Q&A: Nari
FROM THE VERY FIRST LISTEN, Nari's voice is sweet and soothing, her music comforting. It wraps you in a blanket, and pulls you close. In these tough times, sometimes, this soft comfort, this feeling of home, is all one needs.
Having started to make music only recently, Nari has already gained a fairly large audience that has fallen in love with her music, and how personal it is. The success she has gained in this little time, she says, has been entirely unexpected, and yet something she is more than grateful for.
With her first EP Overgrown coming out soon, Nari talks about her secret crush, her inspirations (including her best friend Julia) and her advice for artists while in isolation.
LUNA: How have you seen your music evolve since you first starting getting into this a year ago?
NARI: My music has changed dramatically from when I first started. I think when I first got into it, I was making real simple beats on Garageband with samples because that's all I knew how to do. I didn't know how to play instruments let alone record them. Slowly, over the past year, I’ve taught myself different instruments and how to listen to music. I’ve since moved away from ‘lofi chill beats’ to making the music I have always wanted to be making.
LUNA: What’s been inspiring you lately?
NARI: Nothing super productive, but when I'm not super sleep-deprived, I find myself being inspired by my secret crush who I’m unable to see right now because of quarantine! Makes for great songwriting though.
LUNA: Are there are individuals or artists, musical or not, that have shaped your upcoming music? Any shoutouts?
NARI: Faye Webster! Faye is an amazing songwriter and someone I look up to so much. I listen to her album Atlanta Millionaires Club religiously. Another person who has been inspiring me is my best friend Julia Tamaoki, who I talk about quite often (I wrote a song about her). She's not musical but she’s always inspired me.
LUNA: How often are you thinking about your listener when writing? Is it difficult to touch on more personal topics?
NARI: I’ve actually never thought about this before. Every song I write is super personal and are topics I find hard to articulate outside of my music. I never expected people would be listening to my music and I’d be doing music professionally. At the time I just needed an outlet for a string of failed romantic endeavors that had been bringing me down. I still find it crazy that people listen to the music I make and are able to make their own connections to their own lives and feel for my music in their own way, despite me writing all my music about my own personal life. I think that’s the best part of music.
LUNA: You have an EP coming out in August, Overgrown - congrats! Can you talk a bit more about the creative process for that and what we can expect?
NARI: Thank you, I never thought I’d be releasing an EP of my own! These are a collection of songs I started writing last April after working with Nashville band, Okey Dokey, on our collaboration. My process is more of my way of journaling. I'll get stuck on a feeling I can’t shake and that's when I’ll pull out my guitar and noodle with a simple chord progression. From there, I’ll sing whatever I’m feeling, whether or not it rhymes or makes sense at the time. Then later, I’ll write it out and tweak it until it forms a song. All of this can range from a few hours to even a few days. Everyone can expect a lot of my personal feelings and swooning guitar and bass!
LUNA: Is there something in particular you want people to take away from your music?
NARI: I love when people can make their own ideas and connections with a piece of music. I love getting messages from people telling me how my songs connected with them.
LUNA: I love your Instagram! It really showcases your personality and lets your audience connect with you. What role has social media played in your career?
NARI: I think a lot of people who listen to my music first and then find my social media, are pleasantly surprised by how I am on my social media. I think I use it like any other 20 year old, I post whatever I like and I don’t take myself very seriously. I just like to have fun with my followers. We’re all friends and I love reading and responding to comments. Occasionally I’ll post something ‘business’, but it's mostly just me being myself.
LUNA: Are there any other creative outlets you’d like to explore more? Maybe a quarantine hobby?
NARI: Before doing music, I had danced for around 15 years of my life, so I've been trying to do more of that. I haven't been doing anything too intense, but I will put on my favorite playlist and dance around in my room because it is something I love.
LUNA: How are you taking care of yourself during these weird times? Any advice for fellow musicians?
NARI: Honestly, I have not been taking care of myself. I sleep in too late or not at all and I play too much Animal Crossing. If I were to give advice, it would be to not pressure yourself on creating something– forcing it won't do your art any good. It’s perfectly okay to use this time to relax and reconnect yourself to your center.
LUNA: I know things are crazy now and I’m sure a lot has changed for you, but do you have any goals for this year that’d you like to share?
NARI: I have yet to think of any goals for this year, last year was such a big year of growth and I had already accomplished things I had given myself 5 years to accomplish, and I am truly grateful. I think that this year all I was really looking to do was play more shows, see my friends and watch them play more live shows. Maybe even get a boyfriend.
