Music producer Naughty Boy invites us into his kitchen and chats making music with Beyoncé and famous fall-out with Zayn Malik
The west London boy helped fellow classmates Rak-Su in their X Factor winning single
MUSIC producer Naughty Boy, 32, invites us into his kitchen and talks making music with Beyoncé and that falling-out with Zayn Malik.
Where: Naughty Boy’s kitchen, west London
Happy Christmas, Naughty Boy! Have you always been a keen cook?
Not always. I grew up on a council estate in Watford, and my mum made us a cooked meal every day.
When my career took off and I moved out, she’d send me lunch and dinner in an Addison Lee.
But my bill was £4,000 one month – I learned to cook and never looked back!
Have you ever had a disaster in the kitchen?
I once cooked a shepherd’s pie for Simon Cowell and took it to his house in west London. But he only eats beef and it’s made with lamb, so his chef ate it and he ordered a curry instead.
What is your guilty food pleasure?
I love the crinkly chips from Shake Shack. I’m launching my own Naughty Burger in their London restaurants next year. It’s a chicken fillet burger with a sauce my mum made when I was a kid.
Who would your dream dinner date be?
Nigella Lawson. She makes cooking sexy! I’ve met her before, when I was with Jemima Goldsmith and we went to Chiltern Firehouse for dinner. She is mentally and visually stimulating and I was captivated by her. I’d be very nervous having a formal dinner date, but I am sure we’d have lots to talk about.
What are your plans for Christmas?
My mum had a stroke on Christmas Day last year, so we spent it in hospital. She was in a coma for three months. This year has been about her rehabilitation, so I can’t wait to have a day with her at home.
You’ve worked with some great artists, but you’re most well-known for your spat with One Direction, when you were blamed for Zayn’s decision to leave the band…
Sometimes you need someone to blame, and I was in the right place at the wrong time. I’m a producer and I saw Zayn, who is a talented guy, and felt like he was lost. But I expected him to do really well with or without me. We are not in touch, but to see him flourish has been lovely to watch.
BTW
Naughty Boy won £40,000 on Deal or No Deal in 2005 before he was famous.
He has two Persian cats, Barry and Zion, and will be dressing them up in Santa hats this Christmas.
His celeb crush is Dawn French.
You performed with Rak-Su on The X Factor final…
Working with them was great – they are original. They are four genuine guys who went to the same school as me. I think the boys have a bright future ahead of them.
Who’s the best person you’ve collaborated with?
Beyoncé. She has a great work ethic. We’re still in touch, but she has new twins and I’m not going to bombard her.
Your real name is Shahid Khan. What do people usually call you?
Friends call me Shah and fans call me Naughty. At school I had this idea of a superhero called Naughty Boy, and the name stuck.
Are you in a relationship?
I don’t have a girlfriend right now. I had a serious relationship years ago, but when you become successful, you can’t expect someone to change with you. My mum wants me to marry someone traditional, but it has to be the right fit. So in 2018 Naughty Boy needs to find a naughty girl!
- Naughty Boy’s single One Chance To Dance ft. Joe Jonas is out now.