Following her gradual break from releasing music is singer and songwriter, Nia Pearl as she reintroduces herself in the industry with a full-on experience packaged in the form of an EP titled “Nia Lo“. The debut EP has steadily become a reflection of her love and passion for music from the production style to how she narrates her story vocally. She has been around for quite some time and when we checked out the rest of her music, we were awed by the constant collaborations and projects that she has contributed towards in which she continues to shine.
The EP felt like a journey from the start to the end as each act involved in bringing this project to life understood the task at hand from the likes of Kelvin Momo to the likes of Mas Musiq and DJ Maphorisa. We couldn’t help but catch up with Nia Pearl over a virtual call to get to know the artist behind the art and we had a pretty insightful 1-hour conversation breaking down her career as well as the newly released EP “Nia Lo”.
Here is a sneak peek at the conversation below for your reading.
Who would you say Nia Pearl is and how does she differ from Paleka?
Nia Pearl is a dreamer. I remember growing up in a very small rural town in the Eastern Cape, just watching television, listening to songs, and seeing artists perform. I would mimic what people were doing in front of the mirror, and it made me realize that I could do this. I’ve been chasing my dream of being on stage and making music ever since. My dream is to make music, sing in front of people, and share my music with them.
Nia is a girl who loves art and is a very shy, quiet person. She loves expressing herself through music and words, and she’s a preacher’s child who loves referencing old hymns from her upbringing. Nia’s melodies are inspired by the songs her mom and dad used to listen to and the church songs. She loves her sisters and is a girls’ girl who loves being surrounded by powerful and creative people who inspire her.
The name “Lia” means purpose in Swahili, and I believe that my purpose on this earth is to push art, inspiration, and to inspire people. That’s who Nia Pearl is in a nutshell.
What about your upbringing led you to pursue music as a career and when did you realise that was your first love?
As kids, we were conditioned to have a certain level of freedom but also had conditions attached. My upbringing impacted the direction I’ve taken. I grew up watching a lot of TV and was part of a choir, which exposed me to a true relationship with God. My parents were hesitant about me pursuing a career in music because it’s risky and not seen as sustainable. They wanted me to study something “safe” like being a doctor or lawyer. While they had their fears, they allowed me to pursue my passion.
How did your stage name Nia Pearl come about?
My friends used to call me Pearl, which was a nickname derived from my name, Paleka. As a teen, I continued to be referred to as Pearl in varsity. Upon reaching varsity, I introduced myself as Pearl. The name stuck with those who knew me. At some point, I realized that I would need a stage name, something memorable that people would recognize. I liked the name Paleka, but I hesitated to potentially go to the UK and introduce myself as Peta. I wanted something cooler. In my search for a stage name, I came across the name Nia, which means purpose. I found it fitting because, in a way, I am a gem with a purpose on this earth. Combining Nia and Pearl, I settled on the name Nia Pearl. That’s the story of how I arrived at my stage name.
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How would you describe the condition of the industry when you first entered and how would you then say it has evolved?
My journey in the music industry has been a significant evolution. I initially started by performing cover songs at corporate events, which required a different skill set compared to the work I do now. Previously, my focus was on interpreting and covering songs, and I had to spend considerable time perfecting them. However, as I transitioned into the commercial space, I found the experience to be more enjoyable and fast-paced. It presented new opportunities for learning and growth. Meeting DJ Maphorisa was a turning point for me. It exposed me to a different side of music that is more about spontaneity and capturing the moment rather than overthinking. This shift allowed me to explore different aspects of music and ultimately shaped me into the artist I am today as Nia. I am grateful to have experienced both sides of the music industry, as it has given me a unique perspective and defined my artistic identity.
What made you transition from making Christian music to Amapiano?
Well, I didn’t really start off with Gospel. I just used to listen to those songs. But when I was growing up in the church because my dad was a preacher, as an artist, I just essentially started off with Afro-Soul, like, jazz music, and the covers of the old school South African hits, you know, like Le Tambo music, Brenda Fassie’s music, that kind of vibe.
