Mas bands are known for their extravagant outfits but beyond that – there’s so much effort that goes in, all year round. The Mirror spoke to key figures at the long standing Hot Wax Mas Band.
Notting Hill Carnival needs no introduction. It’s the highlight of London’s cultural calendar, and a time for reflection and celebration. I headed to The Tabernacle to meet with the people behind one of the biggest parties in the UK and quickly felt the vibrant atmosphere, the joy between the very people who help Carnival come to life.
It was clear they all felt at home, showcasing their beautifully curated costumes – which is the visual reflection of how free and vibrant the big weekend truly is. I knew I had to speak to Nadine and Kaia, a mother-daughter duo who have been connected to Carnival for generations, to truly understand just how much work it takes around the clock for this Caribbean-centred bank holiday weekend.
“Carnival is in my blood, I was on the road before I could even walk,” Kaia told The Mirror. She’s not exaggerating, her mum, Nadine, has been part of Notting Hill Carnival for more than 30 years, partying on the streets of West London when Kaia was still in her womb.
“I’ve been doing it since I was in [my mum’s] belly,” Kaia says and it was similar for her mother, for Nadine, Carnival started as a family tradition.
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“When I was younger, I’d go with my mum, and on Monday I’d have to stay in Grenada Corner with my nan while she went off and played mas,” Nadine said. “As soon as I was old enough to go on my own, I was always with Hot Wax on Sunday, then ventured out on the Monday”.
Kaia and Nadine play key roles for Hot Wax, the mas band was founded in 1979 by Denis George. Kaia is the lead costume designer, sewing feathers onto wings and gluing gems and rhinestones onto costumes each year for the event which is deemed one of London’s most iconic.
Hot Wax started out by offering DJ services to other mas bands, but in 1993, they decided to transition into a mas bad and since then they’ve been committed to encouraging people to participate in the masquerades – and their awards reflect just that, as they’ve scooped up best Mas Band award at various Carnivals.
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About four years ago, things changed as Nadine and Kaia were brought to the forefront of the band. The Hot Wax bandleader, a relative of Nadine and Kaia’s, needed help and promoted the pair from masqueraders to organisers. “To be fair, I wouldn’t go back – well, maybe for less headache,” she laughs. “But I love seeing this side of things.”
While the costumes are vibrant and glamourous, the day-to-day is anything but. Nadine handles emails, sources materials, sews costumes; a skill she picked up this year and makes sure everything’s ready for Mas Camp, their creative hub. “Mas Camp is where we store and work on costumes – putting feathers on wings, gemming, sewing,” says Kaia. “Sometimes we’re there just chilling, sometimes it’s non-stop work. But it’s always a vibe.”
Hot Wax is all about connection and family, and it’s their intimate set up that sets them apart. “We’re a small band, and I think small bands have more vibes,” Nadine told us. “You know everyone. I’ve been in big bands where the speaker’s by the bar, you’re by the gate, and you can’t hear anything. Here, it’s different here; it’s vibrant, it’s family.”
Kaia even dances along with friends she’s known for life through Carnival: “My best friends are from Hot Wax. We’ve grown up together – now we’re the designers; we’re family,” she said.
For Nadine and Kaia, history is at the heart of their Carnival experience, whether they’re participating in the Hot Wax band or creating costumes for the Mas Camp hub. Compared to Carnival in other countries, Nadine says Notting Hill Carnival takes the top spot. “Miami [Carnival] is in a park – you only see masqueraders, not the general public. It’s fun, but it’s not the same. It takes away the history.”
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