NY´A Interview for Museboat Live channel
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09/22/2024 / TEXT CREDITS: NY´A, Museboat; PHOTO CREDITS: NY´A
in TJ´s Muse Bridge show with TaunJua aka TJ
Ny’a made her return to the music industry in 2015, on the Nap Vision Entertainment label, ready to make some more history, with production from Grammy Nominated producer, Kenny Black “The Music Machine”, “You Don’t Know” was released worldwide, Monday, August 15, 2016. After a few short weeks, Ny’a, found herself with yet another international hit single. “You Don’t Know” was #10 on the DRT National Airplay Top 50 R&B / Hip Hop Chart with other such artists as Rihanna, Drake, Desiigner, and Beyonce. The single also hit #3 on the Euro Charts, and World Music Stage Chart, which services over 50 countries worldwide. As if it couldn’t get any better, Ny’a, came back with another smash hit single, “MEND” featuring Kenny Black. “MEND” was released in August 2017, and quickly proved to be the highest charting release of Nya's amazing career. “MEND” hit #1 on the European Chart in 60 countries, playing on over 1,200 radio stations internationally, and #1 on Spotify.
The success of those singles made it possible for the release of her “Something for Everybody” album, which was produced by Grammy nominated producer Kenny Black, on Monday, November 27, 2017 on Nap Vision Entertainment, L.L.C. The “Something for Everybody” Album produced (2) top charting hits, and (2) songs that were featured in the Creature in the Woods Movie that was released on Summer Hill Films. Ny´a´s music was and is played by many Radio Stations including Museboat Live and is mentioned by many Magazines and Websites worldwide. We are happy to have the privilege to ask her a few questions.
NY´A's music was and is played by many Radio Stations including Museboat Live and is mentioned by many Magazines and Websites worldwide. We are happy to have the privilege to ask her a few questions.
Taunjua: Hello Ny´a and welcome to Museboat Live channel!
NY´A: Hey Thank you so much Andy for having me, it has been great hanging out with you guys. Museboat Live is awesome, I love it. The chat room and getting to know everybody, new artists from around the country and around the world. I have had nothing but a great time for the past 2 years and finally I got a chance to interview with you guys. So I am happy to be here and once again thanks for having me.
Taunjua: You know that we really love your music on Museboat so we want to know what is behind all of that. Can you explain your music creative process?
NY´A: I appreciate you guys supporting my music, first and foremost. I don’t take that for granted. When we first connected I think it was two years ago, I was happy and excited to be a part of the family. I guess Museboat is like a family so that is cool. We get together in chat rooms, get to know each other, So I am very thankful for the opportunity.
The creative process is a little different, I guess every time you want to put out a song. Most of my stuff comes from just feelings at the time, A lot of my stuff is driven by situations. A song like “We Are Strong” was during COVID, and some of the social injustices that were happening. I wasn’t able to get out and go anywhere and record anything so I wrote the song, took a chance, went to the studio and masked up. It meant alot to me because of all the things happening around the country. I felt at that time we needed something uplifting to let us know we were going to get through this. Most of my music is message driven. I have been working with two great producers over the past ten years. Kenny Black “The Music Machine” seems like forever but it is a good forever.
As of late we connected with my cousin, if you know anything about P.M. Dawn, it is Eternal from the original P.M.Dawn. We finally linked up and he has created a couple of my most recent tracks, “Break Me” and “Chillin With My Baby”, those were just vibes we put out. It really depends, on I guess. what mood I am in. If I am aggravated or aggitated about something, I will write in that way, If I am feeling that the country or we need an uplifting then I write to that. I will go into the studio, vibe out because both of those producers I named are actually producers, not beat makers or anything like that, They can both create a track and I think they are both wonderful in their own separate ways.I have learned alot from the both of them.
It is a process that changes all the time, I guess the foundation is pretty much the same, I go in with a concept, I present it, then we take it from there. I think we have been consistent, I think the very best thing is consistency. Never staying away from it for too long because people have short term memories, and if you don't keep things fresh in their minds and keep putting out material, then they forget about you in this world of social media. So we just try to stay consistent. I try to stay message driven and try to give the people what they want. (Laughs).
Taunjua: What song that you have written, have you found the hardest to write?
NY´A: WOW! Whew, I have written a lot of songs, but the one that comes to mind as being the hardest to write. I can honestly say it was “Fraud” Oh my goodness, that was a struggle for me and I know why it was a struggle. It was the type of song I had never done before. It was extremely edgy, the music was aggressively Hip Hop but old school Hip Hop.
