This is Niia, a Berklee and New School-educated jazz vocalist who recorded and toured with Wyclef Jean before striking out with her own brand of stylized pop.
She has a knack for sultry and atmospheric ballads that split the difference between Jessie Ware elegance and Sky Ferreira cool.
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Her new single "Body," premiering below exclusively on BuzzFeed, was produced by Robin Hannibal of Rhye and pairs that group's luxurious, come-hither instrumentation with Niia's own classically pretty croon.
In an email to BuzzFeed News, Niia said the song was six years in the making. "Over the years it stayed in a folder as I gained new experiences, new lovers and ultimately grew up," she said. "For me the challenge was to find a way to make sure the song felt true to who I was back then, but also who I am now... the song is a perfect blend of the young me — eager to fall in love — and the current me that has a better idea of what I want and deserve."
Niia's debut EP, Generation Blue, is produced by Hannibal and out October 28 from Something Local Records. Listen to the EP's title track here.
