“Five Minutes With” local musician Hanifa & Juliet of NAJUAH

Our journey to where we are now has been built on the power of dreams and pure faith. We grew up in a small town, London Ontario – Canada. It’s here where we began our sweet love affair with music. There isn’t much to do in London other than explore the depths of your imagination and tune into the radio. Music became life, a second skin, a soundtrack that would forever shape our lives. As children we grew up listening to songs of the motherland, Uganda Africa. You could also often hear Rock & Roll and R&B classics blaring from our balcony on warm summer nights. Many friendships were made, the music brought us together. Sometimes hearts were broken and it’s that song that seemed to mend them. As children we were fortunate enough partake in all forms of art, whether it be dance, music lessons or visual expression. One could say, all though we didn’t know back then, these experiences were an open doorway that would lead us to a life expressed through art.

NAJUAH by Jen Squires
NAJUAH by Jen Squires

The songs that live within us are the melodies we share with our ancestors. We are the essence of where our parents have been and those stories echo in our hearts. When you think of life and see where you are now…what a journey. Jules born in Kenya and me (Hanifa), I was born in Zimbabwe. How far we wandered to find the right beat and the rhythm that would carry our dreams and the belief that anything truly is possible. We hope together with you, we can push the limits and live the many possibilities that this life can gift you with. We will wander until we get there. We will wander with you, until you feel the magic that this life has to offer.
Sit with us and enjoy some African Tea.

Name: Hanifa & Juliet AKA – NAJUAH

Genre: Pop/R&B

Founded: 2010

# of Albums: 1 – Currently working on our second album, we are so excited!

Latest Release: RUNNING

Latest Single: RUNNING

Latest Video: RUNNING

Favourite Restaurant:

La Palma

Favourite band as a teenager:

Poison and G N R

Favourite band now:

Alabama Shakes & H.E.R

Guilty Pleasure Song:

What A Feeling by Irene Cara

Live Show Ritual:

Herbal tea and mediation

Favourite local artist:

Drake, Tory Lanez, The Weekend & Daniel Caesar …So many to be honest!!

Sneaky Dees nachos, pasta from Terroni or a superfood salad from Fresh?

Sneaky Dees nachos are always a post show win!

Queen or College St?

Queen Street

Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark, Riverdale or Kew Gardens?

Highpark is our favourite Sunday spot. We also love a good chill at Trinity Bellwoods in the summer.

EP or LP?

EP

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl, all the magic happens when the moon is out!

Road or studio?

Studio, making new music, the whole process is an amazing experience. We are fortunate to work with so many talented musicians.

Swiss Chalet or Roti?

Hello, Roti from Island Foods!

Where can we follow you?

Facebook | Spotify

VEVO/Deezer/Soundcloud/Apple Music/Tidal/ YouTube/Amazon Music: NAJUAH

Any shows or albums coming up?

TBA

 

 

About Joel Levy 2634 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography