Everything goes in a full circle weather in society it’s Music, Fashion, or Art; with Indie/Alternative and R&B artist taking back the forefront spotlight in music it’s great to see a new generation of creatives put their spin and emotions into music genres that where in their peak eras for many of us that were growing up in the early 2000’s. Niah J is one of those artists who bring back that nostalgic sound many of us listened to BET during there prime era.
Where are you from Niah J?
Southside of Chicago.
Southside your whole life?
Yeah for most of it, my first four years was on the Westside.
Describe yourself as an artist.
I would say I'm more so into R&B and Soul, so I would say really soulful, I have a really soulful voice. I’m very versatile too, because I'm able to really replicate a lot of different notes and different things. Like I'm able to duplicate voices when I hear them. So I will say like I'm kinda versatile when it comes to music.
Growing up what artist inspired you to do music?
Beyonce and Chris Brown, those are the main two. Chris Brown more so for his stage presence. He has a really good performance and entertains really good. So I look up to him in that aspect for stage presence and things like that. Beyonce, she's very vocally advanced; Like when it comes to runs and stuff like that, that's who I really used to look up to because she's very very advanced; Like she can do anything and everything.
Outside of music, what do you do?
I'm into cameras and a little bit too in video editing, I went to school for media, I have a certification in media and broadcasting. So I kinda work on that on the side to, work on my own projects.
Have you ever done any types of interviews or podcasts before?
Yes, I used to have a podcast called Press Podcast where I would find underground rappers, singers, and entrepreneurs around the city and just gave them a spotlight on Fridays.
What made you stop doing that?
I really wanted to dedicate my craft to music. I'm really multifaceted, but I felt like my calling was music. So I'm really trying to put my all into that and see where it take me.
So whats your input on the current era of music?
I feel like there are a lot of talented people, especially coming out of Chicago for one. But all in general, I feel like there are a lot of talented people. I feel like one thing that the music industry lacks is genuineness. That's what art is really about, Art is really about being genuine to who you are, true to who you are, and it's lacking a lot of that which makes it easy for people to put out bullshit.
With the new rise of new R&B artists, do you think it has a possibility of becoming greater or Equal to Y2K R&B?
I think it does has potential, but part of me feels like some of it is converting back to the early 2000’s R&B. Like with a lot of artists that I find on Tik Tok they're really talented. And it kinda makes me fall in love with it personally because it sounds like some of the songs that I like to listen to from the early 2000’s, like the Ashanti's and the Rihannas. You got some people that are R&B and who are shifting to it bringing a different sound to it.
Tell us about your new single “Advantage Exchange”.
Well, my new single, Advantage Exchange, is basically about bending gender norms. Like a lot of the times men feel like they can do what they want and not have any repercussions towards it. And usually when that happens it's doesn't work in a woman's favor. If a man does something, it's because he's a man. But if a woman does something, it's because she's a hoe or you know.
So more asking for more equality between men and women.
Yeah It's basically, that's what it is. Like just showing women empowerment as well. Like, letting women know that just because when you get with a man doesn't mean you have to lose your backbone. Like when you get with a man, still stay true to yourself and know your worth. I’m really big on that, women empowerment, women keeping their backbone, whatever the situation is in their relationship, knowing their worth. Women's voices should be heard, no woman should be silenced, and I'm not for that. Every woman should be feel free to be able to express how they feel about certain things or what they've been through without judgment.
Your new single “Advantage Exchange”, how has that been influenced with the current way of R&B?
To be honest, I feel like it's it wasn't really influenced by the current wave of R&B or the R&B music today. That's what kinda pulls me apart from everybody else; I kinda revert back to the early Beyonce and Rihanna, I would say not 2,013, but 2,010s. That soulful pulling your vocal you know, pulling your vocals out of yourself, testing yourself to do different notes and runs, and singing was with a lot of compassion. I feel like that's where my singing was rooting back from. I kinda stem from those eras and just being able to really sing your ass off.
With your new single and other songs, how has music inspired you as a black woman in today's society?
Musically seeing my peers come up whether that's Muni Long, Teyana Taylor, I'm really big on her, so on and so forth. I feel like right now in this day and age, like, I just turned 22. A lot of things are coming into perspective with me. A lot of my inspiration really comes from, my ancestors. I'm not gonna lie. I feel like a lot of the inspiration really comes from the people before me, like the Nina Simone's and even before, you know, as a black person, we've been through a lot. So I feel like if I'm a do something, I’ll go out of the way and that's what really inspires me to do such to do as such.
A lot of music you hear sampled is inspired by early black soul singers.
One of my favorite soul singers is Nina Simone. I play a lot of her music, I really love her music. How versatile she is, She kinda puts me in the mind of Beyonce as well. Like it's just that strong vocal that right when she opens her mouth, it's right in your face. It's very strong, It catches your attention. It demands your attention, It's very dominant, and it has a really big statement it says something.
If you can travel anywhere in the world to go to any concert and preform your new single, where would you go?
I would say London, I feel like they really messed with the song. I don't know, I'm really big on the artist in London right now; so I feel like that's part of the reason why. Sasha Kiebel, she's really good, I really love she has a single called “Hold Up”. It's really good, like I can kinda relate to her sound. She's really good at her runs, she kinda has that 90’s, early 2000s kind of vocals, and it's not monotone. That's what a lot of R&B is today, like monotone. So she really challenges herself and pushes the norms, and she put that song out, It's really good.
What are some inspiring words you can give to new artists that want to step into music or get back into R&B ?
Don't be scared to be different. Be yourself. No matter what other people say, be yourself. Don't be afraid to be the eyeball because that's what's gonna make you different.
Where can we find your new single?
You guys can find it on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube and SoundCloud at Niah J. The song is called Advantage Exchange. I also got the video out on YouTube too, so go check that.