When I first heard it my husband Eugene Napoleon who is my manager liked the tract because he is a Hip Hop head, the old school Hip Hop head, He said : You should write to this, you should write to this/” I was like write to what this is Hip Hop. He said, I know you can come up with something catchy to this., that would be dope to put your voice on that tract. Most of the time I would call it a blessing because writing is not that difficult for me. But this one “Fraud” yeah that was pretty hard , I had to come outside of myself I guess and really dive into the tract, and come up with something that would lay on top of the tract that was not too nice and smooth. I think we made it work. There was the original and two remixes and I think they came out well. One with lyrics and one with Mysterious??? from “Making the Band” They are both dope rappers. I think it came out okay but it was a hard one for me to write to. I will take more challenges as they come but that one there , that was a hard one.
Taunjua: What is the coolest venue you have played?
NY´A: It has been a great journey, and I have performed at a lot of platforms, a lot of venues. I would have to say the greatest venue and platform that I have been on in my career, I have to honestly say was when did Beatin Team Live. At the time it was a show called “Team Summit”. At that time live was actually live, it was not pre-recorded. There was a bunch of teenagers in the audience, they would introduce you and you have to get and perform and sing. That was so dope,it was one of my first major appearances on a TV network and it was definitely different. Lights, camera, action for sure, that was it, so that was probably one of the best times I have had playing in the early 2000’s. I have been blessed to have been doing this for a long time, To have longevity in this career is really amazing. That was great.
Taunjua: You write your own music lyrics. What comes first for you? Music or lyrics?
NY´A: Yes, I do write my own lyrics, that is a blessing and I have been doing it for a minute. I would say that about 90% of the time it is the lyrics first and then the music. I will come up with an idea, a concept, melody and then the lyrics and I will present them to whomever. There have been times when tracs are presented to me and I will write, like Eternal gave to me on deal, he gave me that track. I said this is a dope tract, I am going to write to it, we actually co-wrote that song. Same thing with Kenny, I think it was “Waiting” , it was created in the studio. One day I came to the studio , I didn;t have any lyrics and he said, let’s just vibe out and see what we come up with. He starting creating the “Waiting” tract, it was such a dope tract I said yep,that is the direction, give me the base of it. I am going to take this home and write to it. It does depend, but I think it works out fine, about 90% of the time I will create the lyrics and the melody. I go in and say what do you guys think of this? Together we kind of like the music, either way it is good for me.
Taunjua: If it were possible, who would you most like to share the music stage with and why?
NY´A: Whew! Now that is a hard one. If I had a chance to get on stage with any artist, who would it be? I am going to say “Prince” The reason I am going to say “Prince” is I actually had the chance to get feedback from him personally on my music. Early in my career I was able to present my music to him, through my husband at the time he knew his manager. “Prince” was so cool in the fact that he was not closed off, he was very accepting and took the time to give me personal feedback on my music. It was all good, it's not like he ignored it, he actually took the time, keep writing for yourself it is a great thing, I love your hooks, all this good stuff, OMG this is so dope, “Prince” is telling me that I am on the right track. It would definitely be “Prince” . I got the chance to see him perform, it was a great, great, great show obviously. Imagine being on stage with him. I imagine he would bring out the best in anyone, If you don’t just freeze up with being in awe with him. He is the ultimate musician, has the ultimate stage presence, he can sing, he is an entertainer, he loves music. It would definitely be “Prince” as they say he is gone way too soon, but he left so many gems along the way. It would definitely be”Prince”, I would love to share a stage with him.
Taunjua: Your life outside of music is connected to basketball. You work as an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach. Do you also use your move to the basket in music? How is your job as an assistant coach different and yet similar to working in the music industry?
NY´A: Yes, I have actually been coaching for as long as I have been singing, which is a very long time. I enjoy both immensely. I would say there are some things that are the same and require the same things, if you want it to work out. You have to be disciplined in both obviously. I teach my young ladies that they have to be disciplined and you have to be consistent. If you are not consistent you will not be successful, I can assure you of that. That is in the business of the music world as well as playing basketball. Dedication is definitely necessary; you have to be dedicated to all things you want to go your way.
I do try to instill some of those good qualities in my young ladies as we are going along in the season, because I think with basketball you have to have a certain determination in order to be successful and take the W, The same thing with being an artist, you have to have a certain determination if you want to be successful and come out on top of this business. The only difference is there is no gray area in basketball. Basketball you either win or you lose the game. But in the music industry, I am successful in my own way. I am successful if I say I am going to put out a song and it's going to be on Spotify and it doesn't matter if five people are following me or 6000 people are following me.
