Ahead of Seoul show, Niia gets personal about her music
2023-02-01
來源： 開云體育手機app下載
Niia / Courtesy of Ana Sting
By Jamie Finn
On the intersection between jazz, classical music and R&B sits American singer-songwriter Niia. Ahead of a mini-tour of Asia, which sees her playing dates in Korea and Japan, Niia talked to The Korea Times about her journey so far and what fans can expect from her live shows.
Niia was never meant to be an R&B star.
Born in Massachusetts, the daughter of a classically trained pianist and the granddaughter of an opera singer, she had a path set out for her very early on. Yet, from a young age, she showed an aptitude for improvisation that led her towards jazz.
"My mother kind of forced me into studying classical music, but I was always more into playing what was not on the page, so jazz was a more natural fit for me. She was my first piano teacher, and while she wanted me to go into classical music, she could see that jazz was my real love," she said in an interview. "Eventually, she was like, 'Screw this. I can't deal with you. Go learn jazz.'"
Niia / Courtesy of Ana Sting
Jazz was a crucial part of Niia's development, especially during her formative years. Between her music lessons, taking jazz band in school and her own personal exploration, jazz was a source of strength and an important vessel for self-expression. "I was really shy growing up," the singer explained. "This music offered me a voice and allowed me to express myself."
A chance encounter with Wyclef Jean in 2007 led to her touring with the iconic producer and featuring in his music. This put Niia on a completely new path and saw her emerge as one of the most exciting new voices in the R&B scene.
Despite this, Niia still finds ways to evoke her jazz roots.
"I grew up singing jazz standards," she explained, "and I often try to sneak some musicality into my R&B and pop work, like I'll throw in some unusual jazzy chords. The influence of Debussy and Chopin and other kinds of smoky jazz stuff, you can often hear that in my pop songs, too."
Recently, Niia stretched her creativity even further, channeling her technical ability into a more meditative album, "Mouthful of Salt." Recorded in association with OFFAIR, this deeply moving, minimalist record stands in contrast to her previous works.
"Around the beginning of COVID, I'd been experimenting with some ambient sounds," she said. "OFFAIR approached me and asked if I wanted to make an ambient record, and at the time, that really appealed to me."
Despite having just recently released her second album, Niia was excited about the opportunity.
"I had just released 'If I Should Die' right before COVID hit, so I was kind of burnt out creatively, especially when it came to lyrics. I felt like I had nothing left I wanted to say. This was around the time that everything was beginning to shut down because of the pandemic. The whole world felt so loud, so I didn't feel compelled to say anything because everything already felt so overwhelming. That's why working with OFFAIR appealed to me. I could make music that focused entirely on instrumentals and composition. It was about creating a mood versus telling a story and showing off my vocals."
On "Mouthful of Salt," Niia explores spiritual and even fantastical themes with her lyrics. Yet the songwriter is best known for her deeply personal subject matters. In fact, throughout her career, Niia's lyrics have become increasingly confessional and honest. "I didn't realize it was happening at the time," she admitted. "Being more open in my songs began very naturally. Many of my favorite songs by other artists are personal, even to the point of being devastating, so I knew that this was something I wanted to do. I've tried to tackle some of my issues with my songs, and the more I did that, the easier it became."
Niia feels that her continued ability to write from a personal place doesn't come from a deeper knowledge about herself but comes from feeling more comfortable about sharing. "I feel like I've always known myself, but it's not always easy to share. Being honest about the things that piss me off, things that I have done wrong, that has always been an obstacle, but once you make those first steps, it gets easier."
Niia / Courtesy of Ana Sting
For her, one track in particular stands out as a moment of boldness.
"I had this song ready for a while, but it didn't have any lyrics. I was in this relationship, and we'd been together for a really long time. I was getting frustrated that it wasn't progressing. Then one night, at about 3 a.m., all the words just came out. I felt like I was having an exorcism. It was very intense. It was called 'If You Won't Marry Me Right Now.' But those lyrics, that's how I felt at that time, and even though I couldn't say it to him, I could say it in a song. Even when I sing it now, it brings back exactly how I felt at that time."
She added, "That relationship didn't work out, but my current partner came to see me live when we first started dating. During a performance of 'If You Won't Marry Me Right Now,' a friend said to him, 'You know you're in trouble if she writes a song about you.'"
