Nialand - WASTQT

Nialand gives us the ultimate pandemic playlist with new audiovisual EP, “Words and Sounds To Quarantine To”

CHICAGO, IL -Nialand is a singer-songwriter, and international recording artist with a collection of experiences and a true talent for lyricism and music. Her latest project, an audiovisual EP entitled, “Words and Sounds To Quarantine To”, is an emotional and relatable project that showcases her own experience both personally and as a musician maintaining sanity in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The deeply soulful and smooth hip hop sounds, wrapped in vulnerable lyrics are only enhanced by the visual experience displayed through a short-film like music video which Nialand directed and starred in herself. This visual component gives life to the lyrics and resonates with viewers and listeners from all backgrounds in a very unique and refreshing way.

Nialand has been making music for much of her life. “I have been in the music business for about 16 years now. I’ve been fully independent the entire time but I’ve been able to do a lot of things in the industry. When I first started in the music business, I was doing features and collaborations with lots of artists.” Throughout the years, she has been able to work with a collection of big name artists including MC Lyte, Chico DeBarge, Roy Ayers, Lupe Fiasco, and Kanye West and more. She has also performed both nationally and internationally at venues such as the House of Blues, Gibson Amphitheater, Fox Theater, and several music venues and events in Europe as a featured artist on the “Moments for Love UK Soul Tour 2016”

The experiences that Nialand has had over the course of her career has allowed her to embrace her own style and freely express her music with unique distinction. Her music is a blend of Hip Hop, Soul and Jazz with a specific focus on her lyrical delivery. “I’m a very lyrical person. I love to write and songwriting is my first love. I choose to write my experiences and share them. I’ve found that me being open and honest about the things that I have seen and experienced, allows my music to connect to so many other people’s stories.” Her lyricism creates a relatable feel within her music that is hard to replicate.

“Words and Sounds to Quarantine To” is a perfect example of the connection that Nialand’s music offers to listeners. The EP focuses on the adjustments that she had to make in her life and her career as a musician during such unprecedented times. “I couldn’t really see what was next and I didn’t know what was happening. I had a lot of emotions and feelings and thoughts that I believe that we all have had at some point during this time. Having to deal with those things personally led me to writing my feelings out in song. There wasn’t anywhere that I could go, there was nothing that I could do except be present with my feelings, so I would just sit and write.” Once I embraced those feelings, the words and songs flowed out in only a few days, and
from there, I created and shot the visuals to go with it. The visuals that go along with this EP were all directed by Nialand. They give a powerful visual interpretation to the words and feelings expressed in the music. “It’s something you have to experience. It shows me being in this space of quarantine and what I did in this place of isolation. You see me on lockdown, (as we all are), in my own space just having to sit and just be. You will see me express different moments of frustration, boredom, and contemplation about everything that’s happening and having to process those thoughts and come to a resolve.” Nialand had to endure the challenge of shooting this visual in the midst of a pandemic, but by throwing herself into her creativity, she was able to find a way to strategically and intentionally build a quarantine set out of a small, empty art gallery which resulted in a stunning visual presentation.

Through this audiovisual EP, Nialand hopes to normalize the process of feeling, especially as we experience such a strange and uncomfortable time. “If nothing else, the year 2020 has taught us that there are some things that are just completely out of our control and full of uncertainty. You have to allow yourself to be aware of what you’re feeling and how you’re processing those feelings and not just jump to try to solve things because, in reality, there are some things you won’t be able to solve, and that’s ok. You just have to endure and have the right perspective”

At the end of 2020, Nialand released a single and part one of the full visual. “WASTQT”, the title track of the EP (abbreviated), is an emotional and honest song with a chill, soulful/hip hop groove. Nialand gets extremely vulnerable on camera with this visual and leaves you fully anticipating what will happen next. It is easy to vibe to and is a great example of her beautiful sound and strong lyricism.

Be sure to check out the single and visual for “WASTQT” and look for Nialand on social media. Keep an eye out for the full release of “Words and Sounds To Quarantine To” which is dropping in late Spring 2021.

“WASTQT” by Nialand: https://soundcloud.com/nialandmusic/wastqt
Watch The Visual: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FREh5S2HakU

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