Nadia, for those discovering your music for the first time, how would you introduce yourself and your sound?
I would describe myself as a curious dreamer, and someone who is currently becoming in many ways. The past few years I’ve been peeling back my insecurities and stuck feelings and have come to music as a place of pure expression and storytelling. I sing from the depths of my soul but I’m playful and silly once you get to know me. I’ve been describing my sound as alt-pop or soul-pop, I think it’s still evolving but there are definitely touches of R&B, blues and jazz. I believe my sound will keep evolving as I evolve, and I’d never want to pin myself down!
What drew you to making music in the first place?
I started singing when I was 11, and that was only because me and my sister got into a play at a children’s musical theatre company. At the time, I became obsessed with performing more than anything. Even though I was a shy kid, I loved the preparation, the rehearsals, spending hours and hours in the theatre the week of the show, the rush of being on stage and getting a little better each show. It was an escape. I did a ton of shows all the way through to the end of high school. I usually got background roles since I don’t have much of a musical theatre voice. I did show choir too, which was fun, but it shook my confidence because it was competitive to get solos, and it made me compare my voice to other people. I used to write songs in my room for fun, but never shared them with anybody.
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In college, I was in an acapella group which really brought singing to life for me, and it felt like the perfect place for my deep voice. But after college, I stopped performing for years, apart from the occasional karaoke night. I didn’t have a structured outlet for music anymore, and I let It fade to the background. In those years, I let myself forget to do a lot of the things I once loved, but I couldn’t even identify why I was feeling so empty. While travelling Australia in my late 20s, my friend Quito invited me to record some covers in his home studio and encouraged me to take music more seriously. I started doing open mics, and for the first time, I really noticed and valued how unique my voice sounded.
I kept performing covers wherever I could and got my first paid singing gig while travelling. I went through a painful heartbreak early last year and began writing songs again, they started pouring out. Last summer, my friend Simon Victor Linsteadt offered to work with me on one of my original songs. He has since produced Daydreams, my debut single, and now my follow-up, Imaginary Girl. It’s scary and I’m just starting to pursue this seriously now at age 30, but it feels like it was meant to be.
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Your voice has been likened to legends such as Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, and Nina Simone. Who were your earliest musical influences or mentors, and how did they shape your style?
My taste is all over the board! Growing up, I was obsessed with pop music, teen girl music, boy bands. I was a diehard fan of the Jonas Brothers, One Direction, Miley Cyrus, and Justin Bieber. Some of my earliest influences were also the directors and leaders in my musical theatre and show choir groups; in many ways they brought me to music, and we sang showtunes and pop. I still love showtunes and pop!
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As a child, I loved the child-like emotion and universality of pop music; I still love it for that reason, and how pop evolves with every generation. Amy Winehouse was one of my earliest vocal influences because I loved singing her songs, and she had a similar vocal range to mine, which inspired me. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been so inspired by soulful vocalists from the past and present who can just bring a tear to your eye, including Nina and Norah, but also Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Sam Cooke, and Otis Redding to name a few. Listening to these artists inspires me to be uninhibited with my vocal performance, to give it everything from the depths of my soul. I’m a bit of a private person, but all my pain or joy I need to release through my voice, just like those artists do. As an adult, I’ve also really loved getting into the Beach Boys; some of their music just seems to touch the divine. Brian Wilson was definitely a huge inspiration for me getting back to songwriting, may he rest in peace.
Can you share a bit about your upbringing in Waterloo and how your Ghanaian heritage has influenced your artistry or perspective on music?
Growing up in Waterloo was nice in many ways; it was a safe place to grow up, and I felt encouraged to explore my creativity and try new things. Even before theatre and show choir, my mom put me into piano lessons really young. I only stuck with it until age 13, but little did I know those piano skills would be useful down the road! It was hard sometimes, too.
My parents moved to Canada before I was born. We lived in predominantly white neighborhoods and went to predominantly white schools, and felt out of place a lot of the time. I would say growing up in an immigrant family, far away from my roots and my extended family, did stir in me a sense of loneliness that will always be a part of me. I struggled to truly connect with my heritage for a long time, but as an adult, I’ve realized how important to me, even if there’s always going to be distance, I really value Ghanaian culture and my heritage. Me and my sister visited Ghana this year, and it had been years since our last visit. I know there will be a lot more to explore with how the culture might influence my music down the road.