My success is putting out the song and having it on Spotify. So I think those two differ in that way, basketball is definitely win or lose, music is winning if you do what you say you want to do in this game. Both things bring out the competitive nature in me, I am a competitive person and I don’t like losing. I don’t like people telling me I am not going to be able to do something when it comes to the music game. I don´t like losing in the basketball game. If I do lose in the basketball game then we take it as a L and we go on to the next game. You have to be able to brush that off and keep it moving. Learn from it. In the music industry , if you have a song that was as successful, you brush it off and say okay that one was not the one, let’s get back to the drawing board. So I guess they are both similar in the way they bring out the best in me as a coach and as an artist. But, I definitely think I have to put my hat down. If I am coming from the music studio and I have my music studio hat on or my show hat on. I definitely have to put that hat down and pick up my coaching hat and take it into the gym.
There are more things, you have to be assertive when coaching young people and make sure they are paying attention to you. I guess it relates to writing a song. You have to be very assertive and very definitive with what you are writing about. You can’t be all over the place or you will lose your audience. So yes I guess they are similar and I love them both like I said, I have been doing it for a long time with a high level of success. I absolutely enjoy it.
Taunjua: In addition to being a teacher, former elite athlete, coach, music manager and writer, Eugene Napoleon is also your husband. Tell us what it looks like in your home when husband and wife have the same job?
NY´A: Yes that is so true. My husband is a man that wears many many hats and he wears them all very very well. It is great having him as a manager, he really has my best interest at heart. I think we work extremely well together. I am not just saying that in the interview. Our days are great, we have a way in which we can separate our family and the things that go on inside our household away from the business of entertainment, whether it be me or him writing his best selling books , or him doing his podcast. I am not trying to sound like it is all skittles and rainbows but it really is, we work really well together. I know God has blessed us to be on this earth as one in all facets of life. My husband does a lot. He does several podcasts in Pullians Corner, which is very inspirational. He is a best selling author, former elite athlete, agent, manager, he does everything... Because what he does is authentic, he never tries to rip anybody off , undercut anybody,. I think he is the best for me because he only has my best interest at heart, he is always looking out for me no matter what the circumstances and I do the same for him. We are like peas in a pod , we are silly together. We used to have a show called “Nap and Nya” which is part entertainment, part funny stuff. Like I said, we keep our family stuff separate from what we are doing as business and that is really hard to do, but it comes easy for us. I don’t think I would have had it any other way, when it comes to uniting us as one. That is just being real, I am not being corny, I am being real. I know how difficult it could be in some households when two people are not on the same page for regular decisions, like what we are eating today. What is for dinner? We don’t have those issues, we pretty much read each other's mind. You figure after 31 years of marriage, and five years of knowing each other, we are connected at the hip and really do not get on each other’s nerves. That is the cool thing about it, dead serious. I think that cool be probably told that story when we had to be nose to nose the whole time. It was in the midst of me writing, We are strong, and in the midst of him trying to get his thoughts together for a book. It is really cool that we are both creative, we know how to give each other space to be creative. We support each other whole heartily, and that is the truth that is the honest truth. I think it has worked for us and will continue to work for us, until one of us says we are done, I don’t want to write anymore or I don’t want to sing anymore. Hopefully that won’t be for a long time.
Taunjua: We are a radio station supporting independent artists to get their music heard. Do you have any valuable advice to up and coming artists to get their music to the world?
NY´A: Oh, my goodness, you guys are the best radio station for Independent Artists. I absolutely thank you guys so much again for your great support. If I had any advice to give up and coming artists.I would say to them, at the end of the day this is a business, and you have to know the business that you are in. It’s all great to be creative , make great music. But,what happens to the other side of it, the business side of it? If you do not know the business side of it, you will get ripped off, you will get taken advantage of. I am not trying to make it a horror story but this is just the facts. I have seen and heard too many horror stories about artists, never getting paid, because they signed contracts and did not know what they were signing. Or they sign contracts, 360 deals, you have to know what that is. I would say, stay independent.
Listen at the end of the day, if your material is good and you have a platform that is able to distribute your music, that is all you really need. Once you blow your numbers up, because in this day and age, it is about social media, likes and all that and that is cool. Just keep it authentic, I think you will be fine. Know that everything you put into your music, is coming right back to you , whereas if you sign to a record label, yes they are going to throw you the money, and other things, but they are not going to be yours, because you have to pay that money back somewhere down the line. So, I would just say. Ultimately it is so very important, you can have the best talent in the world, but if you do not know this business of entertainment, you are not going to be successful in that way, Your pockets are not going to be successful.
Taunjua: What are your plans for the future? Especially the short-term ones?
