Nadirah X
Updated: Feb 9, 2022
After winning numerous accolades and awards in her home of Jamaica, Nadirah (aka Nadz) moved to Los Angeles where she has continued to shine. She is the only rapper to have written and performed with the legendary Annie Lennox (two songs on her 2007 solo album Songs Of Mass Destruction).
She has written and performed with Mick Jagger on the Golden Globe award-winning score to the feature film Alfie. Nadirah has also produced two books of poetry with forewords and introductions from Deepak Chopra, Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Tim Kring (creator of Heroes TV show), and Bruce Rubin (writer of the acclaimed movie Ghost). She is currently working with luminaries of the hip hop world including Charli 2na (Jurassic 5) and Bishop Lamont (Aftermath).
“There is an incantation contained in the rhythms of her flow and the effect is powerful and purifying. To get this much from an artist is a gift of a qualitative kind, not a pleasant distraction, but a nourishing encounter with the elevated intentions of a true poet." - Grammy award-winning producer Glenn Ballard (Alanis Morrisette, Aerosmith).
For fans who have never heard your music, can you pick three words to describe it?! If three words just aren't enough then tell us more!!
Three words to describe my music, ok I would say, Poetic, thought provoking, Love in motion.
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why.
I absolutely love the songwriting process, there is something very raw, open during that time for me. It's the honesty and vulnerability of it I think. Also performing is outer worldly, especially those moments when the audience becomes an intimate friend listening and encouraging your moment. There is nothing like that relationship.
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
Well, lots of coffee and laughter with extended moments of silence. I like small intimate sessions mostly. Ned Douglas (producer of my new project) and I have always just worked together with maybe one other person in the room. This new project is him sending tracks and me recording at home so lol just me and I like it like that a lot.
Okay, this a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
Watching Golden Girls hahahahahaha no seriously I love those girls. I also have a whole merch/t-shirt set up, I do quite enjoy designing, cutting and pressing so nothing too exciting lol, home body really.
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
Oh wow interesting question, only because I'm such an old school music person :), on the music scene today hmm... i'm enjoying some Jazmine Sullivan's music right now, crazy vocals yo. Love the delivery, production and lyrics, super cool vibes and Jada Kingdom's new single Jungle is fire, thats a dope track enuh, fi real.
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
I think recently Nobody's Coming has topped my list. The song is about pulling ourselves out of a sense of waiting, waiting for a savior. I mean it on all levels spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically, we have to become self focused, self healing, self loving before we can make any real changes. I saw a quote once that read, and this may not be verbatim but something like..."the greatest trick was to take God out of us and place him in the sky beyond our reach". Whoever controls that narrative can keep moving the "goal post"so to speak enuh. We have to start going deep in ourselves, I think we'll find God is a lot closer..
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
Yes I am working on a whole album Written and Produced by Ned Douglas and myself. We have some cool features coming as well.
Tell us where fans can access your music.
Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music, pretty much all streaming platforms. @nadirahx on instagram and facebook.
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