In a coming-of-age fashion, Ghanaian-based chanteuse NYA is sprinting to the top of the line of notable femme singers in the African music scene. With an unmatched delivery, the singer climbs the back of soothing RnB sonics to sell her stories and sentiments, like in the just-released compilation soundpiece dubbed, Euphoria – Vol 3: Noir Tales.

Born Nana Ama Antwiwaa Nsafoah, NYA combs through her arsenal of stories and paradigms, in her discography, especially her Euphoria trilogy, which debuted with two volumes, last year. On this latest installment, she unfurls evergreen bops including “Survival”, and “Good Days,” where she shines bright in her artistic halo.

Having honed her influences from RnB greats including Erykah Badu, Rihanna, Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, Wizkid, Kojo Antwi, Kofi B, among others, the African chanteuse is becoming another beacon of hope for other aspiring femme musicians on the continent.

In this chat with Guardian Music, the young singer unlocks even more tales behind her current evolution and revolution in the African music scene, detailing her creative muses, processes, as well as why she hopes to use her brand as a bridge between modernism and African culture for the next generation of Africans.

When did you dive into music?
Funny enough, I grew up in a musical household, just that literally, none of my parents are musically inclined. In terms of vocal capability, or instrumental capability. It was just everybody in the family from my dad, to my brother, to my sister. They were all different journals of music, so I picked that from them. And that is what has influenced my soul sound, which is present today. The many features that I represented in my music, from high life to R&B, to alternative, to everything. So, that’s what more or less represents my sound.

What were the earliest music influences you had?
Okay so, for my dad, he is a big jazz lover. He also listened to the likes of Sam Cooke, and pretty much everybody from the Old Town, to Michael Jackson, to the Tadashians, Lionel Richie, Barry White, you name it. My mother, her favorites were the likes of Anita Baker, Paden Bell, Regina Bell as well. And yeah, from that to my high life influences, my parents listen to a high life musician, that is literally a living legend. His name is Pa Thomas, Amakye Dede, and who else am I missing now Quadrante as well is a big influence to me. I used to listen to that, because of my sister actually, because she is a big Quadrante fan. So, a lot of those influences of high life infusion, of ready high life of Quadrante. And then yeah, my brother listens to a lot of hip-hop. So, I listened to WuTang, Talib Kweli, and my sister. She is the one who put me on to people like Toni Braxton, you know Mengy Bryan, so my palate is very extensive in that sense.

How did you find your voice?
Funny enough, I never really thought of actually being a vocalist. I was literally a bathroom singer, I was very timid when I was younger. But I always used to record myself, funny enough to sing different songs. Especially the likes of Aliyah, Aliyah is another big influence for me, Brandy, so, I used to try and sing a couple of their music all the time, in my little corner. And that is what motivated me to start trying to sing more. But then I kept it, too quiet for a long time, until my mid twenties, I remember singing for my sister in-law. And I sing an R.Kelly song, “Turn back the hand of time” and that is when she affirmed it for me, that I need to start practicing my vocals.

So, that is what more or less influenced the whole journey for me. And in terms of just my whole case of writing, I think I have taken a lot from my musical influences. To create stories around, what I have experienced, and also how I will deal with certain situations. So, it is like more or less, creating such a situation in my head, and bringing it to life. What will Nya do in this situation? And that is what more or less, forms the story for my music, my creative process as well.

Talk to us about your most recent project. What is the story behind jt?
My most recent project is called Euphoria volume 3: Noir Tales; a very powerful name and representation from myself, and a chapter in my life. It’s the last installment of my Euphoria series, and just that you have a brief understanding of the word Euphoria itself. It literally means being able to obtain, or reach a height full of happiness. So, through my stories that I tell, through each volume. Through each tape, I’m sharing my different experiences, that find the perfect balance, in and all. To reach that particular feeling of Euphoria. Keep the good times, the bad times and the worst, and basically volume 3, Noir Tales, Is the ending of all of the negativity, all of the darkness that tries to cover my light. Apparently from seeing that I’m shining as a star, it’s me being able to shed all of the things that I was holding on to. Things that I held in for malice, or things that made me feel empty. That I had to feel a void with, I took all of that type of energy away from my body. And I put it into this project, a very emotional project, from track one to four. And I’m just loving the fact that I come to a close with this type of energy. I don’t need any instability in my life. I don’t need anything that is hostile. I just want to live my life and enjoy it. Literally like every song, it tells a story, something that is really personal to me. And that is why this particular project is so special, and off to a new chapter. And looking forward to more and more people hearing it, and relating to it for these reasons. And also just happy to know that I can start a new chapter, and work on my next project.

