King Magazine Interview

Gloria: The last time I actually saw you was in Amsterdam but the last time I saw you record was at the Top of the Pops show. I've just seen you on stage now, and you seemed a lot happier here. Is this because you are used to performing on stage now, or is it because you feel happier in this environment?
Taj: I think it is a lot of things that are different for us. We are certainly a lot more confident, I think. We have been performing a lot now. Plus, it is a great day, you know. MJ Day. It's great cause there's a lot of love in the room. And we are big fans of our uncle's as well as everybody else.

Gloria:This is quite a unique situation, and I don't know if you're aware of it: there's Sony Music, and you are signed to MJJ Records. So Sony has got two artists - two major artists - both in the charts at the same time, who are from the same family. This has never happened before. There's Michael, and you, and the question of how to do you both justice in terms of promotion; and whether there's a crossover. And, you are actually performing to fans, who are Michael fans, 3T fans - some are 3T and Michael fans. Is this strange for you? Does this feel different to you in any way?
Taj: I don't know. We just like performing. But we're grateful, you know, that our uncle has opened up a lot of doors for us in introducing us to the public. So, we're very grateful to his fans because they have supported him and made him who he is, and he is very grateful. And what has made us want to do music is just realizing the loyalty of his fans. So, without his fans, there would be no us.

Gloria: And you are aware of that?
Taj: That's one of the reasons why we came here, because...I am sick right now and, you know, we had an early morning this morning. But this is a very important day for us - as it is for you guys. Celebrating our uncle. I mean it's very important, so we had to be here.

Gloria: Have you ever written a song with Michael?
Taj: Yes, we've written a couple of songs. We always write with him. We have written songs in Japan, and a couple at home.

Gloria: One of my American reporters - and she's not a teenager said to ask: "Do they know how gorgeous they are?" we have already seen the adoration here today with girls being pulled out of the crowd. This is a fun question, but do you have an answer?
Taj: That's a great compliment. I really try to look the best I can. But we have our off days, you know. Some of us have more than others!

Gloria: You didn't see E'Cananova's performance at the beginning of the show, but he was quite phenomenal. he's an American and I don't know if you're aware of him but h was actually doubled for your uncle in a couple of videos. And, believe me, if you can't see Michael Jackson, you should go and see this guy..But, what is it like for you to go out and see Michael Jackson look-alikes? After all, this is your uncle. Does this seem really weird to you? Do you think its strange? I know it's a form of adulation but what do you think when you go out there and see logs of 'Michael's?
Taj: It's good to know that someone likes our uncle so much that they would copy him and learn his moves and everything like that. I don't know if there will ever be impersonators of us but...There is actually an impersonator of Taryll...But, she's at the San Diego zoo! You can get some pictures on that if you just do your research!

Gloria: We've seen you perform here to this audience and I know you haven't had that much experience performing, but Michael has said, or at least I think he has said, that he would like to perform a smaller audience because of the intimacy. Of course, it's difficult for him because, for example, if he was to do Wembley Arena, he would have to do about thirty or forty shows to satisfy his audience and people would be killing each other for the tickets! So, which do you prefer, have you had enough experience to know whether you prefer the intimacy of a small audience?
Taj: Well, that's coming from somebody who had done it all, you know, small crowds all the way up to the big crowds. Our goal right now, I think , is to do the biggest crowd we can; possibly the type of crowds our uncle performs for. And by then maybe we would like to try something different, and you know go back to smaller level. But, right now the crowds we are playing for are not small-small, but we can expand. We have room to grow..