Noozi welcome to Nefarious Supply, to get this interview started tell us about your self. Who is Noozi, how long have you been an artist and how has your experience been so far?

Thank you so much! I’m so happy we get to do this. So, a little about me… I’m an R&B singer-songwriter, born and raised in Florida. I’m from Jacksonville, Florida and moved to Nashville, Tennessee about 2 years ago. I have been singing my whole life, but really I say I’ve been an artist for 2 years now. That is when I put everything else aside and started to pursue music as a career.

My artist experience so far, truthfully, has been a challenging but beautiful one. There are two sides to being an artist. I have felt a lot of frustration. I have had to do a lot of inner work and grow a ton in order to get to this current release. I can be super hard on myself, and as an artist there is a lot of pain that comes along with creating. However, it has been so fulfilling and enjoyable at the same time. I have learned so much about music and about myself. Seeing all the hard work pay off is always worth it. I am getting to work with so many talented people and experience so much because of it. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

How’d you come up with the name Noozi?

Noozi comes from my last name. My friend came up with it when we were in highschool and since then it has just stuck. The name just feels like me. Before I started using it as my artist name it was a nickname my closest friends used for me, and I thought that was really cool. It was like the people that knew me the best would call me Noozi and the rest would call me by my government. With music being the most authentic version of myself, it only felt right to use that as my artist name.

Where are you based out of and how’s the underground music scene in the area?

I’m currently based out of Nashville, TN. The underground music scene here is so rich. The reason I moved here is because of all the talent I saw developing here, especially in the Hip-Hop and R&B scene. It’s crazy. It is definitely beginning to gain some attention, and it is well-deserved. I have met some of my best friends here and am amongst the most talented creatives, musicians, artists, photographers, all that. I feel really blessed to be a part of it at this moment in time. It feels like we’re making history.

What’s your favorite aspect of being an artist?

The therapeutic role it plays in my life. I have a real tough time feeling centered sometimes and music can really get me there. When I am writing and creating, often alone, is when I feel most connected to life and the universe and myself. It’s healing. Then, taking that and being able to do that with people is even crazier. Creating with people in the studio or connecting to people on stage can be one of the most energizing experiences for me. It is two very different feelings, but they both feel like they just give me life.

Which artists would you say have had the biggest influence on you and your music, and if you could name three must listen albums what would they be?

Some of the artists that have had the biggest influence on me and my music, in no particular order, are Erykah Badu, India Arie, Frank Ocean, Lauryn Hill, Jennifer Hudson, Jazmine Sullivan, Rihanna, Aaliyah, Otis Redding, Sza, Solange, and J. Cole. The main thing I love about all of these artists is how soulful they are. They have developed the skill of telling a story and really making you feel it. 

Ooo, three must-listen albums is a tough question for me… I’ll say Channel Orange, Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and A Seat at the Table.

Tell us about your new song “Losing”, what inspired it, who helped you with production, and more on the creative process around it.

“Losing” is my first release ever. It’s crazy to say. I didn’t plan on waiting this long, but I’m glad I took my time and love how it’s all playing out. “Losing” was in the works for a while. I wrote it about a year after I moved to Nashville. Just me in my little bedroom studio, in my feels. The song is about a toxic relationship and how difficult it can be to let go. It encapsulates the frustration, pain, and epiphany moment that comes along with a toxic heartbreak. Trying to get through to someone and wishing they would change, but then finally realizing it isn’t on them to change, it’s on you to stop putting up with it. That is what “Losing” is. It is that realization that the relationship you're in is just “L” after “L” after “L” and you deserve better. It hurts, but it’s just as freeing as it is painful, deciding to finally let go.

At the time of writing “Losing”, I still didn’t know anyone in Nashville, especially in music. So I was stuck with this really rough demo and had no idea of how to get it to a final product. It wasn’t until I started meeting people at Jack Vinoy’s first writing camp (shoutout Jack!) in February of 2022 that I finally started to be able to get it into the proper hands. I ended up working with SCiFY and Pete Eddins on it, who are now two of my favorite people to work with. SCiFY produced the track and Pete mixed and mastered it. My next couple releases are with them. I feel so grateful to have found such a great team to work with.

I wanted to do a visual along with the release. It being my first release, this was also my first music video. I was mad nervous because it was totally new territory for me and way out of my comfort zone, but it ended up being such a dope experience. BlackStarVisions produced the video and it was really just me and him the whole way through. Thank goodness for his patience with me, because it definitely took me a second to get comfortable in front of the camera. I am so glad I did it, though. I love the way it turned out, and I really enjoyed the experience. Definitely check out the video if you haven’t!

Tell us about your overall creative process from beginning to end, what steps do you take to get you in the zone, and how do you know when you have a song you really like?

My favorite way to write my music is alone in my studio with a lot of time to kill. It takes me a few minutes to get into a flow, but once I do I’m in there for hours. It’s the best. Oftentimes, it can be hard for me to open up or sort out my thoughts and feelings. When I hear certain chords or tracks, it’s like a key that unlocks all of that and allows my emotions to just pour out into these lyrics and melodies. It’s so therapeutic for me. To find the right track to write to, I like to just take a couple splice loops and make a really quick beat from there. That will be the foundation for the song. It’s almost always the beat or a nice chord progression first, then I freestyle melodies and lyrics over it. From there, I’ll just keep building on it. Then, once I have recorded the vocals and decided I like the song enough, I’ll take it to a producer to help me pull it all together.

I usually know right away if it is a song I like based on the feeling I get. It’s tough to explain. It’s just a vibe, really. If I am not overthinking and I am just letting the music pour out of me without trying to control it too much, those are almost always the best songs. The feeling is there the whole time, so I don’t have to really think about it or question anything.

So what’s next for you in 2023, what are some big goals you hope to accomplish before the end of the year?

This year feels like the very beginning. This is all new territory for me, so I don’t exactly know what to expect from 2023 yet. My goal is to stay locked in and be in a position to seize every opportunity as it comes. I have a ton to learn, so my main intentions for this year are to really focus on refining my skills musically and artistically and continue to write and create. I would really like to release a few more songs before the year ends. I have two in particular I am currently really excited about. That, and my focus is on performing a lot more. Live shows, 2023!!

For brand new singers looking to get started in 2023 what’s some advice you would give?

Hmm… I guess I would say to trust your gut, because that will guide you in the right direction. If you’re ever confused or not sure of what to do next, you always have that internal compass you can turn to that’ll never steer you wrong. That, and know why you are creating and why you want to sing, and remind yourself of that “why” each day. Create for that reason. It is easy to get swept up in everything else, so try to stay rooted in that. That way you’ll be able to keep pushing through all the tough shit that comes along with being an artist. Your “why” will also allow you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, which is a huge key to seizing opportunity and your growth as a singer/artist. So, trust your gut and remember your “why.”

Any last words?

Thank you so much for taking the time to get to know me a bit. “Losing” is out everywhere now!! Go stream it and watch the music video! & More music is on the way. ;)