In Conversation With #168 - Niomi
Irish-Pakinstani artist Niomi has just released her sophomore EP ‘Pain Relief’. Sharing her own scars in this ethereal 3-track project, the London-based singer-songwriter-producer hopes that “others will also find in it some comfort, whatever they might be going through”. She took a moment to talk to us about how the EP came together.
Hey there Niomi - so your EP is out now. How does it feel to have it out there in the world?
It feels great! And kind of surreal too. There were lots of delays getting the music out there due to Covid/lockdowns etc. so I wasn't sure when I would finally get it out there.
It is called ‘Pain Relief’ - can you tell us the meaning behind that?
I've struggled with chronic pain since I was a young teenager and it impacted my life in a lot of ways. I didn't really acknowledge it or take it seriously until a few years ago and I started to look at the ways I processed my pain and also the ways in which it was intertwined with emotional events in my life too. The songs on the EP come from a place of pain but also offer some respite and show how something beautiful can come from that.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process you are happy to share with us?
I recorded a lot of the demos at home and then took them into the studio (123 in Peckham) to add to them. The highlight was being able to add live drums and cello. I haven't had the budget to really do this before but after receiving some funding from Help Musicians I was able to and having those live elements on the tracks really added another layer to them.
What are the key themes and influences on the EP?
The main themes that run through the EP lyrically are relationships. I wrote Love Is and With You from the perspective of a romantic relationship and Never That Easy is about losing a friendship. My close relationships have taught me so much over the past ten years of my life and when I look back on the songs I can see how deeply they have shaped my experience.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why?
I really like the chorus on With You! It goes 'I'm so wild, I'm new. I can't have my way when I'm in love with you'. I like the positivity behind it and the self-belief. I think we can forget ourselves in relationships sometimes and our true nature so I really like this lyric as a reminder.
Now the EP is out there - what next from you?
I just want to write some more now. As an independent artist, so much effort goes into releasing music and now that the music is out there I'm excited to go ahead and write some fresh songs.
