Crumb are delighted to be now repping the very wonderful REETA LOI!
REETA LOI (She/They) is a writer, musician and activist for gender, race and LGBT+ equality. A powerful speaker and community builder, and someone we very much enjoyed catching up with recently to find out about more:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what motivates you most?
I'm an Indian writer and musician from London. I'm motivated by the fact that the very things I'm marginalised for are indeed my power. Personal and collective healing and growth motivate me and the fact that we can create radical and positive change in the world. We have a lot more power than I think we realise.
I'm Contributing Editor at Gay Times and focus on inspiring unity and spotlighting incredible PoC talent from around the world.
I'm CEO and Founder of Gaysians which supports LGBTQ+ South Asians and promotes a network of 24 organisations that span different faiths, castes, gender identities and sexualities.
What has been your proudest moment so far in your career?
Being published in a children's book called 'Stories for South Asian Supergirls' as the only out lesbian of 50 South Asian women profiled throughout history. It's crucial that young brown queer kids see positive examples of themselves in the world and although I wouldn't call myself a role model necessarily, it's an honour to have been published in the book.
Being Forbes100 listed and being one of Beyonce's brown children is also something I'm proud of.
DJing at Mumbai Pride a couple of years ago was also a beautiful moment for me as well as lobbying for legislation change and then throwing the UK celebration for it in 2018.
We loved watching your piece for VICE uncovering the gay marriage scam in India. What did it mean to you to get this story out there?
Yeah that was a ride! I was hoping to find a wifey but the search continues.
We had no idea it was a scam when we started filming and I was shocked and heartbroken for my community and the people that have been taken advantage of. The confrontation with the owner of the business took months to get on camera. I actually flew back to London from North America to film it in the end after she dodged us four different times! It was pretty heated and lasted over an hour but I'm really glad I got to confront her.
What has managed to keep you inspired throughout the lockdowns?
MUSIC! Listening to it, dancing to it and making it. I've been working on a new body of music.
I also meditate everyday and am very grateful to have a number of practices that help keep me grounded. I'm a Gemini so can be flighty otherwise!
I love to cook and it's another way I stay rooted to a sense of home and culture.
Any plans for 2021?
My new track REMEDY is out this Spring and I'm super excited about that and the album I'm working on. I wrote Remedy the night before the first lockdown in LA almost a year ago and so much has changed in the world since then. It felt so radical when I wrote it but now it feels perfectly right for this time we're in. I'm excited to share it with the world! And of course looking forward to getting back out into the live scene and putting on events, performing and DJing.
REETA LOI is available for public speaking events, consultancy, brand partnerships and social activities.
Reeta's Spotify playlist for Crumb is available on the link below!
Reeta's new track REMEDY will be available to download in Spring. We'll be updating this page after the release date with further info.
