Niia has been making waves in the industry for many years and needs to be on your radar if she isn’t already. Along with being a singer, she is also a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, director, and muse. Niia has shared stages with British stars Jorja Smith and The xx while collaborating with the iconic Jazmine Sullivan and Gallant.
With two studio albums under her belt, Niia is gearing up for the release of her upcoming EP. The project’s first offering, “Not Up For Discussion,” features Khruangbin bassist Laura Lee and cements her status as the queen of slow jams. The beautiful 4-minute track is a combination of nocturnal jazz and ethereal, alternative R&B. Summer might not be here just yet, but “Not Up For Discussion” definitely gets you excited for the relaxing light evenings that are on their way. Sonically, its stunning production is reminiscent of Sade’s best album, 1992’s Love Deluxe, specifically the deep cut “Bullet Proof Soul.” Like Sade, Niia makes timeless music that takes your mind elsewhere.
“Not Up For Discussion” might be a sultry song that will lift your mood, but its lyrical content hears Niia sing about the bitter reality with a sarcastic detachment and sense of irony. To promote the track, a self-directed music video has been released. The dreamy video was shot at a chic, ’70s creative haven in Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, and perfectly sets the tone for the sexy song. The video sees Niia enjoying herself at a chilled-out bohemian house party that has run into the sun-kissed hours of the next day. The whole thing might be very pleasing to the eye but the ending that sees herself sitting on a chair on top of a tall sculpture in the middle of the sea is the cherry on top.
If “Not Up For Discussion” is any indication of what the rest of the EP is going to sound like then, we’re seriously ready.