Disco-pop’s newest superstar has arrived. Known by the name NIVANA, the shimmering artist blends her early musical influences of Donna Summer and Earth, Wind & Fire with contemporary themes and funk soundscapes. Transcending time and genres, she embeds deep emotion and life experiences into her lyrics, and gives her listeners a soundtrack for liberation, self-expression, and pure joy.
From the very first eight-count, you’ll be transported to a world where every surface is a dance floor and every ceiling is adorned with a disco ball. With infectious melodies and energetic beats, her debut track “Physical” brings the disco era to a new generation.
We had the chance to chat with NIVANA about her early musical influences, hopes for “Physical”, and long term goals.
Stream “Physical”…
Read the interview…
Did you grow up listening to disco? Who were your early musical inspirations?
I grew up listening to all kinds of music. Disco and pop were the genres that really stuck with me, and I really like to mix them both. I remember I loved listening to Olivia Newton-John, Earth Wind & Fire, and Michael Jackson. I used to mix these three artists together and create new songs that I would sing to my mom and sisters.
When did you start writing music yourself and what themes are you drawn to exploring through your artistry?
I have always loved to write. I started writing poems in my diary, and everything I wrote needed to rhyme for some reason. I think I wrote a full song when I was five years old, and I loved creating my own lyrics and poems, and I’ve been writing my own songs ever since.
You effortlessly bring the disco era into the modern age — did this come naturally to you or how did you accomplish this?
I remember I was in the kitchen, making my own breakfast, and it was these vocals, “let’s get physical”, in my head on repeat. I was thinking, “what song is that?” — I just couldn’t really put my finger on it, because I hadn’t listened to disco since I was a child. I had this beat in my head and I just kept singing and making my own lyrics in a funny, goofy way. I called my producer right away and sang to him the song I just have created, and he was like “oh you are inspired by Olivia Newton-John”. It just blew me away, I think it was my subconscious reminding me of my childhood, to bring my disco back. So I think it just was meant to bring back the disco era, it was just time!
Congratulations on “Physical”! When did you start working on this song and what was the initial inspiration?
Creating “Physical” was probably the fastest and easiest song I have ever made. It was so spontaneous, me dancing in the kitchen, being goofy. I had Olivia Newton-John at heart and I just sang. We started working on the song in February and it took us three months to release it.
How does it set the scene for you as an artist, sonically and/or thematically?
I have always loved disco, everything from the sound, the fashion and the art. But me as an artist is so much more. I would love to mix different genres and create my own style.
It is such an empowering track that really grabs attention. What do you hope listeners will take away from listening to it?
“Physical” is about creating the new modern woman that is not afraid to push the traditional norms and boundaries. She is bold, confident and does whatever she wants without feeling judged or limited by the society. I would like my listeners to really take that in. We have been told since we were girls how to act like a good lady, how to dress and what is and is not forbidden. In my world, nothing is forbidden.
How do the dance videos enhance the song and what made you decide to create them?
I think music and dance really goes hand in hand, and I really just wanted to create the ultimate disco experience, so we made the dance in hope to fully get into the disco feeling, and just feel what I’m feeling when I think of “Physical”. We wanted to create something very catchy and easy to follow.
How do you combine your passions for music and advocacy? Do they overlap, in your opinion?
I think music is a source for me to express my emotions and thoughts in art form. I have really strong opinions about how we can push away the unmodern and unhealthy society values and standards. I don’t believe in the traditional gender categories, I believe that every person is unique and needs to express their inner art in their own form and expressions. That is why I have also created my own genderless clothing line Salman Studios for people to wear whatever they feel like without the need of explaining themselves. I don’t want people to be put in a box and select clothes or music based on their gender, no, I think everything should be gender neutral. If a man wants to have a bra then they can, just make it look good! I use both music and fashion to bring people together to find their inner peace and just dance and have fun!
What are your favourite three songs at this very moment?
I’m not really into the new songs in our generation, I really like the old ones better, such as: “Smooth Criminal” (Michael Jackson), “Just Dance” (Lady Gaga) and “Boogie Wonderland” (Earth, Wind & Fire). But if I had to choose from this generation, I would say “Blinding Lights” (The Weeknd), “Finesse” (Bruno Mars), and “As It Was” (Harry Styles).
If you had to pick one long term goal, what would it be?
The ultimate long term goal would be to leave an internal footprint for the next generations, to have impacted society through my music, art and fashion. I would like the ghost of NIVANA to live much longer after my death — that people from the next generation will be inspired by me and have me in their lives. Maybe someone will come up with a song and say NIVANA was their inspiration.