NURIA the brave
NURIA is the embodiment of what it means to be independent in this era of music, she is strong, intelligent, and talented. To talk to NURIA is refreshing and honest, she is funny and it is obvious she runs her own race and she is ok with that. NURIA has just released the broody indie pop, track ‘Fucking Your Style’, a song about pure empowerment, something most of us need a little help to achieve. We caught up with NURIA to chat about the new track, the challenges faced by Indie’s and the dream of a little acapella number with Vera Blue and Kate Miller Heidke.
For those that haven’t heard your music before, how do you describe your sound?
Electro indie-pop centred around vocals and textured with the simmering production of Sam Phay. Or something like that. I find it terribly difficult to describe my music without sounding like an idiot!
“Be the unique, weird and beautiful human that you are! Own that shit!”
Tell us about your new song 'Fucking Your Style'? What do you hope the listener takes away from the track?
It’s a track about accepting and owning all the little complicated bits of ourselves. I’ve always had a tendency to beat myself up about stuff (not literally jeepers), easily feeling criticised or somehow fundamentally flawed. But it’s something that I also increasingly recognise comes mostly from myself rather than from anyone else. Actually, most people don’t really give a toss. This song came about when I was so tired of feeling that sense of needing to apologise for myself and I saw it from a different perspective - like ‘hmm, actually, maybe I’m alright’. It was a hugely satisfying song to write and also powerful in that it made me realise that all those little bits I felt I needed to hide are actually not really a big deal. Everyone’s got shit and if we can have a bit of a laugh about that, know that we are doing our best in this fickle life and get on with it then I think everyone can all round have a much better time. I hope that listeners feel empowered by that idea and that it might help stop people from feeling they need to hide something of themselves. Be the unique, weird and beautiful human that you are! Own that shit!
What does the song mean to you? Did writing this make an impact on you personally?
Yeah like I said, it’s been a powerful song in reminding me to that I’m ok just the way I am (mostly). Of course we keep working on the things that we feel we need to, right, but overall I think a greater acceptance of the imperfect is a good thing. There are so many pressures in this world, humans are expected to do so much these days, life is so busy, so complicated! Hell, we are all doing our best! Personally, I’ve had my challenges mental health-wise over the years, mostly around insecurities etc. This song and a general shift in my perspective has been so helpful in making me more accepting of myself and confident in just being who I am.
You released back-to-back albums in 2020 & 2021 Can we expect another album out before the end of the year?
Hmmm, yeah. It’s tempting, isn’t it? I do love a little pattern. Look, I’ll be honest and tell you the album is indeed ready. I find the writing of music much easier than the promotion side of things so I often end up with a bit of a bottleneck on the releasing end! But we’ll see. If I can get off my lazy little bottom there’ll certainly be a 2023 album.
“Sometimes it’s hard to know what is pure and good in the industry and what is just exploitation!”
Your debut album featured in the Top 10 of the 2020 Australian Songwriters and you made it to the International Unsigned Only competition semi-finals. Did the recognition you have already received surprise you, especially being an independent artist?
I never really know what to expect in this music game. Sometimes, yes, I feel surprised and really happy that I’m getting some recognition. Other times I get a bit jaded and feel like all these music competitions are just taking my money and making a huge business out of the vulnerability of uber-keen emerging artists. Sometimes it’s hard to know what is pure and good in the industry and what is just exploitation!
What the best things about being an independent artists?
I guess there is a lot of freedom in what I do. I can write whatever I want, I can switch genres if I want. Blah, blah. There’s no expectation on me which I suppose is quite nice.
What’s the hardest part of being an independent artist?
It’s a hell of a slog. And these days with soooo many people able to make music from the comforts of their bedroom it feels that there is very little space for all the indie artists to shine. And without the support of anyone, it becomes incredibly expensive and draining to try to get it out there! Of course, media outlets are slammed, I totally get that. But the result is endless, endless unanswered emails. It is, I must say, slightly demoralising. I think the other aspect with making music these days is that with everything being online and social media based it’s so hard to gauge the success. It can seem like it’s all dependent on how many ‘likes’ and the inverse of that is if people don’t ‘like’ it maybe they don’t like it. Oh no! It’s hard for that not to feel personal even though I try, try, try not to take it that way. Indeed it’s a game of trying to maintain positivity!
How did you get your start in music?
I’ve always played music and written since I was a mournful adolescent in love with lots of boys who didn’t love me back. What better way to process the emotions than write a very depressing song about it? Boohoo. Sometimes I feel like I should have just stuck with the music, the songwriting and not bothered with trying to release it and share it with the world because that is so hard. But alas. Here I am! And I’m grateful for the support that I do get so thank you guys for the interview by the way!
“I think the first album I bought that really inspired me to write was Missy Higgins ‘Sound of White’. Being a pianist myself with all my coinciding teenage woes I really connected with her.”
What was the first album or song you remember buying or that really made an impact you?
Well, I’ve recently been reminded of the first album I bought on another interview - Shania Twain ‘Come on Over’. Ah, the memories. But it wasn’t Shania that really inspired me to write music though she’s a cracking songstress good on her. I think the first album I bought that really inspired me to write was Missy Higgins ‘Sound of White’. Being a pianist myself with all my coinciding teenage woes I really connected with her. I learnt to play all the songs from her album and it was a very natural extension to start writing myself.
Who do you credit as your musical influences?
These are such intuitive questions that I find myself keeping on going ahead and answering the next question before I read it. Sorry! As above, a lot of my early influence came from Missy Higgins. Through different stages of my life that has shifted and includes loads of female artists - Kate Miller Heidke, Regina Spektor, Lorde, Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, Amy Shark, G Flip, Vera Blue, Billie Eilish - all the ladies!
Who would be your ultimate Collab Partner be?
Let’s picture a little trio, shall we? How about me, Vera Blue and Kate Miller Heidke? A little acapella number with three part harmonies, three tone hair colours and appropriate levels of glitter? Absolute winning idea.
“My Husband... is my constant reminder not to buy into the shit of who ‘likes’, ‘shares’ or blows snot bubbles but to focus on the music and to have confidence in the quality of it”
Who in your crew or team deserves a shout out but never gets one? And what is they do that keeps your world turning?
My husband. Bless his cotton tea towel he genuinely loves my music and takes no part in social media. He is my constant reminder not to buy into the shit of who ‘likes’, ‘shares’ or blows snot bubbles but to focus on the music and to have confidence in the quality of it. He also does the dishes every night and wears his cotton tea towel as a scarf in a picture of domesticity which I tell you is drop-dead sexy.
What's next for you? What can we expect with 2023 approaching?
Hopefully some nice local live experiences with my new band. I really want to move away from the virtual world and back into things that are real and meaningful, small and local. I’ve realised that is where happiness lies - not in the big time streaming thing but in precious, actual life.
Interview by Michelle Symes
October 2022