Hey NERIAH, how are you doing? You’ve been releasing music nonstop, building momentum, and now you’re heading on tour, so much is happening!
Hi! I’m doing so well, and yes, I’m so excited for tour. Everything has honestly been amazing.
NERIAH, your music is deeply emotional and unapologetically honest. How has writing from such a vulnerable place helped you connect not only with your fans but also with yourself?
It’s my therapy. I don’t know where I would be without music and being able to write songs. It seriously saves my life every day.
You’ve independently released over 30 songs in just over 2 years. What’s behind this creative momentum, and how do you manage to stay so consistent without losing authenticity?
It’s what I love to do. I’m constantly writing and planning the next era. I have so many songs, and I just feel like my fans need to hear them. 
Your latest album, “Cause of Death”, feels like a message of strength through sadness. What does the title mean to you, and what kind of emotional space were you in when creating the project?
I was in such a dark place when I wrote this album. I was just getting out of a break-up, and this album seriously represented the death of the version of myself that would let someone treat me like that.
Let’s talk about your single, “Gone Girl”. The lyrics hit hard and feel incredibly real. What inspired that song, and what was going through your mind while writing it?
That song came from a place of reflection. I was thinking about something that happened years ago and processing it in the studio with one of my best friends. It turned into one of our favorite songs we’ve ever made. It really helped me let go of that chapter.
From heartbreak to healing, your songwriting feels like a journal. Are there specific life experiences that you revisit often through your music?
I actually bring my journal to every single session, and most of my concepts come straight out of the pages.
You’re joining Daniel Seavey on the UK/EU leg of his tour—huge congrats! How did that opportunity come about, and how are you preparing to bring your music to an international audience for the first time?
Thank you so much. I am so excited! I am such a fan of his, so I’m so excited to join him on this run.
My manager texted me one day and said we got the tour and I was freaking out. I have some new unreleased songs that everyone’s gonna get to hear on that tour. I’m gonna be playing in so many cities I’ve never been to.
As someone who’s built her audience through honesty and raw storytelling, do you feel pressure to always be emotionally open, or are there parts of yourself you still keep private?
Honestly, not really. I feel like ever since I was younger, and did vlogs on YouTube when I was 13, I’ve always been pretty open to sharing everything with the audience. I don’t really keep anything private. I feel like my fans really get to know me. I know who I am as a person.
What do live performances mean to you? Is there a specific energy or feeling you’re hoping fans in Europe walk away with after seeing you perform?
It’s the best feeling in the world. I just hope to be able to meet so many new fans in cities I’ve never been to. I’m excited to scream all the lyrics together.
Your visuals, album covers, music videos and social posts are very intentional, how involved are you in the visual world around your music, and what story are you trying to tell beyond the songs themselves?
I do it all myself. I went to college for marketing, so it’s another huge hobby of mine. I plan out all of my releases and all of the visuals that go with each of them. I’m very hands-on in every single aspect of my career, and I think that’s what’s so important because if I’m trying to show the world who I am, I have to be the one that’s doing it.
Social media has played a big role in your rise. Do you feel it’s empowered you as an independent artist, or has it come with unexpected challenges?
It has 100% empowered me. There’s obviously gonna be challenges with everything, but I truly don’t think I would’ve been able to get where I am today if it wasn’t for social media. I try to tell artists all the time to post as much as you can because that is the way to get your music out there these days, and it really does just take one video.
What’s one moment in your journey, big or small, where it truly hit you that this is what you’re meant to do?
Playing a sold-out show at the Greek Theatre was pretty unbelievable.
Looking back, what would you tell the younger version of yourself who was just starting to write songs in her room?
I would tell her that she’s doing a great job. Believe in yourself and don’t let anyone make you think you can’t do something.
Your new single “Napoleon Complex” has been teased online and fans are already buzzing. Can you tell us a bit about what inspired the song and what listeners can expect from it?
Of course. This was such an empowering song for me. Sometimes when you feel like everything is falling apart, it’s really just about to get better. These are probably the most brutal lyrics I have ever written, but in the best way.
You just wrapped your first-ever headline tour, 19 shows across the US, UK & Ireland. What was that experience like for you, and was there a moment that felt truly unforgettable?
The whole tour was truly unforgettable. There were so many cities that I had never been to before, and they were all so special. I got to spend my birthday in Seattle on tour with everyone, which was such a fun experience. I’ve been back home for a week and I already miss it so much.
Your debut album Cause of Death is such a bold title. What does that name mean to you personally, and how does it reflect the emotional themes of the project?
I wrote it down in a journal one day and it kind of just stuck with me. When I went through my break-up, I knew I wanted that to be the title of my first album.
Finally, what’s next for NERIAH? More music, collaborations, or surprises we should be watching out for after the tour (Daniel Tour)?
Oh my gosh! There is truly so much. I am so excited for absolutely everything that’s coming. Lots of music, lots of shows, and lots of surprises.
