Debut: Nerika "Runnin"
NERIKA HAS MADE HER ENTRANCE INTO THE MUSIC SCENE AND IT WASN'T QUIET. The 22-year-old Jamaican-American singer/songwriter recently released her debut music video for her upbeat song "Runnin".
The Luna Collective got a chance to have a quick interview with Nerika about her New Hampshire and Jamaican background, her music and of course the "Runnin" music video.
LUNA: What's the biggest way your background of both New Hampshire and Jamaica has impacted yourself as an artist and your music?
NERIKA: My answer to that question changes based on the day because I think it’s honestly affected almost every part of me. But it’s allowed me to see things from many different perspectives and has helped me to always stay open. I’m constantly aware of the fact that there is so much more to the world than one’s present reality and we are generally fundamentally the same at the end of the day. It's helped me understand people a lot, therefore understand the world a little bit easier.
I don’t really try to add elements of both cultures to my music, but it always ends up happening that way, even when I try to run away from it...which I have. But when it comes down to it, it’s what feels right. I think being from both the islands and a super suburban state has helped me to become a bit of a shapeshifter and given me a greater appreciation for different cultures and differences within people.
LUNA: What do you want people to take away from your music?
NERIKA: I want people to hear my lyrics or feel the energy within them and find something they can grab onto, anything to help them along the way in this crazy life. I want people to hear the truth. I’ve always felt most connected to the artists who are incredibly honest and transparent (s/o to Sza, haha), those who aren’t striving to fit a mold afraid or are too afraid to do or say things that don’t align with their “image”. We’ve seen that..we’ve tasted that..and I honestly think we’re past that.
I’ve always had a deep hunger for knowledge and a desire to strive for "self-centeredness" and I hope that I can pass on some of that energy. I grew up listening to a lot of reggae music and it really is the recipe sometimes. While often speaking of struggle and pain there's always a form resilience and good vibes in amidst all of the destruction, whether it’s in the words of positivity or just the groove that just makes you want to close your eyes, smile, and just breathe in all of life’s endless possibilities.
LUNA: What was the process of filming "Runnin" like? The music video is so fun I imagine it was a lot of fun.
NERIKA: It was super fun!I get to have someone beat my face and dance around for a few hours? OK! It was just a bunch of college kids on set so it honestly didn’t feel like we were actually working which is always a good feeling. We got a lot of different shots and I have a pretty short attention span so moving from one thing to the next was definitely ideal for me. When you have so many creatives in one room and you spend all day together you subconsciously soak up so many different worldviews which is always dope. One of my best friends, Austin Crute who also produced the track “Runnin” came through for the Chinatown shots. I think the shots outside were the best part for me because we basically just all hung out, talked, and laughed while getting filmed.
LUNA: What can we expect next from you?
NERIKA: Definitely, definitely a lot more content. I’m super excited to share more parts of myself that I haven’t yet with the world. I spent a lot of time these past few months doing hella gigs, but what you can expect next is a lot more visual and recorded content very soon. Other than more projects, I’m just going with it and seeing where it takes me."
“Runnin” recently made it into the top 25 for Afropunk’s battle of the band's competition, which you can vote to see Nerika play at the festival here.