You spent two years living and performing in Australia. How did that experience impact you personally and musically? Are there any standout moments or lessons from your time there?
My time in Australia was the catalyst for me returning to music in a way that I never expected. I initially went to Australia because I was feeling very dissatisfied with my life and figured I had nothing to lose. I went for a year-long working holiday and ended up returning for a second year. Much of that first year was spent on the road, seeing some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, and making new lifelong friends and memories. I went to every state and spent months on the road. I worked in Darwin for a while, and it was at that time that I met my friend Quito and started singing and doing open mics. I also entered a karaoke competition, which was a chance to really ham it up, and it filled me with so much joy to be expressing myself on stage again. The biggest standout moment was after I left Darwin, I did a solo road trip of the East Coast.
When I reached Byron Bay, I performed at a talent show. That talent show brought me to so many amazing musicians, it brought me my first gig, it was the point of no return that told me I needed to explore this. I paused that road trip and stayed in Byron Bay for six weeks performing and writing music. I did more travelling and returned to Australia for a second year, which I spent in Brisbane. My time in Brisbane was also very special. I kept performing and booked a gig at this amazing bar, Cedar and Pine, which was the first place I showcased my original music. I also released Daydreams while in Brisbane, and all my friends and co-workers were so supportive in sharing it and coming out to shows. I felt a sense of community there and am grateful for the friendships I made.
How do you feel your travels and time away from Canada have changed your approach to songwriting and performance?
I think my recent travel has made me bolder, and I’m very grateful to have been able to explore parts of the world I thought I’d never see. I went to college in California, and that was my first experience living on my own, but it was very structured. My time in Australia was so unplanned and wild that it gave me room to build confidence and find my way. I have struggled with perfectionism my whole life, and still do, but travelling forced me to take each day as it comes and to take risks.
By the time I went on stage for the first time in Darwin, I had already shown up in multiple cities without a job and no plan and figured it out each time. I already knew what it was like to lost with no service in the middle of nowhere and to let instincts lead the way. Being on stage feels safe in comparison! I recently traveled to Vietnam and got on stage a couple of times while there. I started to notice the universal comfort in showing up somewhere, anywhere, and singing with strangers under a blanket of moonlight. It’s always scary in the lead-up, but no matter where you go, even when you have a bad night, it’s a beautiful experience. As far as songwriting, I get my best ideas either in bed in the middle of the night, on a hike or by the water. Traveling gives me a lot of quiet solo moments like that.
You’ve mentioned taking a break from music before rediscovering your voice during an extended period of travel. What was that journey like, and what sparked your return to creating music?
Music faded from my life without me noticing it. Growing up, I had fantasies of becoming a pop star, but as I got older, I believed there was no place in the industry for my kind of voice and just let the dream fade. For a long time, I wanted to be a cartoonist since drawing was the first thing I was really good at. But then I went to film school! I knew I wanted to tell stories and thought I’d be a screenwriter. Since then, I’ve had countless jobs and hobbies, but before going to Australia, I just didn’t know what I wanted to “do”. I’ve always even hated the question “What do you do?” because I was always a dabbler. To be honest, I don’t fully know what changed, but when I decided to say, “hey, why not, let’s try singing again”, there was suddenly something spiritual about it. Like every road brought me here. I didn’t even expect to start writing songs again, but the songs found me. It’s been a little unsettling because I didn’t expect it, and I often don’t know what I’m doing. But it’s a part of me now, so I’m trying to let it out and learn all I can.
Your songs often blur the lines between fantasy and reality, wrapped in deeply emotional and atmospheric production. What inspires your songwriting, and how do you translate personal experiences into your music?
As I mentioned before, I’ve always been a dreamer. Growing up, I’d escape into my head and build worlds and lives for myself. I believe that lends to my creativity, but also lends to a certain naivety that I have to face head-on. In my music, I want to live in the hazy in-between a bit, but also explore the aching clarity that comes with crashing down to reality every now and then. In the past year, heartbreak and loneliness have inspired a lot of my songs.
I think as I go through life, I will get inspired by different things, which is exciting to me, but for now, this is what’s coming up. I translate my experiences into music by reliving them as I create – sometimes rewriting the memories, sometimes keeping them the same. I guess in a way I’m processing as I’m writing. Pretty much every song will start as a tiny snippet of a melody or lyric that walks through my brain. I’ll save it as a voice note on my phone. Sometimes it’s obvious where it’s coming from, sometimes I don’t know and the story behind the lyric starts to emerge while I’m at the piano. It’s like getting to know myself in real time.
