Being a standout talent at a young age is nothing new for Nija. As she embarks on her solo career, Nija has proven that she is a formidable presence in the music industry. At just 27 years old, this New Jersey native is breaking barriers and making her mark with her latest single, “Back Outside.” GU had the opportunity to sit down with this musical talent to discuss her debut single and first EP, Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You, which embodied the evolution of R&B by bringing a sensational rhythmic persona back into the music industry.
During our conversation, we explored her creative process in songwriting and production, as well as her approach to blending genres. These innovative arrangements showcase her mastery of combining different musical styles into an innovative masterpiece, incorporating influences from drill and R&B. Her sound can be characterized as infectious melodies coupled with unique production techniques- creating the best of both worlds in her music.
With her extensive knowledge of producing hits, we began to explore how she created the vision of blending both drill and R&B in her first EP, particularly with the hit record “Ease My Mind (Come Over).” The process involved layering the beat with precise magnetic rhythms alongside one of her producers, Jack Rochon, as she directed him on the sound she wanted to achieve. It was clear that she had studied the art of building the fundamental sounds of a song.
By creating a masterful blend of music, she began to explore the potential future directions of R&B. You might wonder why she chose to mix R&B with drill, as it is not a common combination. Nija noted that the answer lies in the monumental impact of Pop Smoke on music. “I remember going to a party with my friends and “Welcome To The Party ” and “Dior” had come on and everybody in the club was singing it and went crazy, and it was a reaction from the crowd that I’ve never seen before in all my years of partying. I’ve never seen everyone really be moved by a song,” she told GU.
Nija was already familiar with the beat style of music, but she was amazed by the unique cadence flowing throughout the song. Through his influence of being remembered as one of the most significant movements in this era of hip-hop, showcasing Brooklyn’s vibrant drill music scene- Nija was electrified with ideas. “I was like this is so good, like there needs to be an R&B version of this,” she said.
A light bulb went off in her creative mind as she observed the reaction to this genre of music, just as she was beginning her journey as an artist. She realized that she wanted to revitalize R&B in the club and party scenes. Inspired by this concept, Nija began to refine her vision for the music industry and concluded that she wanted to break barriers by increasing the tempo of R&B.
This musical breakthrough stimulated her to create her first EP Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You. Nija explained that the careful placement of kick and drum patterns, along with strategic R&B chord progressions, created the magnetic sounds of Ease My Mind. “Once I found a nice little groove and the bare bones of Ease My Mind came through that, because all it is is just an R&B song over Drill, but knowing the right pockets because I come from a producer background. It helps my writing knowing where to put the pockets and like knowing what is gonna make people’s ears tick and things like that with my melodies. So I was like and what would be even crazier is doing something a little familiar, so I’m interpolating Aaliyah’s ‘Come Over’ because that’s one of my favorite songs by her. I was like we gotta add a little bridge to just make it like a real R&B song and just ride the beat.” she told GU.
After much anticipation from her first EP, the internet has been buzzing from her newest single, “Back Outside,”. Leveraging us to discuss her creative process behind crafting this hit song through her songwriting and production skills. She entered the studio with just a desire to not leave the studio without a hit record and began exploring Jack’s samples and loops. She explained how she layered a guitar loop with rhythmic drum cadences, creating a fun and vibrant summery tempo. However, as she completed the instrumental, she realized she wanted the lyrics to convey a different message. “I knew in my head I wanted to kind of go the opposite way lyrically, because those songs always really make people feel. It’s a fun record, but if you listen to the lyrics, it’s actually kind of sad,” she said.
As she continues to take the music industry by storm, one may wonder what differentiates her process for writing for others compared to writing for herself. She describes writing for herself as “an unlocked stream of consciousness like there are no boundaries. There are no limits. For myself, I get to do what I want, say what I want, blend genres like there’s just no limit to the things that I can try. I could do the slow R&B, the fast R&B, rhythmic R&B, or I can take R&B and blend it with Afrobeats, or take R&B and blend it with rap. I’m not scared to try things or be against it because it’s not my sound. My sound is an experiment; it’s trying things, it’s doing what hasn’t been done before,” she told GU.
How did she become so musically intelligent? Her family lineage can attest to that, as her mother has a deep-rooted passion for dance, her father is a house DJ, and her grandmother is in the church choir. It was only natural for her to evolve into a creative mastermind. She advocates this sentiment by noting her family’s traditions contributing to her interest in music by stating, “it’s was like a rule for generations to learn at least one instrument and how to read music. I’ve always been around music, but I never really considered it as a career until I was a teenager. I saw a Ryan Leslie video of him making ‘Addiction’ from scratch—the production, writing, and performing—and I was mind-blown. That was when I realized this is how music is made. I thought to myself, I want to try this. The more research I did, the more I thought about how this is what Pharrell does and was like I want to be the female Pharrell,” she told GU. Little did she know that she would be bringing into fruition the harvest of having faith like a mustard seed. Her visions turned into reality through her countless musical creations.
For those who might not be aware of her significant contributions to the industry, her impressive resume speaks volumes. If you think about your favorite songs or artists, there’s a good chance that Nija has worked her magic in the studio with them. She is well-known in the industry as one of the most sought-after songwriters of our generation. Whenever you turn on the radio, one of the songs she helped write or produce is likely playing. We asked her about her top five collaborators in the music industry, and she spoke highly of these artists for their character and incredible contributions to music through their artistry. Nija has collaborated with some of the most influential artists, including “My Power” and “Cozy” by Beyoncé, “LoveHappy” and “Heard About Us” from the album The Carters (by Beyoncé and Jay-Z), “Positions” by Ariana Grande, “Sex Lies” by Latto, “Open (Passionate)” by Kehlani, and “Come Thru” by Summer Walker.
