Many will hear NAYAH return with new music, revealing yet another facet of her upcoming debut album. You may recall that her spring single ‘all my friends are growing up’ balanced melancholy and euphoria, while her new song ‘catch my love’ appears to be more direct. You find her in the midst of an intense encounter with a potential flirt—and she makes it clear she’s the one setting the boundaries.
You get the point in her own words: “It’s a song about feeling attraction and excitement while still standing strong in yourself. “You can enjoy a bit of fun with someone without revealing your entire self,” says NAYAH.. ‘catch my love’ is about owning your feelings and desires and daring to say yes to connections without losing yourself in the process.
You hear a feminine, cheeky, and in-control tone throughout the single. With flirtatious synth hooks, pulsing rhythms, and a shimmering Y2K universe, the production by Sebastian Owens and Marcus Elkjer (Svea S, Bifald) delivers tight, pop-driven energy, while NAYAH’s vocals and attitude set the confident tone.
You should view the single as the next step toward her debut album, set to release this autumn. The first single, ‘all my friends are growing up‘, was playlisted on New Music Friday Denmark and received attention from international outlets such as InMusic and Buzz Slayers. Wordplay Magazine wrote, “The track captures the bittersweet moment when the dance floor starts to feel a little less crowded, and the weight of adult life begins to settle in.”
You can trace NAYAH’s rise from her 2015 breakthrough: her track ‘Bad Bitches‘ was selected as Track of the Week on P3, and GAFFA called her “a rising pop star.” Since then, she has landed a spot on New Music Friday Denmark with every single, and with ‘catch my love’ she sharpens her sonic identity and makes it clear she’s not here to blend in.
What does your music say about you?
“That I’m a hopeless romantic who likes to dwell in lost love. But also like to dance and have fun and enjoy life. Balance.”
How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a melody in your head and then write the other music for it?
“It really depends! Most of the time we start with the chords and then build a melody or topline from there. But lately we’ve been experimenting more and it’s been working really well. Sometimes we’ll just sit down and share what we’ve been going through or how we’ve been feeling. Then from there we find a theme we want to write about. In those cases we might start with the lyrics, like the chorus, and then create the melody either during or after the writing process. It’s been working really well.”
Is there a city or venue that holds special significance to you, and can you share a memorable experience from there?
“When I first started releasing music I was on tour as the opening act for a major artist back home in Denmark. We had two sold-out shows at the prestigious Concert Hall of Copenhagen (Koncerthuset) and it was an unforgettable experience to perform for such a large audience in that beautiful venue – just me and my pianist, playing an acoustic version of the EP I had released at the time. We got a standing ovation. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back again someday.”
If we were to look at the artists you are listening to, who would be on your playlist?
“This is actually a bit funny, because the music I make is quite different from what I usually listen to. I’m a huge fan of modern, electronic production. Artists like Kelela really inspire me and I also love afropop, especially Wizkid. But deep down my heart belongs to the music of the ’50s through the ’80s. I’m a total vintage music lover. Give me Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Buffalo Springfield, Rolling Stones… that era just speaks to my soul.”
What can we expect from you within the next 6 months? Any releases planned? Future gigs?
“Right now, I’m working on my first album, which is super exciting! We’ve got a couple more singles coming out before the full album drops in November. Since it’s an independent release there’s going to be a lot of hard work involved in promoting it – but I’m ready for it and really looking forward to sharing everything I’ve been creating with my boys in the studio.”
If you were a tree, what kind would you be, and why?
“A palm tree. All kinds of them! I was born for the sun and that’s exactly what palm trees represent to me. Sunshine, heat, summer and the beauty of warm, tropical nature. They’re just so magnificent and elegant and always make a place feel special – like they warm your soul in a way. I know I’m where I belong when there are palm trees around.”
Are you a cat or dog person?
“Dog dog dog all the way. We don’t deserve them, they’re perfect.”
What would be a suitable theme song for your life?
“Madonna – Don’t tell me”
Which fictional character do you wish was real?
“Yoda.”
If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?
“Any advice for present me???”