NEILA INTERVIEW: Neila is an artist originally from South Florida, now based in Atlanta. She comes from a rich Caribbean heritage with a Jamaican father and Bajan mother, with that influence naturally flowing through her music and identity. She’s created a sound called R&Pop, blending R&B and Pop with cosmic storytelling, healing frequencies, and high energy visuals that celebrate individuality and fearless self expression. Get familiar…
What five words define your sound?
Empowering, Fierce, Vibrant, Cosmic & Healing.
Tell me something unique about your creative process.
My creative process feels like channeling. I don’t force the music, I let it speak through me.
Which song of yours would you like people to hear first?
I would want people to listen to my new project ‘Aura’ and start with the first song, ‘God’s Favorite’. It sets the tone for the entire world I created with this project and gives you the purest introduction to the energy behind it.
What inspired you to make that song?
That song was made during a time when I was actually feeling pretty down, and I wanted to speak light back into myself. The song just flowed out, it was like my spirit was reminding me of my own power in real time.
What’s the most vulnerable you’ve allowed yourself to be when writing/making music?
I make music that empowers and uplifts, so a lot of my music is feel-good, confident, and self-esteem building. But on my newest project ‘Aura’, the song that really shows what I stand for and the most vulnerable I’ve allowed myself to be, is probably ‘NUNYA’.
What’s the best/worst experience you’ve had on stage?
One of my best performances was opening up for Lion Babe in Atlanta, Georgia. The energy in that room was unreal, and it felt like the crowd and I were sharing the same heartbeat. Moments like that remind me exactly why I’m meant to be on stage.
One of my worst performances was when they cut my show off mid-performance because people started fighting in the audience. It was completely out of my control, and the whole moment felt chaotic, but it taught me a lot about staying centered even when everything around me is going left.
What is your favourite song to perform?
My song ‘My Body’ is probably my favourite song to perform. It’s one of those songs where I can feel everyone in the room tapping into their own power with me.
Which artist/song/album made you want to make music?
For me, it was a combination of artists and moments. Janet Jackson, Beyoncé, Missy Elliot to name a few, all made me want to make music. But the album that really flipped a switch in me was Queen’s ‘A Night at the Opera’. The drama, the harmonies, the world-building… it showed me that music could be bigger than a song, it could be an entire universe. That’s the spark that made me want to create my own.
What’s the meaning behind your name? Neila is alien spelled backwards.
It’s a reminder of my uniqueness and the cosmic energy I bring into everything I create, a name that mirrors the vibrant and otherworldly world of my music.
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing instead?
If I wasn’t making music, I’d be deep in the spiritual space. I’d be guiding people through energy work, helping them understand their gifts, their intuition, and their own personal power. Even without music, I know I’d still be helping people heal, transform, and tap into something bigger than themselves.
What’s success to you?
Success to me is alignment. It’s creating art that feels true to my spirit, connecting with people in a real way, and using my gift to uplift and heal.
What moment in your life/career forced you to change direction?
A major turning point for me was when the matriarch of my family passed. It made me stop and rethink my purpose, my voice, and the kind of artist I wanted to be. I realised I couldn’t create from a place of survival anymore, so I shifted into making music with intention, energy, and spiritual alignment. That moment pushed me to build a world that reflects my soul, not just my skill.
Where can people keep in touch with you?
You can keep in touch with me on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok @neilaofficial, and on all streaming platforms as Neila.