GU had to ask the burning question of what is her process of narrowing down who to collaborate with in the music industry. Nija emphasized that she goes back to the roots of her first year in the industry, identifying artists she is a fan of and passionate about. She has internalized this approach in her own music by stating, “I’ve realized that what makes my music pop and makes my music sound good is when I’m having fun, and what makes me have fun is doing the things that I’m absolutely passionate about,” she told GU.
Her prolific ability to craft the perfect lyrics for some of the most iconic songs in history has led to numerous achievements, including multiple Billboard Hot 100 hits and three Grammy Awards—milestones that many artists aspire to throughout their careers. As she transitions into her solo career, Nija Charles has firmly established her place in music history, marking a significant moment in sculpting this generation’s musical landscape with her undeniable talent and passion for the art of music.
Despite her numerous accolades, Nija considers her most thrilling achievement in the music industry to be meeting Beyoncé. She shared that during her time in Paris, she left feeling uncertain about whether she would receive a callback. However, she concluded that, regardless of the outcome, she would have the story to tell her grandchildren about meeting Beyoncé. Nija expressed her admiration for Beyoncé, stating, “she is the Michael Jackson of our generation. The impact she has made on culture, music, and the world, as well as on my life, is something that not everyone experiences.” She credits Beyonce for inspiring her and sharpening her tools that made her a better musician and writer. While she reflected on her moments on the ‘My Power’ music video, she stated that, “it taught me so much and just seeing her just be like Beyonce, the person, and Beyonce, the artist as soon as the camera rolls on, it was like wow, what a role model,” she told GU.
However, in terms of specific accomplishments, Nija identified her first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 as her biggest achievement. She explained, “that’s harder to do than anything. Getting a number one on the radio, that’s hard enough in itself, but as a creative, there are a hundred spots, and it’s hard to get within those 100 spots on the Hot 100. So to get number one above everything else, it’s like it’s very rare. So, my first one really meant so much to me because that was what made me feel validated as a real successful creative,” she told GU.
The girl from around the way – Nija is a powerful force in the music industry, and her impact should not be underestimated. She shared how empowering it has been for her to achieve significant accomplishments through her well-known collaborations. This success has motivated her to pursue and elevate her own solo career. “As a little girl, all it is a dream. You don’t know that it can become a reality, so the fact that I was able to make all of this a reality for myself and then actually do it for myself is like I’m just knocking doors down like anything that is thrown at me, any obstacle, I am knocking it down and that just feels good just as a human being,” she told GU.
Listening to her reflect on her life before fame felt like catching a glimpse into a parallel universe. Having forged many friendships from preschool, she developed many connections across New Jersey and the Tri-State area. During her school years, she took Advanced Placement (AP) and honors classes, while balancing having a well diverse set of friends from various groups. Known as the class clown or jokester, she was always ready to give it up to anyone that tried to mess with her, especially since she was the smallest in the class.
Interestingly, a fun fact that fans might not know is that in high school, she competed against Olympian Gold Medalist Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. Yes, at even a young age she has found herself surrounded by greatness in any industry. She was heavily involved in sports, participating in cheerleading and track, playing kickball, and riding her bike in her meantime.
In addition, she pursued various hobbies, including video games and reading. She spent countless hours online learning the latest dance challenges, particularly enjoying the Jersey Club dance movement that was popular in her area. She described her childhood as well-rounded, attributing her diverse experiences to her ability to excel in music.“ I think that’s also why music comes so naturally. It’s because it’s not my whole life. It’s a part of me,” she said.
Many people may not know that before finding her passion for music and before the fame, Nija excelled in math and science in school. This talent earned her a full-ride scholarship to Temple University, where she was set to become an engineer. However, she realized that to truly pursue her music career, she needed to be in a big city like New York or Los Angeles, where she could network within the industry. Ultimately, she made a significant decision: “ I declined it which my mom was mad about, by the way,” she laughed as she told GU. Instead, she set her eyes towards pursuing her dream and chose to study the music program at NYU.
With a career so uniquely crafted for her, the one lesson that remains true that she learned through her musical journey is to ensure that she is standing on her own beliefs no who might object as they have no hold on what destiny has in store for her. She stated, “ I have to be secure in my own creations. I’ve learned not to consider so many opinions when it comes to my own creations,” she said.
The stars and the sky above is what is in store for the superstar as her career continues to soar to new heights, Nija expressed her exciting plans for her future business ventures, and plans to explore passion projects in fashion and much more. When asked about her aspirations, she stated, “ I see myself being as successful as a solo artist as I am a songwriter and producer. I see myself in the lane of like a female Jay-Z, with my own company and people working under me. I’m currently building my publishing label and preparing to pass the baton to more creators,” she said.
Nija encourages young creative to cultivate persistence and determination in pursuing their dreams. She advises fellow artist to: “ filter out the nos or block out the nos. That’s the biggest thing that I remember is so many people are going to tell you no or that they don’t like something and that can really mess with their mental. It can make you question your own ability; make you question your own talent. For you, you have to be your biggest fan. You have to believe in yourself to the point to where even if it’s you against the world, that’s just what it’s gonna have to be. So, all it takes is one yes. So when you’re getting a million nos, no matter what it is you’re doing you really just have to stand 10 toes on. You have to push them to the left and just keep doing what you’re doing,” she told GU.