Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadirah Naima.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
So my father gave me the middle name “Naima” not only for its meaning (Gift from God) but he also gained inspiration from John Coltrane’s 1959 jazz ballad “Naima”.
Oftentimes, when I was fussy as a baby my parents would play that song to soothe me. I was recently told by my mother that the night I was conceived my parents made love to Dexter Gordon. I say that to say that my genesis as an artist began at the moment of conception. My father is a jazz aficionado, and my mother is an overall music lover of all genres. My family has an extremely rich history not only in music but in art itself.
I’ve never known a life void of creative expression. My first experience with performance art was dance. I danced jazz, tap, and ballet as a child. I began writing poetry and songs at the age of 5. Throughout my years in elementary and middle school, I acted in multiple stage plays, wrote stories, sang in talent shows, and choir. I did a lot of drawing and collage making and studied the works of my favorite artists. In high school, I began writing a lot more and started putting out freestyles on Facebook. I started going to the studio and just exploring my style and artistry more.
I briefly went to community college in Camden New Jersey for broadcast journalism but wasn’t fulfilled. I left home at the age of 19 to move to Miami from Jersey in hopes of becoming the artist I knew I truly could be. In 2016 I had an online radio show in Miami called “For the Culture” where I gave my opinion on the latest news in music. I made a lot of connections and eventually found my tribe through that experience.
From 2016 to 2020, I wrote and sang hooks for a lot of artists, but I realized I was running away from my artistry and completely immersed myself into solo artistry in 2020.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle for me has been self and time. I am my biggest critic, and it can be a detriment. Not wanting to release projects because I don’t feel as though they’re good enough. In the past, I would constantly question my artistic worth which only led to stagnation and a cycle of low vibrational thoughts and feelings that prohibited me from growing and releasing.
Time and I often have a chaotic relationship because I am an intuitive artist and if something doesn’t sit right with me, I’m not doing it until I gain clarity on the situation. The battle between “I am procrastinating because I’m questioning my worth and “Let me sit with this until the spirit tells me what to do” is real and requires a level of discernment that can only be reached through deep healing and stillness. I’ve been traveling down a road paved with the skin of a pubescent teenager… acne lane…BUMPY! But there are always those moments of clarity and complete security within surrender that makes it all worthwhile.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work is cathartic. I translate spirit into song. I am a vessel that spirit pours into and speaks through. Mostly all of my work is based on real life scenarios. If not my life then the life of others that I have witnessed first hand. I love telling stories and painting a vivid picture. Im a cancer, Ive always used feeling as a way of understanding. I write what’s on my heart and what’s in my soul. In 2015 I was introduced to an art collective in Miami called Blck Family. This is where I met my creative tribe and began to blossom as an artist.
The first song I ever released is called Yesteryear. The song is basically a look into the mind of someone who is allowing a past version of themself to take over their current reality. The melodies are haunting and pulling. “Free” was my second song. Free is much lighter, playful and upbeat it’s a declaration to freedom of mind body and spirit. In the most recent song I released “Feel No Fear” Im telling the story of someone who has had enough of their own self sabotage and has decided to stand up for their self by doing away with fearful rhetoric and embracing change. In 2020 I was featured on Billion Berg’s (formerly known as Ice Berg) album Power over popularity 2. “Jah Bless” is one of the most popular songs on the album according to Apple Music. Zoey Dollaz and I have an Afrobeat song coming out this year. Ive been blessed to have been mentored by Wise Intelligent from the legendary rap group Poor Righteous Teachers. Not only am I a hip-hop/rap head but I am also a Neo-Soul R&B girl so sharing the stage with Sunshine Anderson was a really cool thing for me. Recently I linked up with Aj Mcqueen and we remixed Bilal’s Soul Sista which ended up going viral. In 2 days we reached 1 million views and in less than 1 week we reached 2 million views. The video now has over 3 million views and is still growing. It has received head nods from Bilal himself as well as Floacist from Floetry and a few other pioneers of the Neo-Soul genre. Currently I am working on a project called the Love Document. This will be comprised of songs about my experience with love, Good and Bad. In the mean time catch me on socials putting out new remix videos and covers weekly.
What do you specialize in and what sets you apart from the rest?
Outside of being an artist my whole life. I’ve been working in hospitality/food and beverage since I was 14. In this field my ability to genuinely love on others in the exact way that is needed for them at that moment is what sets me apart from others.
I’ve always had this innate ability to see what a person needs and to make myself available to provide it for them while maintaining respectable boundaries for myself. That can look as simple as lending an ear to hear or an eye to acknowledge. One thing I know for sure is that spirit will always provide for those who don’t seek reciprocity when authentically giving the gift that is bestowed upon them.
I’ve worked for the mom-and-pop neighborhood restaurants providing service for the group of kids that come every day after school for a slice of pizza, the old lady that comes in with her dog to look over the menu with me for the 100th time just for some human interaction. I’ve worked in sketchy strip clubs providing service for… well, you know lol. I’ve worked in the most prestigious hotel cocktail lounges providing service for the so-called “Elite”, Millionaires, Billionaires, your favorite “celebrities” as well as your local “celebrities.” I’ve received awards and accolades for my uncanny ability to connect and intuitively anticipate the needs of others in the hospitality realm.
The thing I am most proud of is MY HEART! The smile that appears on my face during adversity. You see you have to be a special type of person to work in hospitality and reach the level I did because it’s not for the faint of heart. When being a Server/Cocktail server/bartender you are constantly managing the energies of others while balancing and maintaining your own. When you are “in the weeds” and the assholes at table 44 are being rude to you and you just got triple sat (one of the tables being a 15 top). You have to be mindful to not bring that tension from table 44 to the rest of your section, while simultaneously pulling positive inspiration and motivation from the rest of your tables to combat the negativity….. Do you feel me?
It’s a game of alchemy! You’re an actor and the floor is your stage… you get on that floor, and you work for your Emmy every night in tips…in connections, and if you’re not fueled by love and you lack integrity that life can transform you into a superficial monster. I specialize in matters of the heart and hospitality gave me the platform to exercise my ability to love on people. It taught me how much to give, how much to receive, how much to do away with. It allowed me the ability to recognize people for who they are. That intersects with performing on stage. You have to know how much or how little energy to push out. Gotta know your audience.
I love people. I love, love… But don’t try me.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
When you see me, just know that I am a reflection of you. The things that you’ve done in your life, bad and good I’ve probably also experienced and/or done myself. Be kind, but don’t be dumb. Be smart but not condescending. Be love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/nadirahnaima?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=188d3eaa-cdff-4158-9e1d-71dd66d5d9d3
- Instagram: @nadirahnaima
- Facebook: @nadirahnaima
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nadirahnaima
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/nadirah-naima/letter-of-resignation-mix
Image Credits
Travis Matthews (@a_kid_named_trav), Mic, Lauren Collins (@saintpolauroid), Passion Ward @passionward, and G Samuels (@stillparkmedia)