So, what are your favourite NYA songs, so far?
That is hard because I definitely love all my songs. Every artiste will say they like this species, but I think the one that stands out definitely for me again is “The Days”. And one, that’s one of my favorites and sentimental to me, it is actually called “Baby love”. That is from my first Ep released actually so, it is very significant for me.

Why is it significant?
Baby love, that song over all was literally me, coming into myself as an artiste. It is really understanding that, yes this is the sound that I’m going for with confidence, and all. And not to mention ironically, it is start of a very healthy, business relationship with my producer. And my manager was as well, and when he sent me the bill, to be very honest I had no idea what to do with it. So, I sat on it for a while, because I was so in my head, about what to do. I was trying so hard to be authentic, but then it wasn’t working because, the authenticity comes from definitely, the different works of life, when it comes to high life, and maybe speaking in a dialect or pidgin, and all. But naturally, even though I’m very well cultured. I definitely understand my native tongue, I’m not as fluent, and even with the pidgin I’m definitely learning. So, I was really struggling with how, I could connect to the song. But funny enough the bid itself gives so many different references of R&B. So, I feel like that is what made me connect to it even more. And yeah, it was just a basic scripture moment for me. Of how I managed, to start the writing process for that song. I literally wrote it in the hour, and I was literally lying on my bed. I won’t forget, I was just sitting down and chilling, and just vibing to it and making harmonies on my own, on my laptop, with my recording software. And I went straight to my guy. I met him originally from Canada. And just worked on it, he was just like wow, this is just a special song. And I felt it too, everytime I hear anybody else that hears or gives the same type of response. So, that is more or less why it is special to me, because that was basically the birth of my sound.

In terms of you trying to establish your presence in African Music, what specific image are you trying to project?
I’m a very strong diplomat, and advocate for the culture. You know, I’m a very proud African. And it literally runs into my veins, into my blood. So, I just want people who are coming, to know me and engage with me. You know, to know that NYA is who you see, and what you get. There is no funny antiques or non-silver lining or anything that makes you look at me like I’m fake. It’s just real, and just what you see, and I’m to the core, very proud to be a part of this movement. And even though yes, like I have a different sounds, obviously how they say my accent doesn’t show it. But to the bone I’m African still I die so, I want people to be able to connect with me, knowing that the authenticity is there, and the realest person is there.

Who are some of the voices you will love to make songs with?
I mean, in the very feature, because I know they will be a lot ahead of me. But maybe sooner than later, I will really love to work with the likes of Tiwa Savage. Amary from Ghana, and Mally from Ghana as well. I’m a big time Machalla fan, Wizkid fc for life, I have been a fan so, it would be an honour to work with him as well. Berna, and everybody else that I know in Ghana, the likes of king promise, stone boy, Shata wale. Like the list goes on, and for me personally, when I actually come into the place when I’m having to collaborate with anybody. I don’t like to overthink it; I just bounce off energy and ideas with the person. And I feel like for the most part, it’s just vibes. Like if the vibes are weird, and you are not feeling connected. And yeah, the song is going to be dull, you are not going to enjoy the vibes because it’s real. It is not coming from a genuine place. But for me, I try my best to just be easy going. I think I’m an easy going woman, when I’m in a room with anybody. I let them know that they should feel comfortable, and just lay down what they feel. And we work around that, that is more or less I go about, me and my own creative process, but definitely when I’m collaborating as well.

Finally, what would you say is your vision?
Honestly, my whole vision is for Africa, by Africa. Everything needs to be internalized to be a different caliber. And it starts from the bottom to the top, you know, it’s beyond just the genre and the music. It is how we start creating structures around the music ourselves. Without having to outsource, that is where my mindset is so, more or less. I’m going to be scheming on how to evolve myself, in the business of that aspect. So, at least we are understanding how we can make it work for us to the highest capability. Because I feel like there is just so much to explore with the industry now. With our genre, and how it is standing and growing, just evolving. It’s just an amazing thing, I’m just so proud of that. And I’m just praying that the most high will give me the ability to contribute to that and every different type of level.