Nezsa is an emerging Nigerian RnB artist living in Canada, with firsthand knowledge of what it means to represent music as an art, and not just another means of income. With roots from the motherland, but geographically in North America, it’s easy to guess that bridging both her audiences might pose an issue. In spite of this, she continues to pursue her musical career with the sole purpose of actualizing her vision to make a long lasting impact in the global music industry.
With two EPs and multiple singles under her belt, she is more than ever, determined to grow as an artist and more so, a Nigerian artist.
From random conversations about music, to creating a verse for her friend, and her eventual pivot into full time music, Nesza tells it all in her latest interview with DigiMillennials. She also talks about her journey in the Nigerian music industry thus far, lessons learnt, and what she hopes to achieve, going forward.
How did the name “Nezsa” come about?
My name was initially ‘Nessa’, the short form of Vanessa, until I realized that there were a few big accounts with the name Nessa, and felt I needed a change. It also came at a time where it felt like I had a breakthrough – sort of like an insight – on how I wanted to portray myself. So it just made sense that I either revamped the name or changed it completely.
At what point did you decide to do music professionally?
I started by just listening to music. I have been in love with music from the first moment I heard it. I would always sing in my room or perform in the mirror. So that dream had always been there, but I never really saw how I could make it a reality while I was in Nigeria. It was the case of me just dreaming of doing music, as opposed to actually getting into the process of making music.
It was when I came to Canada, and met with my friends on a day they decided to make music, they asked if I had an idea for the music they were trying to make, so I randomly dropped a verse and they said ‘yeah, you are on this song’. When the song came out, people started asking ‘who is this girl’ and then it dawned on me that there just might be something here. So I got a makeshift studio in my room and ever since, it has been up from there.
As a Nigerian artist based in Canada, does your geographical location affect the quality of your listenership and by extension, streaming numbers on each project?
100%. I sometimes feel like I am in a weird position, because most of the people that interact with my music are Nigerians. So, I am still figuring it out, and I don’t know a lot of Nigerian artists living in Canada that have had a breakthrough with this. I also don’t know how strong the diasporan audience is, compared to the UK where there are Nigerian artists who started off there, and were able to break into the Nigerian music industry from there.
“10 years from now, people will listen to my songs and it will feel like I just released them.
It sometimes feels like there is an easy and fluid transition from the UK to Nigeria, compared to Canada and Nigeria. I am still navigating that part, but it is definitely challenging. Regardless of these, I am grateful for the good things I keep experiencing everyday with my music and glad I can still continue this journey.
What’s the most interesting thing about the kind of music you do?
The most interesting thing about it is that people who knew me before I started making music, always find it shocking when they discover I was the one that sang a particular song. It is really not the sound you will expect from a Nigerian, conventionally.
Your most recent project; ‘Soul searching’ comes in four years after your last one. Was this intentional or for reasons beyond control?
It wasn’t my plan at all. When COVID hit with the subsequent lockdown that followed, there was a stall on my music and I took a break. When I came back, It was with new management and sometimes, the freedom you once enjoyed as an independent artist might not be the same when you have a management.
For instance, when I dropped Bitter-Sweet in 2020, it was just my manager and I. The project was a freestyled release because I didn’t drop a lead single or anything to tease the project. I just released the project outrightly, to see what happens. But for my latest work; Soul Searching, there was a lot of deliberating on what will be the lead single, and several factors came into play, which influenced the roll out plan.
How has the reception of this new project been for you?
It slightly exceeded my expectation because for the most part, the project was basically out before its official release. This was as a result of delays that made us release more singles than we should have, before the EP was out. So a week before the official release, I felt I wasn’t really bringing anything new, aside from one or two songs. But I quickly had a rethink and said to myself that there are probably people who just discovered me, who will hear these songs for the first time, and that gave me the needed comfort.
I was also surprised and happy with the support from DSPs and the general reception from fans. I was the face of Apple Music Up Next & Africa Now, which I felt good about. So it definitely exceeded my expectations.
Do you look forward to working with any artist/artists?
Bloody Civilian! I am open to working with anybody if we can connect, but the reason I said Bloody Civilian is because I already have a song that feels like a perfect fit for her. I am always of the opinion that until I have a concrete idea of someone that would be the perfect fit for a song, I won’t name drop. So I really think she would like the song, taking into consideration the beat and other highlights of the song. But asides her and in general, I would say Rema, Burna Boy, Amaarae, amongst others.
If you could give advice to someone looking to get into music as an artist, what would that be?
Be ready to fail, be ready to embarrass yourself, and be ready to put yourself in situations you have never been, to be able to grow and be a better artist. If you want to remain the same and claim you know everything, you are not going to get anywhere. Because in this industry, you need mentors and people to actually advise you.
Should we expect more music from you this year, or even another project?
Definitely. I have a lot of music to share, it’s just timing and a lot of backend that is stalling everything. I am definitely dropping a few more singles this year.
If/when you decide to stop doing music professionally, what do you hope to have achieved?
Impact! The most important thing to me is impact. To know that 10 years from now, people will listen to my songs and it will feel like I just released them. Basically, for my songs to be evergreen.
Chukwuebuka Mgbemena is a writer focused on the Nigerian & African entertainment industry. He loves fashion, art and is a staunch chess player.