NY´A: Well, my plans for the short term are to ride out this wonderful wave that is happening with all the remixes of “Give Us Free” which is really super dope. I just released a video for “We Outside” so I am trying to ride that out into the summer. Hopefully by October, November I will release a new single that will take us into the New Year. Now at the top of the New Year I am hoping to do something really big, but I can’t say yet what it is, but I think it will be epic. I am really looking forward to it. As an artist you do have to have a game plan. Sometimes plans are broken, but we do kind of try and stick to the plan. That is the plan, everything is still new and fresh as far as “Give Us Free” and the remixes and”We Outside” are still out there. Hopefully we can ride that out and hopefully early October and I can give you guys something by November.
Taunjua: OK, Andy has two questions for you now. He's getting pretty pushy. The first is: What was the story or what exactly was behind the birth of your amazing song “Break Me”? And the second, rather personal, question: How and where did you meet your husband?
NY´A: Absolutely Andy can ask me anything he wants, nothing is pushy. I don’t know if you guys noticed, each year I try to release two singles. I think we had just released the original “Give Us Free” that was produced by Kenny Black in August. So right around October it is time for me to release another single, mainly because my basketball season officially starts October 1st, and we get into games and it is hard for me to record. Eternal sent me this tract, I listened to it and as soon as I heard the first 15 seconds of this song, I said, “I need this tract, I want this tract”. It was a scratch tract, just the basics of it and i thought this was so dope, very melodic but still meaningful, It had a nice bass line and undertone to it. I definitely want to write to this, It was one of those instances where I was presented with a tract and I was able to write to it and that definitely works out. We went back and forth on the phone. We have this app we use to send back ideas to each other. I sent him what I wrote and the melody I wrote and he said Yo cuz, that's it right there. So three weeks later, we recorded it. I think it came out great, it is one of my favorite songs to write to. It has so much meaning and interpretation was free. I think at some point we have all had something or someone that has tried to break us. But we overcame, we got close but we are okay and are at a spot now that we are okay. You have to identify it and basically move on. “Break Me” was a really good record for me and I think it invoked a lot of emotions when people listened to it. That is what you want, you want people to feel something when they listen to your music. I think we captured that in “Break Me. “ You guys that is how I first met you, I submitted it to Museboat Live and you guys rocked out to it and that was a blessing. Okay, so there is a second question right? Where and when I meet my wonderful husband,that is not personal, that is a blessing. I met my husband in Jersey City, New Jersey, where I was going to school. He happened to live there, he was born and raised in Jersey City,New Jersey. I was living with his God-Sister Elisa Miller, who unfortunately passed away last year. She was the connection, that is how I met him through basketball and I met her playing basketball. She introduces us. I must say our first introduction did not go great. I had a bad day and someone was trying to break me. (Laughs), We circled back around and I apologized, from there we were like Frick and Frack. Here we are 31 years later still Frick and Frack. So that is not personal, I call that a blessing. Just to be able to be with somebody that is your best friend you confidant and all those things, If you can find that person you stick to it and that is what we are doing.
Taunjua: Is there anything you would like to say to Museboat listeners?
NY´A: I would like to say a big thank you to the Museboat Live listeners, you guys are great. You have no idea what you mean to us as independent artists. you count, your opinion counts, your support counts, all those things count and we do. I know I really do appreciate you, It has been a great journey and I hope I can continue to make music that fills your soul and your heart. Give you something to look forward to, that is my goal. Platforms like Museboat Live are definitely needed in abundance. It gives us as artists a chance to go abroad without going abroad. Hopefully one day, we will have a venue where we can actually do a whole concert. Wouldn’t that be so cool? All the artists can meet each other and we can give you guys one of the best shows you have ever seen. Until then, I will continue to thank you for your support as fans and as listeners. Stay blessed.
Taunjua: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. It has been great!
NY´A: Thanks so much for having me, I had a great time guys. Thank you so much, it has been great. I absolutely love what you guys are doing. Keep up the good work. Until one day I hope we can hopefully meet in person. I look forward to our chats. They are great, I wasn’t a chat person at first but now I am and I am happy to say that. Once again , thanks for having me. I do appreciate you guys. Have a great day.
This interview was brought to you by
Taunjua aka TJ
host to the TJ´s Muse Bridge show
WATCH MUSIC VIDEO: NY´A - We Outside
Links: NY´A on Museboat | NY´A Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Music Shop | Spotify | YouTube Channel |
In the music industry , if you have a song that was as successful, you brush it off and say okay that one was not the one, let’s get back to the drawing board.
in TJ´s Muse Bridge show with TaunJua aka TJ
Leave nothing on the table, not even crumbs
NY´A
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW
Ny'a is a gold selling, 4X platinum award winning singer, songwriter, who has been in the music industry for well over a decade. Signed to Nap Vision Entertainment, Ny'a is the epitome of never stop.
