A Name NBDY Can Forget

BY CHLOÉ ADAMS

Nobody’s perfect. We can all attest to that. But there’s something about having the power to work your hardest and reach your goals that keeps people striving for perfection. At age 25, singer/songwriter, NBDY, is doing just that. Striving to be the best person he can be. A story of proving people wrong and focusing solely on who you are and what you can do, NBDY has dedicated his career as an artist that lets his craft do all of the talking and his name tell the story.

So tell us a little about yourself.

Me? I’m just pretty chill you know? I was born in Newark, raised in Orange and Irvington [New Jersey]. I moved around a lot as a kid... I’ve always been surrounded by music. Because I moved around a lot as a kid, I never really had too many opportunities to make long-lasting friends. But you know, my family, we’re pretty close and music has always been something that has been around my family and everything.

So basically, you’ve been around music since birth?

Yeah. But I was a really shy kid, though. My family, they all got really big personalities and me, I’m kinda just like the cool chill, one. I sit in the back and I be chillin’. When it was time for them to put the spotlight on me, I used to just hide.

Aw, did you really?

Yeah, I never really liked too much attention as a kid. I really just liked to be left alone when I was younger. ‘Cause everyone did singing. And I just didn’t wanna be bad at it. Everyone else was so good so I used to just be like ‘Nahhh, I can’t sing.’ It was just weird.

But in reality, you could clearly sing because we see what you’re doing now! So, when did you realize that you actually wanted to sing?

To be honest, I never really thought I would be doing what I’m doing now. I always knew I would probably be doing something in music, but not this. I remember I stayed home one day and I skipped school and I was watching MTV Jams and I saw a marathon of Chris Brown videos. And I remember watching his choreography and everything and I’m lying in my bed like ‘Yo what am I doing?! I could do that!’ That was like when I was 12 or 13; when I decided I wanted to do this. I want to be a singer. I didn’t think that I had the best chops or best vocals or anything, but you know. I was just determined to just get involved in as many things as I can to better myself.

What would you say your music style is? Or what has it grown to be?

I consider myself a songwriter before any genre defines me. My father was an R&B musician and Jazz is deep[ly] rooted in my bloodline too. You know, I’ve always been attached to [the] soul and I think that’s what really attaches people to my music. Whether I’m singing a song that has pop appeal or a song that has more of an indie appeal or whatever, I always bring that same soul to it. You know with my sound, I’m very versatile.

Being a songwriter and around Jazz growing up, you must have a bunch of musical inspirations.

Usher is a big influence to me. I grew up on him. I knew every Usher song just about. John Mayer. He’s a really good songwriter. He’s one of my favorites. Also, my great grandfather was an underground jazz musician. He trained my aunt and my grandfather. My aunt has worked with a lot of jazz musicians back in the day. And she’s actually a really huge influence for me. Actually, when I decided I wanted to sing, I started studying her. I was studying Ella Fitzgerald and Lance Armstrong. A lot of the Jazz greats. Those are some of my strongest influences.

You can really tell from your music that you are deeply rooted in this. And it’s a beautiful thing to know that you’re continuing that legacy in your songs. A lot of people tend to stray away.

Well, I tried to, but it didn’t work. *laughs* Seriously though, it’s just who I am. It’s in me.

So, with a name like NBDY, we know no one will forget you. How did you come up with the name?

When I decided to be an artist I was just thinking about the ways that would really be something that would stick in people’s heads, you know? When people ask me who I am I’m gonna be like ‘I’m NBDY.’ And people would respond and be like, “Nah, you’re not nobody.” *laughs* But that’s how I wanted it. I wanted it to be a double entendre. There’s multiple layers to the name. But it comes from just being a loner as a kid. Like I said, I was very shy. I didn’t get to do the things that all of the other kids did, and I never really had close-close friends. So, I just always stuck to music. So as I started the journey to music, there were always people telling me that I can’t do this (and can’t do that) and I just had to show them. I’d rather be a NBDY than sit here and try and gain your approval. I’ll be NBDY sitting in a room and just press play and let my work just speak for itself. I try and empower everybody who feels insecure in any kind of way when it comes to their passion or whatever they want to do. And we can all consider ourselves to be nobodies because we’ve all felt like a nobody at some point, right?

