21 Juil Interview – Nxdia : « I try and do a contrast so that I can make sure that I’m not bored »

Sound of Brit was lucky enough to interview Nxdia during this year’s Lollapalooza Festival. They talked to us about their influences, how they come up with new songs and where they see themselves as an artist in the near future.

Emerging as a powerful new voice in the alternative music scene, Nxdia is an Egyptian-born, Manchester-raised artist blending alt-pop, R&B textures, hyperpop energy, and raw rock influences. At just 25, they’re carving out their own space with unapologetic honesty, bold style, and a strong connection to her audience. From their standout performance at Yungblud’s BludFest to their radiant set on the Alternative Stage at Lollapalooza Paris, Nxdia represents a new generation of artists who are fearless, free, and deeply human.

SOB : Your music draws its strength from a rather unique mix: hyperpop, R&B textures, sometimes more raw, alternative sounds. Do you remember the moment when this mix became obvious to you?

NXDIA: You know what? I mix my food. I mix everything around me. I mix things all the time. Colours, whatever. I just love everything, and I want it all immediately. And that’s this instant gratification that I need to follow and, thankfully, with music, it’s a beautiful thing when you blend things together, you know? You come out with new stuff, you come out with old stuff, that’s been tried before but you can do it your own way.

SOB : And so you’re part of a generation of artists who refuse to pretend, who speak the truth like Yungblud who is a perfect example of that. You actually performed at his festival. Is it difficult to always be honest and to reveal so much of yourself?

NXDIA : I think you can’t predict it. I think you can’t decide what is going to upset or excite people. I think the reality is the more honest I am, whether the response is what I expect, it’s a response nonetheless, it’s a response to something that’s tangible and real. And, I think, what I appreciate is how much my mum drilled it in my head to not be like, to not lie, to try and be as honest as I can, to be myself and all that stuff and I got bullied pretty badly for it. But it was amazing because I got to like force myself to be uncomfortable around people who didn’t like me and once I got comfortable with that, it’s like, you can’t say anything to me that a much meaner 15-year-old hasn’t said to me in high school, do you know what I mean? I think it’s always going to be hard to be vulnerable but I don’t think it’s ever hard in a way that’s not rewarding.

SOB : In your album I promise no one’s watching I noticed that there are several titles or phrases based around the word ‘boy’ – like boy clothes or she likes a boy. It’s a pattern that comes up a lot in your songs. Can you tell me a little bit more about this?

NXDIA : I think that when I was younger, I just wanted to be so masculine and I wanted to be like a boy, and I remember playing football and making fun of girls. I just don’t think I realised that you can express your gender however you want to and you don’t have to put a huge label on. I was probably just non-binary and I just thought « I like football, I’ll play, I’m a boy » . If you don’t like it, I’m just like, I’m Nadia I’m whatever I am. I don’t think there’s a reason, I just love the word « boy » . It sings so well.

SOB :  You seem very attentive to contrasts – between softness and distortion, between clarity and saturation. What are you looking for in this imbalance?

NXDIA : I think we’re a bit of everything. There are different facets of yourself. There are people you’re soft around. There are people that you’re more strict around or people that don’t get to know you at all. I love highs and lows and I think about live, I think about how it would sound on stage and if it drops down, it builds up suddenly in your face. I think I try and do a contrast so that I can make sure that I’m not bored. I just get bored so easily.

SOB : Your writing often plays between vulnerability and strength. Do you write to understand your emotions, your fears?

NXDIA : It’s like how a therapist will tell you to keep a journal. Half the time I’ll sit there and I’ll get so overwhelmed about something and I’m like, shit, I can’t think of anything else I can’t do anything else.

SOB : What’s your writing process by the way ? Is it easy for you?

NXDIA : I think it changes. Some ones are harder to write, because you’re just sitting there and you’re like, I’ve thought about this a million times, how do I say it in one way? You’ll think of a million ways of saying it but sometimes you just go in, and it’s the perfect day to be like this is exactly everything I’ve been thinking. I didn’t even know I needed to write this today but thank god I did. Now I just feel like I understand it so much more.

SOB : Are you writing on your own?

NXDIA : Usually, yeah. I’m quite selfish. Sometimes I’ll have producers in the room but usually it’s just me writing Ye There’s people I trust like Orlando and stuff for writing Henry Tucker, I love him but usually I’m on my own.

SOB : You’re playing Lollapalooza today, how do you feel about playing in France in a festival like this one? Do you have any plan for a french tour or a concert in Paris?

NXDIA : I’m definitely coming back to Paris to do a show at some point. I’m so excited to be here today, I’m going to watch all the acts, I’m going to be super greedy. I’m going to watch everyone and I can’t wait ! It’s going to be mega ! I feel very grateful to be here today I actually feel like, what the fuck is going on ? Am I in Paris? I was in London this morning, what’s going on?

SOB: Looking a bit further ahead, where do you see yourself in a few years time? Do you have a crazy dream, or a very precise vision of what you want to stand for artistically?

NXDIA : I have a lot of crazy goals. I have so many crazy dreams, I want to be able to shred properly on guitar, on stage I think that would be so sick. I want to sell out arenas. You know that one video of Rihanna running in Paris, it’s that big crowd of people and it’s just that community. I daydream about that ! Seeing that and seeing that human connection in the moment. Everyone holding each other. Everyone feeling everything. It’s my dream. I just think it’s beautiful. I want anything that will give me that. Anything that will be full of freaking people. I just want to see people. I want to meet people. I want to say hi to them. I want to give them a hug. To say thank you in person. It makes my day.