Over the last seven years Ny'a has released her award winning album "Something for Everybody", as well as several hit singles, which reached #1 status 18 times.
Ny'a has consistently put out meaningful songs that affect the musical soul and spirits of all generations. Ny'a is passionate about her craft, and promises to stay true to herself and fans.
It's not work if you love what you do
NY´A
Ny’a made her return to the music industry in 2015, on the Nap Vision Entertainment label, ready to make some more history, with production from Grammy Nominated producer, Kenny Black “The Music Machine”, “You Don’t Know” was released worldwide, Monday, August 15, 2016. After a few short weeks, Ny’a, found herself with yet another international hit single. “You Don’t Know” was #10 on the DRT National Airplay Top 50 R&B / Hip Hop Chart with other such artists as Rihanna, Drake, Desiigner, and Beyonce. The single also hit #3 on the Euro Charts, and World Music Stage Chart, which services over 50 countries worldwide. As if it couldn’t get any better, Ny’a, came back with another smash hit single, “MEND” featuring Kenny Black. “MEND” was released in August 2017, and quickly proved to be the highest charting release of Nya's amazing career. “MEND” hit #1 on the European Chart in 60 countries, playing on over 1,200 radio stations internationally, and #1 on Spotify.
The success of those singles made it possible for the release of her “Something for Everybody” album, which was produced by Grammy nominated producer Kenny Black, on Monday, November 27, 2017 on Nap Vision Entertainment, L.L.C. The “Something for Everybody” Album produced (2) top charting hits, and (2) songs that were featured in the Creature in the Woods Movie that was released on Summer Hill Films. Ny´a´s music was and is played by many Radio Stations including Museboat Live and is mentioned by many Magazines and Websites worldwide. We are happy to have the privilege to ask her a few questions.
NY´A's music was and is played by many Radio Stations including Museboat Live and is mentioned by many Magazines and Websites worldwide. We are happy to have the privilege to ask her a few questions.
Taunjua: Hello Ny´a and welcome to Museboat Live channel!
NY´A: Hey Thank you so much Andy for having me, it has been great hanging out with you guys. Museboat Live is awesome, I love it. The chat room and getting to know everybody, new artists from around the country and around the world. I have had nothing but a great time for the past 2 years and finally I got a chance to interview with you guys. So I am happy to be here and once again thanks for having me.
Taunjua: You know that we really love your music on Museboat so we want to know what is behind all of that. Can you explain your music creative process?
NY´A: I appreciate you guys supporting my music, first and foremost. I don’t take that for granted. When we first connected I think it was two years ago, I was happy and excited to be a part of the family. I guess Museboat is like a family so that is cool. We get together in chat rooms, get to know each other, So I am very thankful for the opportunity.
The creative process is a little different, I guess every time you want to put out a song. Most of my stuff comes from just feelings at the time, A lot of my stuff is driven by situations. A song like “We Are Strong” was during COVID, and some of the social injustices that were happening. I wasn’t able to get out and go anywhere and record anything so I wrote the song, took a chance, went to the studio and masked up. It meant alot to me because of all the things happening around the country. I felt at that time we needed something uplifting to let us know we were going to get through this. Most of my music is message driven. I have been working with two great producers over the past ten years. Kenny Black “The Music Machine” seems like forever but it is a good forever.
As of late we connected with my cousin, if you know anything about P.M. Dawn, it is Eternal from the original P.M.Dawn. We finally linked up and he has created a couple of my most recent tracks, “Break Me” and “Chillin With My Baby”, those were just vibes we put out. It really depends, on I guess. what mood I am in. If I am aggravated or aggitated about something, I will write in that way, If I am feeling that the country or we need an uplifting then I write to that. I will go into the studio, vibe out because both of those producers I named are actually producers, not beat makers or anything like that, They can both create a track and I think they are both wonderful in their own separate ways.I have learned alot from the both of them.
It is a process that changes all the time, I guess the foundation is pretty much the same, I go in with a concept, I present it, then we take it from there. I think we have been consistent, I think the very best thing is consistency. Never staying away from it for too long because people have short term memories, and if you don't keep things fresh in their minds and keep putting out material, then they forget about you in this world of social media. So we just try to stay consistent. I try to stay message driven and try to give the people what they want. (Laughs).
Taunjua: What song that you have written, have you found the hardest to write?
NY´A: WOW! Whew, I have written a lot of songs, but the one that comes to mind as being the hardest to write. I can honestly say it was “Fraud” Oh my goodness, that was a struggle for me and I know why it was a struggle. It was the type of song I had never done before. It was extremely edgy, the music was aggressively Hip Hop but old school Hip Hop.