The moment you signed with Arista, what did it feel like? Some of the GREATS came from this label itself like Aretha, Whitney, Usher And with their relaunch, what does it feel like to stand with people we consider “legends” and how does that keep you motivated? Especially because now you’re in that legend pool. How does that feel?

At first, I was like ‘I don’t deserve this.’ But you know, looking at everything that I’ve done in the past, I used the be the type of person who never really celebrated my accomplishments. When this happened, I was like ‘All this time we’ve been working and working and working toward something and we finally got one step toward what we’ve been trying to do for so long.’ It’s just a blessing. I feel very thankful. There’s such a strong black culture within the Arista legacy. I’m kind of the beginning of the new era with continuing the black legacy under Arista. That also shook me too, because I was thinking ‘I got some big a** shoes to fill.’ But after a while, I remembered that they love you for who you are and you just gotta keep being yourself.

Take us through creating the album, Admissions. What was your creation process like? How did you come up with your entire scope of work?

This is the first time I’ve put together a full body of work as a solo artist. It was very daunting. It was intimidating at first because you really don’t even know where to start. You’re creating something from nothing, basically. I quit my job last year, I was doing the indie thing for about a year before I signed, and I was like ‘I just want to write.’ So, I made a promise to try and live in the moment as possible. That was a process and a struggle in itself. I experienced a lot of things in the relationship I was in at the time. And I pulled a lot of my inspiration from that relationship and also my previous relationships. I felt like, ‘If imma do this, I need to open up in a way that I’ve never opened up before.’ It was a huge self-learning and growing process. And healing process as well. I like to say that I like to make music that people can heal to—aside from getting nasty, too— *laughs*. I like to be in the moment as possible, but when Admissions came, my title single, it was based off my first relationship with a girl I thought I was in love with for the first time. And it didn’t do the way that I expected. As soon as I heard that beat, I was like ‘this is it. This is the track that I’ve been waiting to hear so I could finally get out what I’ve been waiting to get out for so long.’ That stuff, it sticks with you for a long time. Especially when it’s your first love. For the sake of my art and redemption for myself, it was something I just needed to do. It took a little soul searching but we got there.

Of course, we had a chance to catch you at your album release show in NYC. The vibes were amazing, the venue was amazing, your show was phenomenal. It was just a really good night. What was it like putting that show together?

I didn’t expect it to be the turnout that it ended up being. I just love performing and being on stage. And whoever comes to see me, I just appreciate. I just appreciate everybody that’s all. But everyone doesn’t know, getting ready for it was pretty rough because I had a drummer that pulled out literally two days before the show. So, we had to find a-whole-nother drummer and teach him the entire set. It was wild. But everything came together beautifully. The drummer that came in last minute, he just, he was a blessing to all of us. We rocked it out. We did. We did that sh*t.

What is it like, having the power to take control of your craft and producing music that you want to produce, music that you feel is authentic and can touch people? What’s it like understanding that power?

I didn’t realize it was a thing in the beginning. But now that I realize it, it feels more empowering. It empowers me more in my decision making. I’m starting to believe more in myself rather than second guessing. I get to control the energy of whatever it is that I’m bringing. That’s one thing that I’ve always wanted to have in this industry: Creative freedom. The ability to still be myself and just make music that I love. I don’t think there’s anything more empowering than that. When it comes to your creativity, that creative freedom is everything.

It’s September 4, 2024 (5 years from today) – where are you now? What have you just accomplished? How have you made your mark on the culture?

I should be on tour. But if I’m not on tour, I’ll definitely be chilling in my pool somewhere probably in my mansion. Five years from now imma be thirty. I got my little ten-year plan that I’m working on now and I have five years left for that. So, we on track. I expect to be on tour, making more music, venturing off into other things outside of music and just building an empire. Just being established and solidified around that time. I’ll be good. I’ll definitely be good.

NBDY’s story exemplifies dedication. His hustle makes you have no doubt he will be a successful musician all while continuing the legacy of undefined R&B. He’s definitely not one to miss. Besides, he’s got a name that nobody can forget.

Instagram: @nbdy_