#OnOurRadar: Meet Canadian Singer/Producer Naliya
The COVID 19 pandemic was a life-changing experience for everyone in both a good and bad way. The lockdown posed great challenges to the worldwide economy and people’s daily lives and will have far-reaching consequences beyond the spread of the disease. At the same time, the crisis is also a strong driver of creativity and innovation.
Canadian singer-songwriter Naliya used that free time to perfect her craft and showcase her talents online. Things quickly shifted when she was discovered on an IG live session with J Kash, who has worked with artists such as Maroon 5, Charlie Puth, and Selena Gomez. With Kash’s co-sign, the Berklee College graduate got the opportunity to ink her own record deal with Interscope, and she co-wrote Jason Derulo’s hit song “Lifestyle."
We recently had the opportunity to chat with Naliya about her creative process, inspirations and more. Check out the full interview below:
What makes you Rare?
I make all my beats. Sometimes I like to work with coproducers, but I like to be involved in every step of the process. I started making beats in Logic in high school, but now I spend most of my time in Ableton. I also love writing and producing for other artists as it allows me to explore sounds and genres outside of my own!
Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Nelly Furtado, Frank Ocean, Rihanna and Lana Del Rey.
What was your biggest take away from attending college?
Finding motivation to do things I really didn’t want to do. I think college gave me some time to figure out what I wanted to peruse within music.
As a multi-faceted artist/producer, what’s your creative process like?
My creative process is forever changing. All my songs came about in different settings and scenarios…some by the piano, some starting with a beat. I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to do things when it comes to writing songs
How have you grown as an artist since first being discovered during the quarantine days?
Quarantine days gave me the opportunity to really lock in and work on my craft. It definitely slowed my release schedule, but looking back, I think I really needed that time to master my sound for my project.
Do you enjoy working on personal projects more or collaborating with other artists? Why?
I honestly can’t say I like one more than the other. I love working on my project and it’s very personal to me, but there’s something so special about being a part of someone else’s project. I like making music with my friends, regardless of who it’s for or where it goes.
Dream collabs?
I have a long list of dream collaborations. The list includes Drake and Drake and also Drake.
What’s next?
I’m currently putting out a stream of singles leading up to my project in 2023. I have a very exciting song coming next as well as a few features I'm very excited about on the project. Alongside my artist releases, I’m looking forward to a stream of songs and productions I’ve been working on for other artists. I have a song coming out with Blackbear at the end of October as well. Lots of music coming!