Honeybees, it’s time to sweat. If you haven’t heard the name NEZZA by now, then we need you to lock in right here right now. She’s everything we’ve been needing in our dream pop girl – the visuals actually matching up with the addictive pop production threaded throughout her music, the full fantasy captured in choreography and outfits, and branding that is unique and relatable for any music lover. She has a flame under her that is impossible to put out. NEZZA is determined to get your attention with the release of her album, SWEAT, and we have to admit, she did just that.
You can listen to SWEAT here and learn more about NEZZA in our interview below!
Hi NEZZA, welcome to The Honey POP, and thank you for chatting with us today. To get us started, tell us a little bit about your journey to finding music and what that looks like today.
Music has been at the forefront of my life since I was in diapers! Dance took over for a lot of my childhood so I actually didn’t discover that I could sing until high school. I entered a talent show, and the rest is history haha. I feel like I’m still continuing to find my voice and discover who I am as an artist, which is honestly one of my favorite parts of the journey.
You are from the Bay Area! The Bay is known for its signature hyphy subgenre — how did growing up in the Bay Area affect the type of music you make, if at all?
The Bay Area movement for sure! If there’s one thing about Bay Area natives, it’s that we know how to get DOWN. That energy definitely stuck with me, so naturally, I want to make music that makes people want to move.
Talk to us about the Latin influences in your music. How has your heritage moved you through your music?
Latinos are very passionate people, and I think that naturally comes through in my music. Whether I’m singing about love, heartbreak, confidence, or just having a good time, I feel everything very deeply. I also love weaving Spanish and English together because that’s such an authentic reflection of who I am and how I grew up.
Congratulations on your performance at Outside Lands! Walk us through how the day went and how it felt singing in front of so many people in your hometown.
It still doesn’t feel real! Like, what do you mean my first major festival was a homecoming?! Getting to perform at Outside Lands in the place that raised me was such a full-circle moment. The most special part was having so many of my friends and family in the crowd. I don’t think I’ll ever forget looking out and seeing their faces! It made the whole experience that much more special.
Are there any other singers that are inspiring you right now, or any who you saw at Outside Lands that have given you inspiration for performing live?
Oh my gosh, SO MANY!! There are so many girly pops killing it right now that I look up to—Doja Cat, Karol G, Tate McRae, Becky G, Adéla, Sienna Spiro, Tinashe! I actually got to catch Tinashe and Sienna’s sets at Outside Lands and was BLOWN away. Seeing other women absolutely own the stage always inspires me and makes me want to level up my own live show even more.
A lot of our readers are also big bookworms. We know you have a digital book club with your best friend, Franny, and we’ve loved tuning into the Twitch streams when we can. What are some recent reads that you’ve picked up?
We just read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke and were STUNNED by the plot! I’m also currently impatiently awaiting the next ACOTAR book. Like, I literally feel uneasy thinking about how badly I need it!!!
When you’re not in the studio cooking up absolute pop perfection, how are you spending your free time?
I weirdly love a day where I can put my headphones on and just deep clean my house haha. There’s something so satisfying about putting on some music, getting everything in order, and then ending the day cuddled up with my dogs. That’s honestly my perfect reset day.
Up next, you’ve got your debut album dropping on September 18! Walk us through the making of SWEAT and what you hope fans take away from the new songs.
It’s been so fun tapping into this rebel-girl side of NEZZA while making SWEAT. I really let myself be bold, confident, and a little more unapologetic with this album. More than anything, I hope girls listen to it and feel like the absolute baddest versions of themselves and dance while doing it, of course!
We picture ourselves streaming SWEAT for the first time at night with our best friends, perhaps on our way to the club. For you, what would be the ideal location to listen to the new album in?
A warm night in LA, windows down, driving down Sunset Blvd with your girls. SWEAT blasting, and everyone in the car getting ready for whatever trouble the night brings haha.
Thanks so much for joining us today, NEZZA! Do you have any final words for our readers and your fans?
Thank you so much for having me! To everyone who’s been listening, watching, dancing, and supporting me through this journey, I love you endlessly. I’m so excited for you to finally hear SWEAT and enter this next era with me. I hope it makes you dance, feel hot, feel confident, and maybe make a few questionable decisions haha. See you September 18th!
Join us in celebrating NEZZA’s new release! We can’t wait to dance with you all to all the new songs on SWEAT. Will you be streaming the new album? Let us know by buzzing with us on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram.
Explore more exciting music content here, honeybee.