As part of her growth, Niia plans to focus less on personal lyrics and sing about other subjects.
"I am starting to explore the idea of writing about the world outside of my own experiences," she said. "It can be an intimidating experience, especially when many artists are more naturally suited for that. But as Nina Simone once said, 'an artist's duty is to reflect the times,' and I think, as artists, we do have a responsibility. Recording 'Mouthful' made me realize that I could do things that I didn't know I could and now I want to try and write about things that impact the world, things I have opinions on. Songs like that get judged differently from when you talk about your own feelings, but I am excited to try."
This desire to write from other perspectives has already begun to manifest itself in her music. "It's not quite the same as talking about politics," Niia explained, "but my next album is less introspective. It's a concept album about a shitty Al Pacino movie called 'Bobby Deerfield.' It's really, really terrible, but I kind of love it. It's been interesting, though, to write from someone else's perspective, and it's something I definitely want to do more of."
In the past, Niia has been critical of the record industry and the pressure it puts on artists to constantly release new material. Now, she sees that as more of a symptom of a broader problem.
"Our culture is like that, in a way. With music, it's especially bad, and there's a constant need to think of new ideas. After I released my second album, I felt like I was done and that I wasn't sure what I could even do next. That's why the best artists are constantly evolving and reinventing themselves," she said.
"But the problem isn't just for musicians. Social media platforms have pushed everyone to be constantly sharing; if you're not sharing, it can feel like you don't exist. For me, it's always about quality over quantity, so this idea of constantly producing is something I would like to see change."
In under 10 years, Niia has produced three full-length albums, two EPs and a string of stand-alone singles. It's an output that any artist would be proud of. Yet Niia doesn't see herself as especially prolific.
"Maybe it's a result of the pressure I mentioned, but I always wish I could produce more music," she said. "I am happy to hear that some people think that I have made a lot, though."
One thing that is perhaps driving Niia's accomplished discography is her interest in collaboration.
"Collaboration is everything. In jazz, it's all about listening to each other and having a musical conversation with each other. Working alone can often be a more difficult experience, and you can get trapped in your own head. It's so helpful to have someone to share your ideas with and someone to offer new perspectives and ask you, 'Why don't you try this?'"
Niia has worked with many acclaimed musicians, such as Khruangbin's Laura Lee, Girl Ultra and South Korean producer Code Kunst. When pushed on her collaborative highlights, she wastes no time naming her favorites.
"I've been lucky to work with so many people, and I love them all. But Jazmine Sullivan is one of the best vocalists of our time, so it was amazing to record with her," she said. "More recently, I worked with Gabriel Garzon-Montano. He's just a ball of creativity. Because of my background, I often approach music from an academic position, and it can sometimes make me act a little neurotic or even pragmatic. Gabriel Garzon-Montano, though, has this energy and is constantly picking up objects around him, making sounds with them and thinking of creative ways to produce music."
Niia / Courtesy of Ana Sting
With a diverse back catalogue, translating her music into a live setting is always an interesting experience. "One of my favorite things to do is to create a real flow to my shows," Niia explained. "I love seeing how other performers tackle that. Some come out of the gate with their bangers, and others do it differently. I try to create a kind of journey with my shows and use the songs I've made to tell a story. I come from performing with jazz ensembles, so my background is all about playing music live. I actually struggle more with how I sound on record than how I sound on stage. My band and I are able to improvise and change things up after reading the energy in the room. My strength is performing live. That's where I feel most comfortable."
What can Korean audiences expect from Niia's performance in Seoul later this month? "I think they can look forward to a great vocal performance. I don't mind tooting my own horn; I can bring that. Because of the difficulties of international touring, it'll be a more stripped-down performance, which means a lot of it rides on my voice. It will be an interesting challenge for me."
Making an ambient album, trying new lyrical styles and performing stripped-down live shows ― these are all part of a broader musical journey for Niia. "The further along in my career I get, the more that trying new things appeals to me," she said. "Music history is filled with artists who tried something new, and maybe that didn't work, but at least they tried, and that's where I am right now. I am starting to realize that even if this new album sucks, at least I took a risk and explored something different."
Trying new things isn't always easy, especially in our very online world, Niia explains. "The age we live in now is so visible, so the idea of trying new things can be especially scary, I think. We don't want people to see us try and fail. We don't want people not to like us," she said. "But fuck that."