That was my starting point. I was convinced that I wanted to do something like the North Sea Jazz Festival one day. I still low-key reference that part of me when I’m in the studio with Kelvin Momo. He works with a lot of session musicians, so it’s easy for me to channel my creative space from 2014 to 2018. I’ll sketch and learn a song, sing in a different voice like I used to. That sets me apart from others, and it’s important for me to always remember where I started.
What made you transition to Amapiano?
I just caught the bug to be honest. I had reached out to DJ Maphorisa at a mall with the intention of pursuing a collaboration due to his versatility as a producer and his wide network of connections with various artists in the country. I planned to work on Afro-pop and Trap-Soulish music with an African twist. However, I found DJ Maphorisa fully immersed in amapiano music at the time. Despite this, he encouraged me to give it a try and work on a track with him. Although our first collaboration was never released or even named, I found the amapiano genre to be quite interesting, as it allowed for a diverse range of styles, from soulful to hardcore. I continued to work with DJ Maphorisa and eventually met Kabza, with whom I created more music. I quickly fell in love with the amapiano culture and thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with other artists. This experience led me to fully embrace the amapiano world and I have not looked back since.
How did you meet Kabza De Small and how has his presence in your life helped you grow and evolve as an artist?
DJ Maphorisa & Kabza De Small have completely changed my life for the better since I met them. Kabza is dedicated to producing high-quality music. He always emphasizes doing your best work and not being lazy with your lyrics. He encourages me to avoid taking the easy route and to create something meaningful that will stand the test of time. I appreciate that he is vocal about pushing me to do my best without making me doubt myself. It’s a pleasure to work with someone who truly values music and quality work. This has been my main lesson from working with him, and it has made a big impact on me.
Post 2021, you united with Bontle Smith & Nicole Elocin to release a project titled “TRINITY’, considering everyone’s background in music, how was it combining three different backgrounds in music to best execute one main idea which was the project?
It was very simple because we know each other well, including our personalities beyond music. We spent a lot of time together, partying and doing fun activities. It was easy to understand each other’s roles in a song. For instance, the producer would lay down a beat, and we could easily figure out who should contribute what to the song. If I stopped the song, we could easily decide who could provide a more powerful and fun stance, and then Nicole could follow with her sweet and velvety voice, creating a contrasting dynamic. It was easy and fun; we enjoyed making every song. Each song had a specific goal, like promoting girl power, and we were able to accomplish that effectively.
You then went on to work with Kelvin Momo and Babalwa M in ‘Kurhula’, how did the studio session come about and how would you describe the writing process for “Amalobolo”?
That night, we created many songs. The day “Amalobolo” was made was very productive. I made so many songs that day, and “Amalobolo” was actually the last song we made. It was quite easy. I had returned from Emakhaya in the Eastern Cape about a week prior. When I heard the beat and what Babalwa was saying, I followed her lead in creating the song. I tapped into the sounds and thought about how someone from where I come from would approach the song, drawing from the energy and vibe of the weddings we would attend back in the village. The words and the melody came to me easily, maybe because my creativity was already flowing that day. It didn’t take me long to write and record. I think I was probably done in about 30 to 40 minutes.
Guide us through the creation of your first lead track “Enchanted Mantra” with Kelvin Momo, Stixx, and Mzizi to your Debut EP ‘Nia Lo’.
I used to work with Mzizi who played guitar for me during session work and band work. He is an amazing guitarist. It was exciting to reunite with him in the studio with Kelvin. I knew him as a guitarist more than a vocalist, but when I heard him on Gokula, I was impressed. We had a lot of session artists that day – a saxophonist, someone on keys, and Mzizi on guitar, and everyone just went with the flow to create the song. It ended up being 13 minutes long. Even though it was a long process, we didn’t spend the whole night on it. We also created two more songs that night. When you’re enjoying and having fun with the song, nothing gets dragged. You just keep moving along with it and enjoy the process. We don’t overthink things; we just let the music lead us.
Editor’s note: Nia Pearl is definitely destined for greatness and we cannot wait to see where her journey takes her next as this project has been well recieved by the nation in a form of appreciation towards this body of work do freely listen to the full interview below to understand more about it and who Nia Pearl is.
Listen to the full interview below:
