International singer-songwriter Nya recently unveiled her single/music video, “I’ll Be Ok,” a track from her upcoming EP, Side Effects.
Talking about Side Effects, Nya shares, “All the songs talk about feelings we, as a society, are often taught to repress and hide. And in that repression, there is so much pain and loneliness. I had one main goal when I began to shape this body of work: catharsis—first, for me in the writing process and then, hopefully for the listener.”
Distinguished by her deliciously nuanced and honeyed vocals, Nya’s sound blends elements of jazz, pop, alternative, R&B, and soul into alluringly evocative musical concoctions. What sets Nya apart as a person is her authenticity and genuine compassion.
Nya’s music habitually tops the charts of both Mediabase and Billboard. In 2021, her single, “HIGH,” reached #21 on the Mediabase national adult contemporary chart and number 26 on the Billboard AC chart. Shortly after, Nya released another single, “Won’t Pick Up The Phone,” which collected more than 2.6M views on YouTube and placement on MTV.
In 2022, she dropped “Mother’s Daughter,” which hit #22 on Billboard’s AC chart, as well as “Closer Than Close” and “The Real You,” with both songs gracing the Adult Top 40 and Hot AC charts.
CelebMix spoke with Nya to find out how she got started in music, the inspiration for “I’ll Be Ok,” and how she maintains her plush vocals.
What three things can’t you live without?
My family, my dogs, and music.
What inspired your new single/music video, “I’ll Be Ok?”
‘I’ll Be Ok” is a song about being in the process of healing and holding on to the knowledge that, eventually, it won’t feel like you’re drowning. It’s also about knowing nothing is wrong with not feeling “ok” in the present moment. It’s when we feel at our worst that we need to try to be the kindest to ourselves. This song is a reminder for me of that and hopefully can also be a lifeline for anyone who is also struggling. Sometimes it helps just to know I’m not alone in stumbling through this often-chaotic human experience. For the video, I wanted to share pieces of my life in Uruguay with my listeners, so most of the footage was shot near my home and incorporated everyday activities of mine like walking my dogs, hanging out at the beach, going to the bookstore, etc.
Who directed the video, and where was it shot?
José Ignacio is home and a place where I did a lot of healing, so it just felt like the right place to film. My friend and collaborator, Andrea Martin, flew to Uruguay from LA to direct and capture all the footage you see in the video. She also did hair and makeup (a real triple threat) while I oversaw wardrobe and creative direction, as I tend to do. My wonderful editor Abner then helped bring the whole vision together. Creating visuals for the music, second to the actual songwriting, is my favorite part of the process.
What do you want viewers to take away from the video?
I wanted to give my listeners a more intimate look at my private life and share a critical piece of my own healing journey.
How did you get started in music? What’s the backstory there?
I have loved singing and writing in one form or another since I was a young kid. But when I was 16, after a year straight of intense vocal lessons in an attempt to land a lead role in the school musical (long story short, I didn’t make the play, ha-ha, but I did fall in love with singing), I auditioned and got accepted into a program for young artists and songwriters spearheaded by the Grammy organization. Its goal was to bring the elite of the music industry to train young creators that live in places outside of prominent cities like NY or LA, and it was extremely collaboration-based with students being assigned to new teams to participate in a different songwriting/performance challenge each of the 5 weeks. I was 16, and it was my first real experience with the community music can provide and the true gift that collaboration could be. That summer helped me realize my deep love for songwriting and that I could find the peace and confidence in music that I had desperately been seeking. I never really fit in at school, and I struggled with factors outside my control where my family life was concerned, mainly my mom’s severe mental health challenges. Unfortunately, it got so bad that she attempted suicide when I was 18. So music gave me a real safe space and a positive coping mechanism to deal with my own depression and anxiety. I really started considering music as a possible career path from that summer on.
Where are you from?
I am originally from Tampa, Florida.
Did your hometown impact your sound?
I was surrounded by such a wide variety of music growing up, and while both my parents aren’t musical, they really love listening to music. My dad loves seventies soft rock, my mom ’80s ballads, my former stepfather listened to early ’00s alt on the morning drive to school, my adopted grandma – who, like my mom, is from Puerto Rico – often played reggaeton when she would pick us up from school, and I fell head over heels for jazz and soul. I could go on, but long story short, I think my varied and continuously developing sound is a concoction of a wide variety of childhood influences and a general love for a good bop, regardless of genre. So it was less my hometown, geographically speaking, and more the people around me that had the most significant impact.
Are there any recording techniques you like to use in the studio?
I like to do a brief warm-up before I start recording takes, and I like to review a mid-session comp at least once before the end of a session to pay close attention to the details and fill in anything necessary to get the best vocals.
How do you keep your sound consistent on stage?
Honestly, I think consistent and healthy vocal practice is one of the best tools a singer has in their arsenal to maintain a quality sound during performance or recording and protect their voice.
Which artists in your opinion are killing it right now?
Mereba and Yebba are two artists I admire a lot. Both, in their own ways, are very sonically/stylistically refreshing.
What’s your definition of success?
Living my version of an authentic and happy life. For me, that’s not about fame or money; it is about genuinely connecting with people and hopefully leaving the world slightly better than I found it.