The music industry is evolving quickly, particularly with the rise of AI and new technologies. What are your thoughts on the role of AI in music creation and promotion? Has it influenced your process or perspective as an independent artist?
When AI first started becoming widely used, it terrified me. I was worried that it was at risk of replacing artists. But it’s in our DNA to crave human connection, and if all the art and entertainment we consumed was made by AI, we would all feel it. I do still worry though. I feel uneasy about how pervasive it’s becoming in the industry, but I also know how hard it is to be an independent artist and am aware of its value as a tool. Recently, I’ve been trying to understand it as a tool and how it might be useful to me without hurting my creative process or critical thinking skills. I would never in a million years use it for songwriting.
Let’s talk about your current single, “Imaginary Girl.” What’s the story behind the song, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?
I wrote Imaginary Girl about being in the magical early stages of a relationship where the other person can still idealize you, and the fear of showing too much and ruining the magic. It’s a fantasy of being someone’s dream girl, preserving that precious, hazy part of the relationship so that they’ll stay with you. “The only way to play inside your world”. It plays off of childhood imaginary friends, the idea of a person in your life who sees no wrong in you and is always there to play with you. I sometimes have trouble letting my walls down with people, so the song is me sinking into the fantasy, but with a sense of pain underneath in knowing that love can’t flourish from a place of dishonesty. There’s a line, “Said you’re feeling lonely, do you need another reason?” which implies that keeping this surface-level relationship is better than being alone. It’s a bit dark, and I feel vulnerable singing it. I hope listeners who have had those experiences in relationships can feel seen in that, and I hope they also can feel with me how deeply unfulfilling it can be.
Your debut single, “Daydreams,” received radio play and thousands of streams. How did it feel to see your music resonate with listeners, and how has that experience influenced your next steps?
It’s pretty crazy to think about, considering that about a year ago, I was so extremely scared to even sing it in front of anyone. It has performed better than I expected for a debut single, and it has felt amazing to have it resonate with people and receive such beautiful feedback. It’s a very raw and vulnerable song and it makes me feel close to people when they hear it and enjoy it. A few people have told me that it often gets stuck in their head, and something about that really moved me. I hope to create more moments like that. It has definitely been validating and has encouraged me to keep performing and releasing music. When Daydreams was coming out, it still felt like I was testing the waters, like “can I really do this?” But now I feel like the seal is broken and I can keep going.
As someone who’s navigated different cultures and scenes, what challenges have you faced in the music industry, and how have they shaped your musicianship and appreciation for your craft?
I’m still new to the industry, and I think the biggest challenge has been putting myself out there as a recovering perfectionist. It’s one thing to put out a song, but it’s another thing to feel like a beginner all the time and to connect with other people in the industry. There’s so much I don’t know about composing, producing, PR, or the other millions of things I’d like to understand as an independent artist. I don’t like showing up rough and confused, but I know I have to accept that part of the journey and remember that it’s ok to not know everything. As much as I love people, it’s been a challenge to feel confident when I meet other musicians or show up in a new place, but when I frame it positively, it’s a welcome challenge, because on the other side of that fear is where I grow. It’s also an industry where you have to get used to a lot of rejection and a lot of people telling you how hard it is. It can all sting, but fortunately, it’s worth it because at the core of it all, I love making music and that’s that.
Finally, what’s next on the horizon for you? Are there any upcoming projects, collaborations, or goals you’re especially excited about?
Right now, I’m working on more songs, with the goal of getting out a few more singles and ultimately an album! I’ve recently moved back to Toronto after over two years away, so I’m working on getting into the scene here, aiming to meet new people and book shows. I just performed a set of originals at a showcase here and feel loosened up and ready for more shows, so I’m looking forward to what’s next. I’m also learning as much as I can about production and about the business. There’s a lot to learn, but I’m just excited to keep growing.
For further information on the artist, please visit the following links:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/notbadia
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@notbadia
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@notbadia
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wBRU1A8Ue0YpzQW3e6BiN
Nadia Tagoe performance photos by MJ Bednarek
Images courtesy of the artist
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