Neu Get To Know… Nia Smith
Silky smooth R&B from one of South London’s most striking new voices.
Hello and welcome back to DIY’s introducing feature, Get To Know… which aims to get you a little bit closer to the buzziest acts that have been catching our eye as of late, and working out what makes them tick.
This week, we meet Nia Smith - the soulful London native whose 2024 debut EP ‘Give Up The Fear’ saw her immediately establish a reputation not just as “Brixton’s finest” (as her Spotify bio will tell you), but one of the best new prospects R&B has to offer, period. Drawing on elements of reggae, soul, pop and more, her sound is as emotionally resonant as it is instantly classic; latest single ‘Tough’, a collaboration with Destin Conrad, is a moving meditation on masculinity, vulnerability, and what it means to let your guard down.
Having spent some time off-grid in Jamaica plotting her next move, Nia’s now gearing up for ‘Payback is a dog’ - a forthcoming eight-track project that’s set to see her step confidently into the spotlight once more. Ahead of all that, though, we catch up with her to talk ‘Psychodrama’, life lessons, and the importance of taking your time…
Describe your music in the form of a dating app bio…
Honest to the core and for the soul. For Sunday morning Lime bike rides and late night cries, both at full volume.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
Dave at Brixton Academy with my friend - but also I bumped into my brother there! It was in 2019 - ‘Psychodrama’ era - and it was one of J Hus’ first gigs back, not gonna lie it was a legendary gig. ‘No Words’ and ‘Samantha’ were heaters, god, what a time!
What’s the story behind your first instrument?
My first instrument was a trombone - I wanted to play the violin but everyone else did too, so I got the trombone. This was in primary school; I was a tiny tiny girl and it was bigger than me, I played it for about a year and I wasn’t bad to be honest.
“I like to take time to craft music that means something to me, and will hopefully mean something to other people.”
Since dropping ‘Give Up The Fear’, it seemed - at least from the outside - that things got very big, very quickly. Can you tell us a bit more about that experience, and why you decided to take a bit of time off for yourself? Are there any lessons you learned or personal reflections you landed on while you were away in Jamaica?
I can’t believe how many people resonated with that project - every song was a time capsule for me, so to see so many people resonate with it was insane. I got so many DMs from people telling me their stories and how they related to the music - I was really touched.
I think the time off was unintentional; I like to take time to craft music that means something to me, and will hopefully mean something to other people, so it just seemed to be longer than I expected. Lessons from Jamaica: good music will always find its time; “you can’t rush greatness” - Central Cee.
The title of your new EP, ‘Payback is a dog’, is hugely evocative - not to mention a bit of a mantra! Do you believe in karma? Going into 2026, do you have any resolutions or boundaries you’re hoping to uphold?
I don’t believe in karma… am I a walking contradiction? I don’t know. I believe God will do what he will do and that’s none of my business.
And that’s a good question… my 2026 mantra is ‘put yourself first and keep your nervous system calm and in check’.
What’s your ultimate road trip soundtrack?
‘adore you’ by Fred Again.. and Obongjayar - it’s a song that means a lot to me, it’s good vibrations.
Finally, DIY is coming round for dinner - what are you making?
Ooooh, I’ll make rasta pasta - yummmmy.
‘Tough’ (ft. Destin Conrad) is out now via 0207 Def Jam.
Records, etc at
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