Anjana Vasan and Sarah Kameela Impey Talk ‘We Are Lady Parts’ Season 2 [Interview]

The much-anticipated return of We Are Lady Parts is set to release on Peacock by the end of the month. 

Picking up where Season 1 left off, We Are Lady Parts Season 2 follows the band in their “villain era” as they set out to record a new album and embark on a tour, only to be met with various challenges, such as a rival band that threatens to steal their thunder. 

I recently spoke with Anjana Vasan and Sarah Kameela Impey, who play Amina and Saira in the show, respectively, about their characters’ stories in Season 2. 

On Saira and Amina’s Character Arcs: 

In Season 1, Amina and Saira really grow as characters. Vasan and Impey shared a little more about their individual journeys throughout Season 2. 

With Amina, I think Season 1 was so much about her coming out of her shell, and in season 2, in her own words, she describes it as her villain era,” Vasan explained.

“She’s trying on this newfound confidence out for size, and it’s not quite comfortable yet. She’s still trying to navigate what it means to be this new sort of outspoken, confident person,” she said.

Impey added, “For Saira, she’s coming from this place where they’re starting to find their fans, the true people to play with. The band has come together, and now it’s just a question of how does their music reach more people?”

On Saira and Amina’s Friendship

Amina and Saira’s friendship is a highlight of the show. According to Impey and Vasan, their dynamic in Season 2 continues to develop with the band’s new “villain era.”

“Sara has been so influenced by Amina, and I feel vice versa,” Impey said. “[Saira] is proud of Amina through what she’s done. She doesn’t necessarily show it so much in the first series, but, you know, it’s kind of underlying there.”

Vasan agreed, stating, “Amina would never speak her mind, and she’d sort of be constantly apologizing in Season 1, and in Season 2, she’s a little bit more badass, the way that Saira is.” 

“I think what’s lovely is that you see Saira in a little bit more sort of vulnerable and comic moments. For example, when she’s meeting her hero, Sister Squire, it feels very Amina-esque in some ways,” Vasan added.

Vasan on Being in a Band

Vasan herself was part of a band for six years prior to joining the show, and she expressed that she could relate some of her previous musical experience to being in a band on We Are Lady Parts. 

“What was so lovely was the feeling of playing together and being rhythmically in tune came flooding back. I mean, acting together is one thing, but playing as a band, there’s just no better feeling because you just get lost in this moment,” Vasan said.

“Because we practiced so much as a band before, you get all the joy of mistakes, of learning, of growth. Then when we’re filming those scenes, it’s definitely some of my favorite scenes to film because everyone is in their element,” she stated. 

 On Learning Songs for the Show

What’s so impressive is that the actresses have to learn how to play and perform all the original songs and covers that their characters sing on the show.

Vasan and Impey share what has been the most rewarding part of brushing up on their musical skills and what has been the most challenging part of learning all these songs.

“I would say season 2 as a whole, the songs were a lot more challenging, just technically,” Impey said.

“On a technical level and on a speed level also, we had less time to learn the songs than we did in season 1, so there was an urgency to having to perfect them in time for the days that we were recording the songs,” she elaborated. 

Vasan explained, “I would say the most rewarding part was watching everyone figure out their style of learning. Many of the actors, like Juliet, had never played the drums.” 

“Faith had never picked up a bass. Anj played acoustic guitar but never electric. It was just amazing. Faith, in particular, is great because she learns in numbers, so it’s great to hear Faith’s brain ticking over with like, five, five, seven, seven, five, five, and to no one else, does that make any sense,” she stated. 

New Songs and Cover to Anticipate

We Are Lady Parts is known for featuring incredible covers and original songs. 

Impey and Vasan expressed their excitement for fans to hear the songs the band plays in season 2. 

Impey said, “Bismarck’s character sings, which is a Nina Simone cover, which I just think — it’s a beautiful highlight moment in season 2. That’s definitely one of my favorite covers in the show.”

“I get to do ‘More than Words’ at the beginning for episode one. That was really fun to do,” she added. 

“I love ‘Britney’ because when we get to do these covers in a punk way, it becomes a whole new song, and people can appreciate it in such a different manner,” Vasan shared. 

The Show’s Impact 

We Are Lady Parts is praised for how it portrays women of color, especially considering that these stories are still often missing from television shows. 

Vasan and Impey both recognize the impact that season 1 had on fans who watched the show. 

“You really can’t underestimate how much art can speak to people, particularly when it’s a show like this where it’s led by five black and brown women. There’s not a lot of shows like that around,” Impey said. 

“I definitely feel as if this had happened when we were younger, it would have had such an effect on me,” Vasan agreed. “All the characters are so complex that we can see ourselves in all of them. You know, they’re so human. I think that’s why it touches generationally so many people.”

 

We Are Lady Parts Season 2 premieres on May 30th on Peacock.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!