With Thursday winding to a close and the weight of a long week resting on our shoulders, it is fair to say that we are all in need of a slice of relaxation. And, newcomer Neda is here to provide exactly that with her debut EP, “To Be Loved By You”. Sounding as if it has fallen out of pop heaven, the project is a beautiful, serene-sounding tribute to the artists and experiences that helped to forge the path she is on today. With tracks such as “Good Intentions” and “Lewisham High St” standing as stellar examples of the way that pop is becoming more and more blended, it becomes clear that Neda has tapped into the direction the genre is taking.

“I was listening to a lot of 60s pop and country music when I wrote this EP,” explains Neda on her newest project. “Artists such as Connie Francis and Brenda Lee really influenced my style. My aim for this project was to intertwine some of these influences, but make the lyrics sound more current and relate it back to my own experiences growing up in London. My band really helped bring the songs to life as well, I feel so lucky to have recorded with such talented musicians for this project.”

Upon the release of her debut EP, the artist looked to get candid on stepping out of her comfort zone and where she finds inspiration whilst in conversation with Wonderland. Head below to enjoy our interview with Neda…

Hey Neda, how are you? How has this past year been?
Heya! I’m doing well thanks – I’ve released my first few singles and EP this year, so 2021 has been great so far.

Loads of people picked up some unusual skills this past year! Did you try anything new?
I tried out skateboarding this year! I always wanted to do it and finally gave it a go with my mate, Sof, which was a lot of fun but it is much harder than it looks.

How did you first get into music, what sparked the interest?
My mum is a really talented vocalist, and her passion for music naturally rubbed off on me as a kid. She always used music as an outlet, and that had a big impression on me growing up. I also fell in love with writing songs; it was definitely songwriting that made me want to pursue music as a profession.

Where are you from? Do you think your hometown impacted your sound?
I was born in Lewisham and have lived in South London all my life. There are a lot of talented musicians and artists from South London. They’re work ethic and sound has definitely inspired me and impacted the music I make.

And now you’re dropping your debut EP, talk us through your mindset going into the project?
I was listening to a lot of 60s pop and country music when I wrote this EP. Artists such as Connie Francis and Brenda Lee really influenced my style. My aim for this project was to intertwine some of these influences, but make the lyrics sound more current and relate it back to my own experiences growing up in London. My band really helped bring the songs to life as well, I feel so lucky to have recorded with such talented musicians for this project.

It’s all about stepping outside your comfort zone, what made you focus on this?
Stepping out of your comfort zone was the most important lesson I learnt and gave me the confidence to release my music independently. I realised that life is too short to spend it doubting yourself, and eventually, you have to take risks – you never know unless you try.

What do you want people to take away from your sound?
I want people to get a sense of who I am and what inspires me when they listen to my music. I write all my songs myself, so my music is just an extension of me as a person. I usually build an identity around my songs, so it would be really cool if people feel like they know me a bit better after listening to my EP.

Who inspires you?
So many people inspire me every day. Musically, my favourite songwriters are Dolly Parton, Hank Cochran and Lady Gaga. Each of them writes differently, but they all have a sense of authenticity in their work that, in my opinion, no one has been able to replicate. I’m also inspired by film. Tim Burton and Nadine Labaki are my favourite directors. Growing up, Jim Carrey was a huge role model for me and my dream is to meet him one day.

And, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my family – I read a quote recently that says, ‘work hard for your last name, not your first,’ and that resonated with me a lot. My parents are Iranian and moved to the UK in the 80s and have always filled me with love and support, which is something I’m really grateful for.

What’s next for you? What are you most excited for?
Now that I’ve released my first EP, I feel super motivated to keep on recording and releasing; I’m currently working on my next project. I’m eager to get back on stage again as well! I’m happy that venues have opened up, and I’m looking forward to performing some shows very soon.