When I first heard it my husband Eugene Napoleon who is my manager liked the tract because he is a Hip Hop head, the old school Hip Hop head, He said : You should write to this, you should write to this/” I was like write to what this is Hip Hop. He said, I know you can come up with something catchy to this., that would be dope to put your voice on that tract. Most of the time I would call it a blessing because writing is not that difficult for me. But this one “Fraud” yeah that was pretty hard , I had to come outside of myself I guess and really dive into the tract, and come up with something that would lay on top of the tract that was not too nice and smooth. I think we made it work. There was the original and two remixes and I think they came out well. One with lyrics and one with Mysterious??? from “Making the Band” They are both dope rappers. I think it came out okay but it was a hard one for me to write to. I will take more challenges as they come but that one there , that was a hard one.
Taunjua: What is the coolest venue you have played?
NY´A: It has been a great journey, and I have performed at a lot of platforms, a lot of venues. I would have to say the greatest venue and platform that I have been on in my career, I have to honestly say was when did Beatin Team Live. At the time it was a show called “Team Summit”. At that time live was actually live, it was not pre-recorded. There was a bunch of teenagers in the audience, they would introduce you and you have to get and perform and sing. That was so dope,it was one of my first major appearances on a TV network and it was definitely different. Lights, camera, action for sure, that was it, so that was probably one of the best times I have had playing in the early 2000’s. I have been blessed to have been doing this for a long time, To have longevity in this career is really amazing. That was great.
Taunjua: You write your own music lyrics. What comes first for you? Music or lyrics?
NY´A: Yes, I do write my own lyrics, that is a blessing and I have been doing it for a minute. I would say that about 90% of the time it is the lyrics first and then the music. I will come up with an idea, a concept, melody and then the lyrics and I will present them to whomever. There have been times when tracs are presented to me and I will write, like Eternal gave to me on deal, he gave me that track. I said this is a dope tract, I am going to write to it, we actually co-wrote that song. Same thing with Kenny, I think it was “Waiting” , it was created in the studio. One day I came to the studio , I didn;t have any lyrics and he said, let’s just vibe out and see what we come up with. He starting creating the “Waiting” tract, it was such a dope tract I said yep,that is the direction, give me the base of it. I am going to take this home and write to it. It does depend, but I think it works out fine, about 90% of the time I will create the lyrics and the melody. I go in and say what do you guys think of this? Together we kind of like the music, either way it is good for me.
Taunjua: If it were possible, who would you most like to share the music stage with and why?
NY´A: Whew! Now that is a hard one. If I had a chance to get on stage with any artist, who would it be? I am going to say “Prince” The reason I am going to say “Prince” is I actually had the chance to get feedback from him personally on my music. Early in my career I was able to present my music to him, through my husband at the time he knew his manager. “Prince” was so cool in the fact that he was not closed off, he was very accepting and took the time to give me personal feedback on my music. It was all good, it's not like he ignored it, he actually took the time, keep writing for yourself it is a great thing, I love your hooks, all this good stuff, OMG this is so dope, “Prince” is telling me that I am on the right track. It would definitely be “Prince” . I got the chance to see him perform, it was a great, great, great show obviously. Imagine being on stage with him. I imagine he would bring out the best in anyone, If you don’t just freeze up with being in awe with him. He is the ultimate musician, has the ultimate stage presence, he can sing, he is an entertainer, he loves music. It would definitely be “Prince” as they say he is gone way too soon, but he left so many gems along the way. It would definitely be”Prince”, I would love to share a stage with him.
Taunjua: Your life outside of music is connected to basketball. You work as an Assistant Women's Basketball Coach. Do you also use your move to the basket in music? How is your job as an assistant coach different and yet similar to working in the music industry?
NY´A: Yes, I have actually been coaching for as long as I have been singing, which is a very long time. I enjoy both immensely. I would say there are some things that are the same and require the same things, if you want it to work out. You have to be disciplined in both obviously. I teach my young ladies that they have to be disciplined and you have to be consistent. If you are not consistent you will not be successful, I can assure you of that. That is in the business of the music world as well as playing basketball. Dedication is definitely necessary; you have to be dedicated to all things you want to go your way.
I do try to instill some of those good qualities in my young ladies as we are going along in the season, because I think with basketball you have to have a certain determination in order to be successful and take the W, The same thing with being an artist, you have to have a certain determination if you want to be successful and come out on top of this business. The only difference is there is no gray area in basketball. Basketball you either win or you lose the game. But in the music industry, I am successful in my own way. I am successful if I say I am going to put out a song and it's going to be on Spotify and it doesn't matter if five people are following me or 6000 people are following me.
