A Quick Chat With NIASHA

This is your first single since '4AM' dropped in 2020. How does it feel to be releasing music again?

It feels just right. I think the audience will get to really see how I’ve grown and evolved as an artist. For me personally, I’ve had to sit with myself and establish who I am as a person and who I want to be as an artist. I believe this is the perfect time and perfect song to reintroduce and solidify myself as an artist full stop. 

'MOVE' is a track about creating your own tables and building a legacy. What inspired you to write about all that?

There are significant frustrations that I have with the industry that have created barriers that I wanted to speak to in this track. I used the industry also as a metaphor for the things and people in my life that I felt at the time were obstructing my life’s vision. I want to establish a meaningful and positive impact within my community and beyond, which future generations in my lineage can benefit, stand on and continue to build from. 

Who or what have been your influences throughout your music career?

I grew up around music so this is quite a tough question. I was heavily influenced by gospel and country music growing up (interesting combination). I also grew up listening to soul, revered Michael Jackson as a visionary and performer. I was inspired to play the piano after watching the Alicia Keys 'Fallin’ video. Some of my influences include Brenda Fassie, Oliver Mtukudzi, Lauryn Hill, Janelle Monáe, J.Cole, Ryan Leslie and Masego as well as my immediate peers. I’m heavily influenced by genres with Amapiano and afrobeats as notable. I love music so if it catches my attention it influences me in some way. 

We saw your spoken word performance during Sampa the Great's show late last year. How would you describe that experience?

That was a phenomenal experience. I hadn’t done spoken word in years and when she asked me personally to write and perform one in my language of Shona, it allowed me to tap into loosening the inhibitions that I had about creating in my language. It was electric and I have high respect for what Sampa has done and continues to do for herself and in turn her community.  

Do you find that performing spoken word is a different feeling to performing music?

Absolutely. Spoken word feels like having a conversation. You get to decide how much space you take between words. People have no choice but to listen and soak it in and reflect on what the words mean for them personally. Also because I dance or move quite a lot when performing, spoken allows me to be still, to breathe and stand flat foot in the truth of the words that I’m speaking. 

MOVE's lyrics are full of clever wordplay and interesting references. Tell us about your approach to songwriting.

I never write a full song in one go, which can be quite frustrating but also rewarding because it allows me to carefully curate what and how I want to articulate myself lyrically. I generally write about what I’m experiencing and use references to things that I hear and find interesting or funny. I’m a witty person so I enjoy incorporating that into how I construct my lyrics.

Favourite line from MOVE?

Oh wow, it’s so tough to pick one but I’d say “I’m killing them no Manjaro that’s on Tanzania, I’m from an ancestry of builders, dad’s an engineer.” 

Including MOVE, your catalogue is made up of very diverse sounds. Is the exploration of genre important to you as an artist?

I believe being able to explore different genres is my superpower as an artist. I enjoy the process of creating and being challenged because different genres require different aspects of my creativity and help me grow as a writer. The fun is in the challenge. I also get bored quite easily. I don't feel I can grow if I’m not evolving my sound. 

The energy we hear in MOVE is undoubtedly powerful as it is infectious. Can we expect the same energy in future releases?

'MOVE' is definitely giving main character energy. It’s the kind of force and attitude that I’m going to be moving with when it comes to my music, it will manifest in different ways and be weaved in different genres but the energy is essentially the same.