NYA

Some will say she is a hip hop artist but I myself don't believe in labels. A woman who breaks all stereo types on what a female m.c should look like and sound like. Her lyrics are always backed up by the live band atmosphere. Her fashion style meets casual mixed with comfort. Her name is NYA. She rips the sound checks literally (sound engineer as well ) with hot sounds and conscience words of choice. Her up bringing hasn't always been picture perfect in her music she challenges her childhood and faces her everyday inspirations. She allows us to look back at ourselves, to runaway to a better place and my favorite line of them all to allow MUSIC TO SET YOU FREE. She is the next thing coming out of the south. She can be seen performing all around Houston . - Jey Free

You know, I almost sat here and wrote like most writers do all accurate and stating facts, I'd rather not I'm gonna sit her and voice my opinion, while throwing facts in .The same way she throws her lyrics in. I'm sitting here on her myspace page trying to figure out what im gonna write, and i realized that i re-played her song 7 times. I instantly became a fan, then when i realized she was influenced by :Lauryn Hill-Erykah Badu-Musiq Soulchild-Da Brat-John Legend-JayZ-India Irie, it war a wrap. A young hip hop soul artist with such an old soul, her voice took my back to jamming Erykah Badu i just felt the vibe, Just like Vibe Magazine, shes a page turner or should i say NYA's a blessing to the ear. I'm a strong believer that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, its crazy that such a small person can pack such an intense voice which includes sick metaphors, messages, melody's, and most of all SICK MUSIC. "i don't want no money, i don't need no fame, just lock me in the studio, and let me do my thang" Who would have thought that this once meek poetry-journal toting child would evolved into a confident woman, sharing her gift. Her gift of music, I'm glad you decided to share it with the world. It's crazy this local woman and local band, is just that local? its about time she got discovered, and if she doesn't that's your loss. You want my opinion? i love her music, i love her style of music, and i love the fact that shes a natural nothing is forced she sings from the heart. Who is she? SHE is NYA (Not ya Average)...



- Stacey Hart

Our song was mentioned In Houston Press local artist of the Year!

http://blogs.houstonpress.com/rocks/2009/12/ask_a_rapper_a_bunch_of_people.php?page=2 - Houston Press

http://www.360-houston.com/featured/360-houstoncom-features-nya.html

360-Houston.com: Features Nya
Attention:


NYA, a multifaceted artist who blends her talent for songwriting, producing, sound engineering, and of course, performance; proves that shy little girls with big dreams can win! In fact, this once meek poetry-journal toting child has evolved into a confident woman with an unswerving compassion for themes such as: Liberation, Resilience, Perseverance and Escape. The days of her feverishly creating works of poetry and song while crouching in the back of a Houston ISD school bus are gone.

Today, her principled lyrics and velvety delivery owns the stage! NYA recently grasped the extent of her growth when she performed and placed in the top 3 bands among 15 acts at Live Nation's House of Blues Houston-wide competition in January 2009. That night, her hip-hop/soul sound with alternative overtures created by an acoustic/electric blend, was embraced as NYA’s signature genre. Not surprisingly, the musical blend has motivated NYA to pursue becoming a guitar player herself, much like acoustic soul-goddess India Arie. In early 2008, she partnered with atmOsphere, a band known for their power to create a blissful ambiance with sultry and smooth inflections. Together, they recreate the same message-driven effect as some of NYA's key influences. Among these are the likes of ColdPlay, Jill Scott, Floetry, Alanis Morrissette, and Jay-Z. Best described as a conscience lyricist, NYA relentlessly addresses real-life and global issues: desire for love, poverty, hunger, and disease. It has not escaped this artist that her music has a dual purpose. It inspires her audiences, while it simultaneously encourages her. 43 Miles to Empty, her debut album, captures NYA's underlying fear that without a conscious effort to arouse hope, the world could be pushed to a point of despair. Music Sets Me Free, the lead track on her debut album, underscores how vital music is.


