A Quick Q&A With Nadia Sheikh

Nov 27

Nov 27 A Quick Q&A With Nadia Sheikh

From gracing the treasured stages of the Isle of Wight Festival, Festival Internacional de Benicàssim, and Y Not Festival, to supporting Stereophonics on their most recent European tour; Nadia Sheikh is rapidly gaining traction. Armed with a string of killer-releases and a fearsome reputation for putting on a great live show, the future is bright for the London based singer/songwriter.

We caught up with Nadia, ahead of the release of her latest single, ‘Fire Away’, a self-proclaimed ‘love letter to the power of live music’.

You've been described as a 'genre chameleon', for your ability to mix genre conventions from Grunge, Indie Rock & Pop to create something unique within your own sound. How would you describe your own sound?

The dreaded question! I’m a singer/songwriter at heart, that’s how I started, just me and the guitar, and I’ve always loved bands like the Beatles and poppy melodies, as well as having a love for guitar music. So, it’s all like a little melting pot. I even did some jazz singing when I was in my early teens, so I’d say it’s quite a versatile sound! One moment I can play something grungier and darker, then jump on the piano and do a poppy ballad and then do something like ‘Fire Away’ which is happier and more anthemic, but it all sits well together. The boys (my band) bring a lot to the sound too. So, it’s all a big melting pot of melodies, feelings, and guitars.

You're London-based – yet you recorded the majority of your latest single, 'Fire Away' & your last EP, 'Everybody Hears But No One's Listening' at Rockaway Studios in Castellon, Spain – we understand you're half-British/half-Spanish, have you spent your life living between the two countries?

Yes, I did! So Nigel Walker, the co-producer of the EP is based in Madrid and I’m from a small town near Castellon. The band had been over before for shows and we all stayed at my parents’ house. It’s a good studio and affordable for artists like me, so I decided to record the EP there and have Nigel produce it.

I am half British/Spanish. I was born and grew up in Spain before moving to London at 18, but I’ve always traveled a lot between both countries, and my grandparents live in Leeds, so always had a foot here and a foot there.

Do you think the contrasting environments of England & Spain has subconsciously influenced your writing? And do you believe this why audiences from the UK & Spain resonate so much with your songs?

Yeah, absolutely. I grew up listening to a lot of music that came from the UK: The Beatles, Queen…and always found the UK culture, music, and art fascinating. I also grew up listening to Spanish pop music and absorbing the ways of life, sounds, and culture. So even if I’m not actively seeking to reference one culture or another, it’s all a part of me and it comes out in one way or another.

I don’t write in Spanish as much, and I do see a bigger connection in Spain when I sing the songs I’ve written in Spanish ‘cause people understand the message much better, but for me, I think it’s all about the emotion and the energy and I think that’s very much tied to sounds and affectations. I’ve had people cry at my gigs before when they couldn’t actually understand the lyrics. I think music is a universal language.

Your new single, 'Fire Away', released 27th November, is described as 'a love letter to the power of live music', in your own words, how important is live-music to you as an artist?

It’s absolutely instrumental for myself and I think for most artists too. Both as a performer and as a spectator. It’s where we get to showcase our work and to connect with the fans, and it’s also where we experience music and shows from other people that influence what we do. Especially on a grassroots level. We need live music to develop and perfect our craft, but most importantly we need it as humans and social creatures. We need that connection with art and with other people with whom we share a common love or interest for something.

You've been on quite a ride over the last few years, with festival appearances including the Isle of Wight Festival (18' & 19'), FIB – Benicassim Festival, and Y Not Festival. In addition to this, you've recently supported Stereophonics on tour, playing nineteen dates overall, including sell-out shows at Manchester Arena & Cardiff Arena. How would you describe the last few years for yourself, and what are the highlights so far?

They’ve certainly been like a rollercoaster in many senses. When you look back it seems mad (I’m incredibly bad at looking back!), but when you’re in the moment you’re kind of living for it, so you don’t realise as much. I’m completely independent and self-managed, so it’s all about trying to climb the ladder and grow along the way, while figuring everything out! There’s been lots of highlights, but I inevitably have to say the Phonics tour was insane. I’m a huge fan of the band and when I was 16 I saw them at the O2 Academy in Leeds from the front row, just a few years later I was supporting them at that same venue. Still seems surreal when I think about it!

I was in attendance for a show you played at Jimmy's (RIP) for When In Manchester Festival in 2018. You could tell the audience immediately resonated with you. How do you find the smaller stages/crowds in comparison to the bigger ones, are they more daunting in a weird way?

Ah, no way! I’m pretty sure that was our first show ever in Manchester! Yes, absolutely. They’re so, so different. The atmosphere in a small venue is so intimate and because of that, it can be more daunting. You can see everyone’s faces and the energy is different for sure. I remember when we played Manchester Arena, it was so big and so dark, you could sense the people but you could barely see anyone, and you could hear the sound resonate at the hugeness of the place. They’re both very different but very special in their own ways.

2020 has been a disaster for live-music, yet it's looking like gigs are on the horizon with artists/bands booking gigs and tours for next year. What is on the horizon for you in terms of recording and live performance?

It’s devastating to see what’s happened to live music (and so many other things) this year, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel and I’m positive people are going to embrace it even harder because we’ve all missed it so much!

At the end of Summer my band and I went into the studio to record some more tunes, so there’s definitely new music on the way and I’ve been working on rescheduling a small venue UK tour I had booked for November that - fingers crossed - will now be happening in Spring 2021. I also have a couple of acoustic socially distanced shows happening in Spain this December, the first on 19th December at La Bohemia (Castellón). So really looking forward to that!

Lastly, can you recommend us some artists/bands to listen to?

Absolutely! I’m a huge fan of Fontaines DC who’ve just been nominated for a Grammy, their last record is great! I’ve also been loving the new Nothing But Thieves and Declan McKenna albums. Been listening to Lucia and the Best Boys, The Blinders’ new album and Inhaler are great too. A classic I’ve had on repeat recently is ‘OK Computer’ by Radiohead.