on right now! I want to live a different version of the “American dream,” and hopefully I can influence the world for the better as I do so. Music is a medium I love using to impact positive change.