Meet The Real Heat, three sisters from London, created when Mutya’s DNA was spliced with that of The Powerpuff Girls. They mix R&B, grime, old rave and electro with the most important ingredient of all - bright neon tights - to create a sensory assault so head-spinning it sounds like being tarred and glittered by a mob of fluoro kids all set on taking you to the clubnight of your dreams. Which is kind of what it is.
Whereas most girl groups have tracks handed to them by middle-aged men who might have been out a few times in the mid-eighties, The Real Heat write and produce all of their own material, and sound like clubland personified. “Most people get really excited and think it’s great that my sisters produce our music”, says Shaki. “Although some people say it’s amazing, then ask how we did it”, adds Zaza, hinting at a disbelieving industry rife with didn‘t-they-do-well condescension.
Being patronised by middle-aged men who make pop music isn’t something that bothers The Real Heat, though. Having previously stated that they don’t care if people think they’re manufactured, the band remain buoyant: “Zaza and Suki have been getting loads of remix and production work recently so you'll be hearing The Real Heat sound everywhere!”
Taking past mirrorball experiences and fusing them with their own twisted vision of how pop should look and sound, The Real Heat’s live shows promise to be a spectacle. “No two shows are ever the same, but they all feature glamour, glitter, fashion and fun”, says Zaza, basically describing what sounds like the Best Gig Of All Time. “You always know the best club night in the world,” boasts an equally-assured Suki, “Is any that we’re playing at!”
Clearly, confidence is not a problem for these girls. When asked to name three things The Real Heat is hotter than, they reply “The core of the Earth”, “A really hot chilli” and “July” respectively. So, given that they’ve got more conviction and cojones than a million lesser bands put together, are The Real Heat willing to accept claims that they are, y’know, a bit scary? “I dunno where you got that from”, says a dismissive Shaki. “We’re not scary at all”, adds Zaza, “we’re FIERCE!”. “Although it depends which one of us is on our period at the time”, laughs Suki.
Having set the countdown on their glittergrime timebomb The Real Heat look set to make a flying start to 2008, but don’t expect Borrell-esque careerism from them. “Every time I wake up before 11, I think ‘My heart’s not in this’” says Shaki, referencing the title of the band’s blush-inducing paean to the pleasures of casual shagging. “I’m always relaxing”, adds Zaza “Relax is my middle name!” And with dazzling, soon-to-be-club-classics like ‘U Know’ and ‘Stand And Deliver’ under the band’s belt, who can blame her?
Daniel Nolan