My success is putting out the song and having it on Spotify. So I think those two differ in that way, basketball is definitely win or lose, music is winning if you do what you say you want to do in this game. Both things bring out the competitive nature in me, I am a competitive person and I don’t like losing. I don’t like people telling me I am not going to be able to do something when it comes to the music game. I don´t like losing in the basketball game. If I do lose in the basketball game then we take it as a L and we go on to the next game. You have to be able to brush that off and keep it moving. Learn from it. In the music industry , if you have a song that was as successful, you brush it off and say okay that one was not the one, let’s get back to the drawing board. So I guess they are both similar in the way they bring out the best in me as a coach and as an artist. But, I definitely think I have to put my hat down. If I am coming from the music studio and I have my music studio hat on or my show hat on. I definitely have to put that hat down and pick up my coaching hat and take it into the gym.
There are more things, you have to be assertive when coaching young people and make sure they are paying attention to you. I guess it relates to writing a song. You have to be very assertive and very definitive with what you are writing about. You can’t be all over the place or you will lose your audience. So yes I guess they are similar and I love them both like I said, I have been doing it for a long time with a high level of success. I absolutely enjoy it.
Taunjua: In addition to being a teacher, former elite athlete, coach, music manager and writer, Eugene Napoleon is also your husband. Tell us what it looks like in your home when husband and wife have the same job?
NY´A: Yes that is so true. My husband is a man that wears many many hats and he wears them all very very well. It is great having him as a manager, he really has my best interest at heart. I think we work extremely well together. I am not just saying that in the interview. Our days are great, we have a way in which we can separate our family and the things that go on inside our household away from the business of entertainment, whether it be me or him writing his best selling books , or him doing his podcast. I am not trying to sound like it is all skittles and rainbows but it really is, we work really well together. I know God has blessed us to be on this earth as one in all facets of life. My husband does a lot. He does several podcasts in Pullians Corner, which is very inspirational. He is a best selling author, former elite athlete, agent, manager, he does everything... Because what he does is authentic, he never tries to rip anybody off , undercut anybody,. I think he is the best for me because he only has my best interest at heart, he is always looking out for me no matter what the circumstances and I do the same for him. We are like peas in a pod , we are silly together. We used to have a show called “Nap and Nya” which is part entertainment, part funny stuff. Like I said, we keep our family stuff separate from what we are doing as business and that is really hard to do, but it comes easy for us. I don’t think I would have had it any other way, when it comes to uniting us as one. That is just being real, I am not being corny, I am being real. I know how difficult it could be in some households when two people are not on the same page for regular decisions, like what we are eating today. What is for dinner? We don’t have those issues, we pretty much read each other's mind. You figure after 31 years of marriage, and five years of knowing each other, we are connected at the hip and really do not get on each other’s nerves. That is the cool thing about it, dead serious. I think that cool be probably told that story when we had to be nose to nose the whole time. It was in the midst of me writing, We are strong, and in the midst of him trying to get his thoughts together for a book. It is really cool that we are both creative, we know how to give each other space to be creative. We support each other whole heartily, and that is the truth that is the honest truth. I think it has worked for us and will continue to work for us, until one of us says we are done, I don’t want to write anymore or I don’t want to sing anymore. Hopefully that won’t be for a long time.
Taunjua: We are a radio station supporting independent artists to get their music heard. Do you have any valuable advice to up and coming artists to get their music to the world?
NY´A: Oh, my goodness, you guys are the best radio station for Independent Artists. I absolutely thank you guys so much again for your great support. If I had any advice to give up and coming artists.I would say to them, at the end of the day this is a business, and you have to know the business that you are in. It’s all great to be creative , make great music. But,what happens to the other side of it, the business side of it? If you do not know the business side of it, you will get ripped off, you will get taken advantage of. I am not trying to make it a horror story but this is just the facts. I have seen and heard too many horror stories about artists, never getting paid, because they signed contracts and did not know what they were signing. Or they sign contracts, 360 deals, you have to know what that is. I would say, stay independent.
Know the business you're in
NY´A
Listen at the end of the day, if your material is good and you have a platform that is able to distribute your music, that is all you really need. Once you blow your numbers up, because in this day and age, it is about social media, likes and all that and that is cool. Just keep it authentic, I think you will be fine. Know that everything you put into your music, is coming right back to you , whereas if you sign to a record label, yes they are going to throw you the money, and other things, but they are not going to be yours, because you have to pay that money back somewhere down the line. So, I would just say. Ultimately it is so very important, you can have the best talent in the world, but if you do not know this business of entertainment, you are not going to be successful in that way, Your pockets are not going to be successful.
