New Jersey artist N3WYRKLA, pronounced New York LA, has been causing a huge stir across the Atlantic, quickly building momentum as one of the most intriguing and naturally reactive artists in the US alternative scene right now. Having only officially started releasing music last year, kickstarting her career with her acclaimed debut EP “SELFishly enTITLED” featuring the likes of Toosii, the rising star landed perhaps one of the biggest features to come out of 2023 on Brent Faiyaz’s “Outside All Night” alongside US rap king-pin A$AP Rocky.
Continuing to showcase her innate ability in bridging the gap between pop, rock and experimental R&B, N3WYRKLA comes fresh from her latest project, “it’s not you, it’s me”, consisting of seven unique tracks. The EP sees the Jersey artist reflecting on past relationships, serving up a slew of intricately crafted soundtracks ranging from the up-beat trap-infused “dumb with you” to the intoxicating “not enough” featuring US heavyweight, Brent Faiyaz.
Following her latest release, and debut headline show in Philly, we managed to take some time out with N3WYRKLA…
Listen to the new EP…
Read the interview…
Hey! How are ya? What’s happening right now with you?
Hi! I’m doing great, especially after the recent release of my new EP, “it’s not you, it’s me”. Then I’ve been rehearsing, getting my live show together for upcoming performances.
We must ask, where did the name N3WYRKLA originate from?
My real name is NYLA, so that’s where New York and L.A. come from. Then the 3 stems from my initials being N.N.N. Also, 3 is my favourite number lol.
For our UK readers, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your music?
I’m from New Jersey, but I work a lot in Philly when it comes to studios and producers I work with. My music I feel is unique and genre-bending. I don’t like to box myself into one category because I’m inspired by a lot of different genres and sounds.
Who were your early music influences?
I would have to say Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. I grew up listening to them in my household. I loved when Miley dropped her Bangerz album…it was different at the time.
You’ve just dropped a wonderful EP called it’s not you, it’s me. Firstly can you tell us more about the story/ narrative behind the project?
Thank you!! I wanted to be very transparent with this project and real. It tells the story of taking accountability for the part you may play in the downfall of a relationship and also calling out the other person on their bullshit. I feel like I was in my villain arc with this project lol.
What was the creative process like?
I was very hands on with the production. I like the producers I work with to make the beats from scratch at the start of the session so we can curate and catch a vibe. We definitely tried to have fun and try new things on the production to see what worked and what didn’t.
On the fourth track “not enough” Brent Faiyaz makes an appearance. How did this come about and what’s it like working with Brent?
He came to philly to do an interview on MDWOG and we ended up connecting after he heard some of my music. I flew to LA while he was working on his album “Larger than Life.” He did his verse on “not enough” and we made “Outside All Night.” It was fun to work with him in the studio, and definitely a cool experience for my first time being in L.A.
If you had to pick one, what’s your favourite track from the EP and why?
I would have to say “not enough.” I have a personal attachment to that song because it’s the first song I’ve ever written. Then Brent killed his verse. It sits in a weird indie/The Japanese House inspired pocket, production wise and I like that Brent brought an r&b feel to it.
You recently played your first headline show in Philly. How was it and any highlights from the night?!
It was amazing, I loved everyone’s vibe who came to the show. The turnout was great and it seemed like everyone was having fun, including me. Overall, it was a great experience for me. My favorite part of the show would have to be the end. Once I left the stage, the crowd was going crazy for an encore. I came back and gave them one last song, so that was fire. My next performance will be next week opening up for Tierra Whack during SXSW, I’m so excited.
What’s next for N3WYRKLA? Can we expect more releases this year?
I’ve been working on n3w music! You can definitely expect some new releases this year!