Hello Nya, How are you?
Hey…I am great!

Tell us about yourself?
I am an artist, performer, engineer, producer, writer, musician, and arranger

How is the album coming along?
It’s getting bigger and better by the day. Its really becoming a classic album and that’s what I’ve been praying for, something that will be around for a long time, something with substance.

What's the title?
43 Miles to Empty-

What do we expect to here from it?
43 miles has songs about Escape, liberation, resilience and perseverance and just some real feel good music. You will hear some awesome production between my producers and some live musicians.

The 43 miles to Empty analogy has so many different meanings and can be use in different ways. Empty can be defined as lacking content, destitute of some quality, without knowledge; foolish, to become empty, to discharge contents, to be hungry, hollow. I use it in every way on the album, address the problems and give solutions. I also have a song titled “43 miles to Empty” and that’s basically me seeing things on the street and my experience has left me empty (prostitutes, homeless, materialistic people, crooked cops, etc).


What producers are you currently working with?
John Dew, Mastamind (Chad Green) Rocaway and Yung Chill also have a cut on the project.

How would you describe your style?
My style is a hip-hop/soul sound with alternative overtures created by an acoustic/electric blend.



What is your writing process?
I get a track from one of my producers pop it in my CD player in my car and come up with the lyrics as I drive. My blackberry voice recorder really comes in handy. I use to find myself swerving trying to write lyrics, I would have to pull over but it wasn’t the same, its something about riding to the music. That’s why I find the album title so befitting, most of it came to me as I drove for miles and miles til almost empty.


What's your opinion on the direction hiphop is moving?
#trafficjam lol Nah I think a lot of people are just getting in the hip hop lane because they think its easy and see a lot of other people doing it. But don’t really understand it. They wear the clothes, make the beats, make a song and think it’s a wrap, its not! With Hip Hop or just music in general you MUST understand that you are a voice. GOD blessed you with something to share with the world so use it wisely. Some travel around the globe with a hit single about “nothing”…clubbing, clothes, Jewelry, sex etc none of that stuff will last…you get a chance to go to …hmmmm lets say India and you rap/sing about Jewelry, cars, clothes lol you went all the way over there to leave the people with absolutely nothing. Now don’t get it twisted I’m not saying don’t make fun music, I’m saying make it make sense. I do believe it will change I hear and meet artist who feel the same as I and have great music ready to be heard, and it will be, then hip hop/music will get back to being a real voice for the people.

You recently won a band competition. Tell a lil bit about that?
That’s one of the best experiences, playing amongst other very talented bands/acts at the HOUSE of BLUES/Live Nation competition in Houston and coming out on top! We competed last year and placed 3rd but this year was ours. We won first place- we will get to open for a major artist at HOB… so stay tuned!

How long have you been rapping?
Ever since middle school lol those were the days…on the school bus I would be too shy to bust a flow so I would wait til it was time for me to get off…rap something and run away…

What artist/artists did you grow up listening to?
I pretty much listened to everything but my favs were Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, De La Soul, Da Brat, Bone Thugs, TLC, Creed, Goo Dolls, Alanis Morissette, Jill Scott, Celine Dion, Escape, Tupac, R.Kelly, Kirk Franklin

Where do you draw your inspiration?
I’m inspired by my experiences and other people experiences/testimonies. “Realities”.


What do you feel is the hardest part about being a new artist breaking into the industry?

Being compared to everyone else. It seems like the industry wants carbon copies these days. If you don’t have the same sound that’s on the radio right now they aren’t very receptive of what you have to offer. That hinders creativity and individuality. Now most artists are making music that has that familiar sound just to be noticed.


Where do you see your music career five years from now?
I see an international career. I see a band hip-hop has never seen before, a movement for artist, a voice for the people. In five years I should be on my second Grammy album ;) .


Any shoutouts?
Yep! GOD! All my family, friends, and fans! Thank you all.


- 360-houston.com