Taunjua: What are your plans for the future? Especially the short-term ones?
NY´A: Well, my plans for the short term are to ride out this wonderful wave that is happening with all the remixes of “Give Us Free” which is really super dope. I just released a video for “We Outside” so I am trying to ride that out into the summer. Hopefully by October, November I will release a new single that will take us into the New Year. Now at the top of the New Year I am hoping to do something really big, but I can’t say yet what it is, but I think it will be epic. I am really looking forward to it. As an artist you do have to have a game plan. Sometimes plans are broken, but we do kind of try and stick to the plan. That is the plan, everything is still new and fresh as far as “Give Us Free” and the remixes and”We Outside” are still out there. Hopefully we can ride that out and hopefully early October and I can give you guys something by November.
Taunjua: OK, Andy has two questions for you now. He's getting pretty pushy. The first is: What was the story or what exactly was behind the birth of your amazing song “Break Me”? And the second, rather personal, question: How and where did you meet your husband?
NY´A: Absolutely Andy can ask me anything he wants, nothing is pushy. I don’t know if you guys noticed, each year I try to release two singles. I think we had just released the original “Give Us Free” that was produced by Kenny Black in August. So right around October it is time for me to release another single, mainly because my basketball season officially starts October 1st, and we get into games and it is hard for me to record. Eternal sent me this tract, I listened to it and as soon as I heard the first 15 seconds of this song, I said, “I need this tract, I want this tract”. It was a scratch tract, just the basics of it and i thought this was so dope, very melodic but still meaningful, It had a nice bass line and undertone to it. I definitely want to write to this, It was one of those instances where I was presented with a tract and I was able to write to it and that definitely works out. We went back and forth on the phone. We have this app we use to send back ideas to each other. I sent him what I wrote and the melody I wrote and he said Yo cuz, that's it right there. So three weeks later, we recorded it. I think it came out great, it is one of my favorite songs to write to. It has so much meaning and interpretation was free. I think at some point we have all had something or someone that has tried to break us. But we overcame, we got close but we are okay and are at a spot now that we are okay. You have to identify it and basically move on. “Break Me” was a really good record for me and I think it invoked a lot of emotions when people listened to it. That is what you want, you want people to feel something when they listen to your music. I think we captured that in “Break Me. “ You guys that is how I first met you, I submitted it to Museboat Live and you guys rocked out to it and that was a blessing. Okay, so there is a second question right? Where and when I meet my wonderful husband,that is not personal, that is a blessing. I met my husband in Jersey City, New Jersey, where I was going to school. He happened to live there, he was born and raised in Jersey City,New Jersey. I was living with his God-Sister Elisa Miller, who unfortunately passed away last year. She was the connection, that is how I met him through basketball and I met her playing basketball. She introduces us. I must say our first introduction did not go great. I had a bad day and someone was trying to break me. (Laughs), We circled back around and I apologized, from there we were like Frick and Frack. Here we are 31 years later still Frick and Frack. So that is not personal, I call that a blessing. Just to be able to be with somebody that is your best friend you confidant and all those things, If you can find that person you stick to it and that is what we are doing.
Taunjua: Is there anything you would like to say to Museboat listeners?
NY´A: I would like to say a big thank you to the Museboat Live listeners, you guys are great. You have no idea what you mean to us as independent artists. you count, your opinion counts, your support counts, all those things count and we do. I know I really do appreciate you, It has been a great journey and I hope I can continue to make music that fills your soul and your heart. Give you something to look forward to, that is my goal. Platforms like Museboat Live are definitely needed in abundance. It gives us as artists a chance to go abroad without going abroad. Hopefully one day, we will have a venue where we can actually do a whole concert. Wouldn’t that be so cool? All the artists can meet each other and we can give you guys one of the best shows you have ever seen. Until then, I will continue to thank you for your support as fans and as listeners. Stay blessed.
Taunjua: Thank you for taking the time to chat with us. It has been great!
NY´A: Thanks so much for having me, I had a great time guys. Thank you so much, it has been great. I absolutely love what you guys are doing. Keep up the good work. Until one day I hope we can hopefully meet in person. I look forward to our chats. They are great, I wasn’t a chat person at first but now I am and I am happy to say that. Once again , thanks for having me. I do appreciate you guys. Have a great day.
This interview was brought to you by
Taunjua aka TJ
host to the TJ´s Muse Bridge show
WATCH MUSIC VIDEO: NY´A - We Outside
Links: NY´A on Museboat | NY´A Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Music Shop | Spotify | YouTube Channel |
- Andy Slovien
- 09/22/2024
- NY´A / Museboat
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