Q&A: NEA's 'Transparent' is A Sonic Journey of Authenticity
SWEDISH POP SENSATION NEA steps into the spotlight with her highly anticipated album, Transparent. True to its name, Transparent lays bare NEA's soul. In standout tracks like "Take It as a Man," she powerfully explores abuse, aiming for a groovy sound to balance its weight. NEA insists on the necessity of embracing the full spectrum of emotions and experiences in music.
The album delves into the multifaceted landscape of love, from the romantic to the platonic, crafting a nuanced narrative of life's beautiful, ugly, and sad sides. NEA's playful side shines in tracks like "A Lover Like Me" and "YES," contributing to the album's vibrant energy. She doesn't overlook the importance of friendships, often overshadowed by romantic love, as seen in tracks like "Losing a Friend" and "Chosen Family."
Transparent isn't just NEA's musical journey; it's an invitation for listeners to embark on a sonic exploration of self-discovery, love, and authenticity. As NEA bares her soul in every note and lyric, the album stands as a testament to the power of transparent storytelling in music. Read below to learn about he personal stories and emotions woven into Transparent.
LUNA: Transparent delves into your personal stories and emotions. How was the experience of transitioning from writing for other artists to crafting a deeply personal album?
NEA: When I write for other artists I want to dig into their vibe, sound, and life stories. Ask them what they want to say and in what way. When I started writing for my own album, I wanted to ask the same questions to myself.
I had some kind of vision to have songs on the record that were so personal and transparent (no pun intended lol) that I could never give them to another artist ‘cus they were so much my own true story. I’m thinking especially about Losing a Friend, Imagine and Take it as a Man. They're almost like a diary. But it’s funny - when you think you're super personal it often turns out people can connect with the music. I guess we humans are not that different after all.
LUNA: "Take it as a Man" is a powerful track addressing the difficult topic of abuse. How did you approach writing and producing this song, balancing its serious theme with a groovy pop sound?
NEA: “Take It as a Man” is one of those songs that literally flooded out of me. I think it was a story I had been needing to tell for a long time, and when I finally was ready to write it, it was so fast. I wrote most of the lyrics on a tube ride home from the studio with my heart hammering in my chest, and then picked up my guitar and just sang it. Then Daniel Ledinsky came in and did the production. I wanted the sound to be groovy and feel good almost - to balance the heavy subject. To begin with I thought I wrote it only for my ears though. I had a feeling no one wants to hear heavy or dark songs, only the feel-good stuff. But here we are, and I do think it’s important with the full spectrum of emotions and experiences in music too. To be transparent.
LUNA: The album explores various facets of love, from romance to friendship. How do these different modes of love shape the narrative of Transparent?
NEA: Yes! I wanted it to be an album about all sides of life. The beautiful sides, the romantic sides, the ugly and sad sides too. That’s why Transparent felt like the right title for it.
LUNA: Your career-driven lifestyle is a unique aspect highlighted in the album. How do you navigate the tension between personal relationships and your dedication to music?
NEA: Ahhh I don’t! Haha. No, but I always wish I had more time for everything. More time to be an artist, more time to be a songwriter. More time for my friends and my boyfriend and family too. I definitely work too much but it’s also my favorite thing so it’s hard to stop.
LUNA: “A Lover Like Me" explores the concept of being unsatisfied with available lovers. Can you share more about the inspiration behind this track and how you approached its production?
NEA: I really stepped into a persona of being sassy and over-the-top confident. Me and Daniel Ledinsky had so much fun writing it. Complaining about my lovers and lifting myself up as the perfect person. Production-wise we wanted a ruff unpolished sound and the horns you hear are live recorded.
LUNA: “YES" seems to celebrate the adrenaline rush of openness. What inspired this track, and how does it contribute to the overall energy of the album?
NEA: Yesss, that's a great way of describing the song. To me, it's one of those feel-good tracks that you can just float along with. It’s about like you say, being open to what comes your way and going with it.
LUNA: The album includes poignant moments about friendships, like "Losing a Friend" and "Chosen Family." How do these tracks add depth to the overall narrative of "Transparent”?
NEA: I feel like I’ve been writing hundreds of songs about romantic love, but almost none about friendships. It’s like that type of love is less valued in the eyes of the world but my friends are SO important to me, and I wanted to reflect that in this album.
LUNA: What do you hope listeners take away from "Transparent," and how has this album shaped your identity as an artist?
NEA: I hope the listener can recognize themselves in the lyrics and emotions of these songs. To me, as an artist, it feels like a BIG step to have released my first album. Hopefully, it will give the listener a bigger picture of who I am as an artist and help more people find my music.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of the year?
NEA: First of all, I can’t wait to follow the journey of this album. And I’m also really looking forward to just continuing to write songs - for me as an artist and for other artists. I’ve been traveling a lot the whole year with long trips to LA and London so I’m actually looking forward to being mainly in Sweden for the end of the year and writing with the amazing songwriters and artists of Stockholm.
