Q+A WITH NIIASII

Combining refreshingly smooth vocals and energizing, dance-able beats, 17-year-old singer/songwriter Niiasii is definitely one to watch. We spoke with her about the process of creating her first EP, what led her to be where she is now, and what her hopes are for the future of her music.

E: How did your musical journey begin?

N: I was always very into music, but I just never thought that I could sing; my parents always told me they knew I could sing by the way I cried. When I got to elementary school, I remember I used to hang out with this group of girls and they were always singing with each other, and I was really shy – I’ve been pretty shy my whole life – And one day they were just like, Nia you should try to sing… When I first got to high school, it turned from something that was fun to do into an extremely passionate thing; I've always been so shy, and for me, music and performing is the one way that I can express myself. I know it seems like I'm talking well now, but when I’m face to face with somebody it’s horrible.

E: You released the Art of Changing Form last summer; what was your inspiration behind that EP?

N: I would definitely say that when it comes to creating music, it's always a reflection of the things that are going on in my life. So when I wrote “I Wanna Get Out,” it was an exact description of how I was feeling: being 17, stuck in the house with [my] parents in a different way than I ever have been before. It was a lot on my mental health, and all I wanted to do was just get out. I was 16 at the time that I wrote it; that was when I was getting into my first relationship and just starting to live my life for the first time… But I couldn't leave the house, so I went into my room, I got my notebook like usual, and I just started writing out everything I was feeling. Before I knew it, in like 30 minutes, I wrote “I Wanna Get Out,” and the rest of the EP came [after] that.

E: How was the experience of releasing music in the midst of a pandemic?

N: I released my first single right before the pandemic hit… I didn't know what I was doing. I just dropped it because I wanted to figure out how you're supposed to do that type of thing. The Art of Changing Form is my first real big project, so dropping that in the pandemic gave me a new surge of energy and happiness, like, even though the world is stopping right now, I don't have to stop. It's been giving me the freedom to create even more. It was beautiful.

E: Who are some artists that you draw inspiration from?

N: My biggest inspirations would probably have to be Prince, number one, and Beyoncé. Prince, because his music literally changed my life; like I told you before, I was always very shy, and I just really felt like I couldn't relate to the people I went to school with. I've grown up listening to Prince, but when I got to high school, I was finally cognitive enough to understand what his lyrics were about; [they’re] all about freedom and authenticity. When I heard that music, I just thought … I want to make people feel the way that Prince makes me feel. And then with Beyoncé, she's just, oh my gosh. She’s a top tier entertainer. I want to be able to put on shows like she puts on shows.

E: What was your process in creating the Art of Changing Form?

N: Writing is my strong suit – writing lyrics and songs and things of that nature – and that was just a reflection of the things that were going on in my life. When it comes to producing, I met a producer through one of my mom's friends. He lives all the way in Atlanta, so we couldn't go there, and we're in a pandemic so it's not safe [anyway]. So, I would record my songs acapella and I would tell him, “hey I want these types of instruments… I want it in this key; I want this tempo, and we need to do this, that, and the third.” Basically, I'd tell him exactly what I want, he’d send me back the beat, then I’d go to a studio that's close to home, I’d record there, and then we’d send my vocals back to him to be mixed.

E: Who makes up your ideal fanbase?

My ideal fanbase would probably be people like me: people that don't necessarily fit into boxes or feel like they just don't really fit in [in general]. I want to be a voice or a person that people can look up to, like, okay, I don't have to put myself in this box; I can do whatever I want to do, you know? [With] everything that I make music about, my ultimate message and goal is to push for freedom and authenticity.

N: What voice do you bring to the music scene that you think others might not?

The biggest thing is just authenticity. I think that right now, when we look at the music industry, a lot of it is not authentic; the deeper and deeper you get into it, a lot of it is just about your look, and it's not so much about the message that we are getting to people. With me, just because of the way that I am – my personality – I don't make music for notoriety, fame, money, and all that. I genuinely have something to say, and I just hope that I can use whatever platform and influence I have to push other people to reach the freedom that I have gotten from my authenticity.

E: What’re your goals for the future?

N: I want to make people feel the way that I felt when I first discovered Prince. I want my art to reach a lot of people, so that I can speak the message that I have. Of course, I just want to get better and better at creating; I’m probably never going to ever stop making music.

Connect with Niiasii on instagram and tiktok at @niiasii

This Q+A is part of a series featuring up-and-coming young artists and musicians. Stay tuned for more!

interview has been edited for clarity.