At the time of publication, the Belfast electro-pop singer/songwriter NADIA has over 10,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and over 13,000 followers on TikTok. At the beginning of February, NADIA released her first track of the year, “Buzz,” while maintaining her familiar up-tempo dance beats. It also featured a more foreboding vibe than her previous releases. NADIA answered questions about the song, her career, her lyrics, and much more, and here’s what she said.
Hi NADIA! I hope you’re doing well! Could you give our readers a sense of your background? What kickstarted your interest in music? When did you first start writing and performing? How did this eventuate into the NADIA project as it exists today?
I’ve been singing and writing songs since I was as young as I can remember. My mum was a singer, and my dad was a singer, musician, and now music producer. They always encouraged me to sing and perform. My dad and I work together most days in the studio. I feel very grateful to have come from a musical family who have always supported my dreams.
Why did you choose a mononymic artist name? Is it difficult to promote it when telling people, “Yeah, just look up ‘NADIA!'”?
I’ve always loved my name, NADIA. However, my surname is usually a bit awkward for people to spell, so I thought it was best to stick to something easier! I made it all capital letters, so it usually comes up first in searches, or “NADIA Official Music” works, too.
I think that it’s cool that you work with your dad on music. I wondered how that dynamic works as a collaboration and how it affects your lyrics (if at all). Do you ever feel that in your lyrics, there may be stuff you don’t feel comfortable sharing with a parent, or is the attitude more like, “Well, if I can’t show my dad, I can’t show the world”?
When I started making music with my dad, it definitely came up. Talking openly about love, relationships, etc., is very vulnerable and scary at first. But it’s just something I had to overcome, and I have no embarrassment or hesitation anymore about the lyrics I’ve written. We’re such a great team and work very professionally together.
Your latest track is “Buzz,” which is also your first release for 2024. I feel that this track masterfully interplays the upbeat air of “Push the Button” or “Every Step” with the sad vocal performances of “Cry to Me” or “Remedy” to create a pretty haunting but ultimately optimistic track. I think it’s your most experimental and atmospheric song thus far. In your opinion, how do you feel that this track differs from your past releases?
Thank you! As the song is supposedly set in a city at night, the track needed to be darker and dreamlike to evoke that atmosphere, as if it was harking back to a memory. I’m sure many of us have experienced it.
When it came to the lyrics of “Buzz,” I felt that it explored the isolation people can feel despite being part of a densely populated city and how the fast-paced nature of city living prevents them from ruminating or even realising their loneliness. Could you expand on the song’s lyrics and themes and tell me how far off-base I was?
You’ve definitely captured the essence of the song! I think it’s something I’ve always felt in big cities: You can either feel so disconnected from everyone or lean into the fact that you’re all one. Being in the ‘buzz’ and noise of the crowds can feel comforting and help you feel less alone.
What are you most proud of in your career thus far?
Signing with my record label, Sound Ballistics, in 2022 was a pivotal moment for me, and it has progressed my music career. Ben and my team have helped me grow an audience, and I’m very grateful for all their work and support.
Now that your first single of the year is out, what are your plans for the rest of 2024?
I’m working on several tracks, so I’ll finish them soon, which is exciting. My music video for “Push the Button” will be out very soon, and I’m also preparing for my first gig in London as support for the brilliant artist D3lta.
Is there anything else that you would like to say to our readers?
I’m very grateful for all the support! You can listen to my latest single, “Buzz,” now on Spotify, and look out for my new music video for “Push the Button,” coming soon!
Listen to “Buzz” – BELOW:
NADIA’s latest single, “Buzz,” is now on all streaming platforms. You can keep up to date with NADIA here.
Be the first to comment