Model Spotlight

15 November, 2009 by Jay D

Interview with Nadia Walker - IFE Challenge Winner
Photography by Sara Shamsavari
Location Bar Cubana

Nadia found out about the I Feel Experience from a former challenge winner, and was cast last minute for a video shoot for artist Bundi as "wifey". It was a close call, she was nearly the "loose chick". As we hunt around for lip gloss Nadia tells me she has recently graduated in film. She plans to have a gap year, evolve in her modeling and perhaps do her masters next year.

Before the challenge she had only done one fashion show and since winning has joined an agency started photoshoots to build her portfolio. "I'd Love to do high fashion, but have been told im too short. I'm 5f7 but I'm gonna continue anyway, and see what happens". Earlier, on the make-up hunt we were shocked to see a former IFE winner Rose Concencion, as the face of Sleek make up. "That would be amazing for me!" smiles Nadia "Goes to show you can achieve anything when you set your mind to it".

"I'm not gonna listen to what others say to me. I look up to Eva Pigford from Americas Top Model. She's only 5f7 like me she was kinda average... it just shows you don't have to be stick thin or 10 feet tall to be a model. Also Analeise, from Britain's next top model, particularly because she's a dark skinned black girl. We definitely need more of us out there, there really isn't enough".

I asked her what brought her into modeling."I've wanted to model since I was 16 and was approached by photographer who told me I had an interesting face. Then I tried it out was told I'm not tall enough. I remember Top Shop were looking for models, I went along and they looked at me like 'what are you doing here?'. So after that I thought it wasn't for me. Since then, the 90s to now, you see more ethnicities, it's more diverse".

As far as ambitions go, she would like to do more modelling and eventually direct music videos. She explained she had gained confidence from winning the I Feel Experience challenge and was given good feedback, "Bukola said I'm natural and likes my poses. This is my first professional shoot. You will definitely be seeing this face around" She defiantly had great poses and took direction well on the shoot, a face to look out for without a doubt.

I took the chance to catch up with Bundi during the shoot, he seemed a little pre occupied on first impressions. Currently busy promoting his new single and video 'Girls', he has been working with Bukola from the I Feel Experience to developed the some of the visual elements of the project, casting for the music video and advert to the photoshoot to promote the T Shirt line that's related to the single. He also acknowledges it was great modelling experience for the IFE challenge winners.

So first, I want to know what the track and video is all about, and what was it like to shoot it?

"The video is about different girls I meet. I feel like every girl can fit into these categories, even the same woman at different times you know. The track is more comical than the video, but there is a comedy element to both. It was hard shooting the video because we couldn't get through everything, a lot of girls didn't turn up on the day. Like 18 or something, Bukola had to bring some girls through for me, it really helped".

I had to ask the next obvious question. He clearly didn't want to go into it but he had to fess up. What does Bundi really want in a woman?

"Be by my side that is it. Understanding caring... Supportive, loving, passionate, smart, sexy, can cook like my mum! Sense of humor... like my mum! Not materialistic. That's the main thing, the materialist girls put me off".

With standards set so high in regards to relationships, I ask Bundi if he calls himself a rapper or an emcee, to which he replies neither. Rather he identifies as an artist as this doesn't limit him as 'rapper' might. I want to be versatile. I'm not scared to do nothing you know, as long as it sounds good to me. However, I'm very critical about my music, that's why my projects not out". He says he's a perfectionist and it is clear to see that he is, more passionate about music than anything else. The work speaks for itself.

Bundi is currently working on a project that has taken a while to come to fruition. He shares with me that a virus on his computer erased all of his recordings a few years ago. In University at the time studying Criminology and Psychology, he was so "pissed off" he couldn't face recording for a while. "After a couple of months, my brethren called me said what's going on with Divide and Conquer? So I started writing a 18 track sample, doing open mic's and upping my profile from then".



'Girls' is released November 30th 2009. There is already a buzz about the track. With an advert, video, t-shirts, and stickers all over London. Bundi is taking the music business very seriously, performing as much as possible as he knows more than anyone it's a challenge being recognized as a new artist.