Nadia Sheikh is one of those artists one cannot afford not to know if they call themselves music fans. With her unforgettable voice, meaningful songs and infectious melodies, she is one of the leading female voices in British alternative music at this moment. We haven’t had a proper interview on Indieterra for a long while, so we sat Nadia down to speak to her about new single “Memories”, touring this summer and playing a gig at the ancient Greek temple.
Single cover
You have a truly impressive resume for an unsigned artist: European tour with many sold out shows, appearances at the biggest UK and European festivals, at least dozen singles, multiple plays from BBC Radio 1, BBC 6, Radio X. Please introduce yourself to those who haven’t heard about you yet. Who is Nadia Sheikh?
Nadia Sheikh: Thank you so much! My name is Nadia Sheikh, I’m a half British/Spanish independent, self-managed artist. I make highly emotional indie pop-rock. I am very much a singer/songwriter with a love of pop and great songwriting that also happens to love guitars, so I try to blend it all in.
You called your latest single “Memories” one of your favourite songs you have ever written. Is there a particular reason why you love this track so much?
Nadia Sheikh: I think it’s the feeling I had when I was writing, like a little tingle that said this would be special, and the feeling I have when I play it live. In terms of melody and describing a story in a simple yet direct way, it’s one of my strongest. It always gets a really good reaction live, so I’m hoping people will enjoy the recorded version too.
You say that “Memories” is about romanticizing the past. So, we can`t help to ask. The single itself was written by you, and then co-produced by yourself, Rowan Davies (your bassist) and George Gardiner (drummer in your band). These two have been on your side for a long-time, playing gigs in small pubs and sharing a stage with Stereophonics. Looking back at what you all experienced together, do you think it influenced the song itself?
Nadia Sheikh: I guess I am a bit of a nostalgic romantic haha! I feel truly lucky to have shared so many experiences with Rowan and George, and to still be sharing them, as big or as little as they might be. In terms of the song itself, it’s quite specifically about lost love and missing someone, the little things that trigger all the memories, so it’s a bit of a different perspective!
Nadia photographed by Joao Faria
Mixing and mastering was given to George Perks – music producer and multi-instrumentalist, known for his work with Skindred, Maximo Park or You Me at Six. Lots of heavy bands in his resume and yet “Memories” feels like one of the most radio friendly tracks in your repertoire. Weren’t you tempted to try your luck in metal? Does a heavy version of “Memories” even exist?
Nadia Sheikh: Hahaha, that’s a joke! There isn’t a heavier one, unfortunately for the metalheads out there. George managed to do a brilliant job at bringing punch to the song but still keeping its delicacy and that radio friendliness you mention. He also mixed and mastered “How to Lose a Friend” which sits more on the rockier side of the palette, and he’s done a great job at keeping the consistency within the eclecticism.
And the best of it is that you have worked with the same people on your previous release “How to Lose a Friend”. We are convinced that you must at least attempt one heavy track in the rehearsal room. If Nadia Sheik was to go to the Dark Side and turn to heavy music, what do you think your image would be like?
Nadia Sheikh: Some of the music I’ve released in the past has leaned into that darker/heavier side, but with this new project I felt a release, a lightness and I was writing songs that leaned more into the pop side of my brain and I was so ready to embrace it, so I dived right in and people have seemed to really like this side too. If I were to go on the Dark Side…I’d definitely be an emo girl, or maybe something along the lines of some darker post-punk. My music taste is too eclectic to narrow it down! Haha!
In March we had the pleasure of reviewing “How To Lose A Friend”, a song written about ending a friendship after the other party developed romantic feelings that weren’t reciprocated. It resonated with many women who had similar experiences. What inspires you to write? Do you prefer to use events from your personal life or do you look for more general topics that appeal to a wider audience?
Nadia Sheikh: It really depends. “How to Lose a Friend” was something that happened to me, and it’s great to hear so many people relating to it. I actually had so many comments from males online saying they felt the same way. Music has the power to do that. For me, writing is a form of therapy, it really helps me understand my own thoughts and feelings, sometimes some that I didn’t even realise I had. And at times, it’s also a way of materialising observations or stories or general feelings. But I do think eventually it all stems from self-reflection and personal experience.
You have four EP’s under your belt: “Everybody Hears But No One’s Listening” (February 2020), “Undefined” (November 2021), and “Neverending Trial” from September 2023. Are you working on a new EP? Or is it finally the time for a full fledged debut album?
Nadia Sheikh: I’m definitely an album artist and there’s nothing I want to do more than release one but being independent and self-funded means that an album is a big feat, at least doing it at the level I really want to do it, not compromising on the quality of the recordings and being able to market it properly, so for now I’m unable to release one, but I’m determined to do so in the near future.
Nadia photographed by Joao Faria
We always wanted to ask you about your highly unusual performance at the Paestum UNESCO World Heritage Site in Greece. It was an all female performance and you played dressed in all white. The press called you The Modern Muses. How did you manage to get involved in it?
Nadia Sheikh: It was actually so random! I got a DM from Valeria Altobelli (model, lawyer and Miss World Italia 2004 winner), who led the project as she was looking for a guitarist with mixed background and my friend Alleya Weibel who played violin recommended me. It was quite short notice, but I jumped in and it was such a brilliant experience. I’d never done anything like it before. It was so inspiring to meet and work with so many talented women from all over the world, and get to learn about their cultures, their countries and their experiences in music and the industry. Plus, playing in an ancient Greek temple of Poseidon is not something you do every day! Haha! Also a first…all dressed in white…it’s probably more likely I’ll play another Greek temple before you see me dressed like that again!! Haha!
Summer festival season is fast approaching. Where can fans see you playing live in the next few months?
Nadia Sheikh: We’re playing a free entry show in Brighton as part of Alternative Escape on the 15th of May at Grand Central Hotel, and I have a show in Oviedo (Spain) on the 29thof June. I have a couple other things in-between those dates, but I can’t announce them yet. You’ll have to keep an eye out on my socials for more info (but they’re VERY exciting).
Last questions are always fun at Indieterria – you caught a genie and your 3 musical wishes are coming true. What do you wish for?
Nadia Sheikh: Wow…that’s hard! 1. Fairer pay for musicians/artist/songwriters and equal opportunities 2. More investment in fair artist development 3. If I get to keep one for myself – be able to have a prosperous and long career in music. I literally just want to do this for the rest of my life.
Nadia on social media:
https://www.nadiasheikh.com/home
https://www.instagram.com/nadiasheikhmusic/
https://www.facebook.com/nadiasheikhmusic
https://twitter.com/NadiaSheikh_
https://www.youtube.com/nadiasheikhmusic
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1REWoOzJNHGCPDYsSBBghV?si=kp6zcjgIQJuvGxMSwQsh0A&nd=1
https://www.tiktok.com/@nadiasheikhmusic
https://soundcloud.com/nadiasheikhmusic
Further read:
https://www.clickrollboom.co.uk/news/new-single-by-nadia-sheikh-out-now
Nadia’s newest single, “Memories” is out now independently.
Rita and Malicia Dabrowicz
Indieterria 