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I was blown away when I first heard Priyya’s music. I was minding my own business, scrolling through Facebook during work hours when I came across an interview that looked interesting. I clicked through to Priyya’s song ‘Constant’ (produced by DRKBXT) and when I hit play, I was swept away into a world of wonder.
I love how elegant and graceful the sound is, and at the same time, how comfortable. This Nepalese-born singer and musician is based in New Jersey and is a pioneer in the world of Downtempo music. Their music is melodic and soothing, and in between beats, holds echoes of social themes of identity and belonging. I feel like I’m in a trance if I listen to their music long enough. It relaxes the soul. I was able to discuss a little bit with Priyya about what their life is like, so please enjoy!
Black Nerd Problems: First things first: What’s the nerdiest thing about you?
Priyya: Getting into heated discussions about Star Wars.
BNP: Run the gamut with us; what does your everyday life look like?
Priyya: Work all day, music at night, wine breaks in between.
BNP: Your music blends culture with ethereal magic. How do you create your sounds?
Priyya: [I’m] still working on my unique “sound” but one of my favorite things to do is to blend natural sounds with those digitally produced. I take influences from all around me, from my friends, the musicians I work with, my family, and that is what inspires my writing the most. My mother was a classical Nepalese singer, and I am really trying to evoke those diatonic tones and vocal techniques in my singing as well. My biggest teacher is and always will be my mama.
BNP: Do you find yourself inserting a lot of socio-political commentary in your work?
Priyya: I feel that my upcoming music will be very much influenced by social and cultural factors. That is a big reason why I feel it is important to sing in both English and my mother tongue, Nepalese. While all my songs may not carry obvious political themes, I feel that representing my experiences as an immigrant and not adhering to Western expectations of “pop” music are equally as important as creating the music itself. Despite the many dilemmas we face today, one positive thing I have noticed in the music world is the coming together of different cultures and a wave of females of color, conveying their voices unapologetically. This is such an encouraging and inspiring notion to artists such as myself.
BNP: What are your plans for the future?
Priyya: Keep creating, writing, living, and hopefully making beautiful friendships and memories along the way.
Social Media Links:
Soundcloud: Priyya
Facebook: Priyya Music
Twitter: @priyya____
Photography Credit:
Cover image: Althea Thom @g.y.l.a
Interior image: Elena Mudd @elenamudd
Are you following Black Nerd Problems on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or Google+?
The post “The music world is coming together”: A Chat with Downtempo Musician Priyya appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
I was blown away when I first heard Priyya’s music. I was minding my own business, scrolling through Facebook during work hours when I came across an interview that looked interesting. I clicked through to Priyya’s song ‘Constant’ (produced by DRKBXT) and when I hit play, I was swept away into a world of wonder.
I love how elegant and graceful the sound is, and at the same time, how comfortable. This Nepalese-born singer and musician is based in New Jersey and is a pioneer in the world of Downtempo music. Their music is melodic and soothing, and in between beats, holds echoes of social themes of identity and belonging. I feel like I’m in a trance if I listen to their music long enough. It relaxes the soul. I was able to discuss a little bit with Priyya about what their life is like, so please enjoy!
Black Nerd Problems: First things first: What’s the nerdiest thing about you?
Priyya: Getting into heated discussions about Star Wars.
BNP: Run the gamut with us; what does your everyday life look like?
Priyya: Work all day, music at night, wine breaks in between.
BNP: Your music blends culture with ethereal magic. How do you create your sounds?
Priyya: [I’m] still working on my unique “sound” but one of my favorite things to do is to blend natural sounds with those digitally produced. I take influences from all around me, from my friends, the musicians I work with, my family, and that is what inspires my writing the most. My mother was a classical Nepalese singer, and I am really trying to evoke those diatonic tones and vocal techniques in my singing as well. My biggest teacher is and always will be my mama.
BNP: Do you find yourself inserting a lot of socio-political commentary in your work?
Priyya: I feel that my upcoming music will be very much influenced by social and cultural factors. That is a big reason why I feel it is important to sing in both English and my mother tongue, Nepalese. While all my songs may not carry obvious political themes, I feel that representing my experiences as an immigrant and not adhering to Western expectations of “pop” music are equally as important as creating the music itself. Despite the many dilemmas we face today, one positive thing I have noticed in the music world is the coming together of different cultures and a wave of females of color, conveying their voices unapologetically. This is such an encouraging and inspiring notion to artists such as myself.
BNP: What are your plans for the future?
Priyya: Keep creating, writing, living, and hopefully making beautiful friendships and memories along the way.
Social Media Links:
Soundcloud: Priyya
Facebook: Priyya Music
Twitter: @priyya____
Photography Credit:
Cover image: Althea Thom @g.y.l.a
Interior image: Elena Mudd @elenamudd
Are you following Black Nerd Problems on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr or Google+?
The post “The music world is coming together”: A Chat with Downtempo Musician Priyya appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
I promise I’m not trying to pull any kind of reverse psychology. You have better things to do with your precious time. Please do not watch the new trailer for the latest movie adapted from E.L. James’ awful serial-numbers-filed-off Twilight fanfiction about people in an abusive relationship passed off as the height of romance.
Who is fuelling the continued demand for these films? Isn’t one sociopathic billionaire setting the narrative for this country enough?
#AskELJames
what do you hate more?
a) good literature
b) consent
c) women
d) healthy relationships
e) all of the above— emma (@jynerso) June 29, 2015
- Now here’s the kind of content we can get behind and encourage you to click upon: “Science Says Women Have Been Kicking Ass, Gaming for Millennia.” (via Geek.com)
- Orange is the New Black star Diane Guerrero tells the wrenching story of when her parents were deported from the US when she was just 14: “I was 14 years old and came home from school to an empty house – it felt as if all the action in the house had been stopped in a freeze frame. Dinner was on the stove and the car was outside, but the house was silent.” (via Google Cultural Institute)
- Nintendo says that they’re dramatically increasing production of the Super NES Classic Edition due to record demand and the retail fiasco that followed the NES Classic Edition shortfall. Nintendo, all I can say is that my birthday is in March. (via ArsTechnica)
- Leslie Jones makes everything she graces with her presence better, in this case the Cristian Siriano fashion show. (via Refinery29)
- Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade, a sack of rabid weasels in a dress shirt masquerading as a human, questioned if the removal of Confederate statues that celebrate racism and secession wouldn’t lead to 9/11 memorials being taken down. He said this on the 16th anniversary of 9/11. The only thing that needs to be removed today is sack of rabid weasels Brian Kilmeade. (via The Hill)
How was your day today, my non-weasel friends?
(image: Universal)
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A week ago, I spent a day river floating down the 48-mile Chattahoochee River in metropolitan Atlanta, and wading into the river to learn how fly fishing enthusiasts cast and back cast. Back casting is easier!
(Keri Hilson leads a group down the Chattahoochee River. Image: CatMax Photography/National Park Foundation)
What a fun way to learn about the offerings of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area—established as a result of legislation Rep. Andrew Young introduced and President Jimmy Carter signed into law in 1978.
Nature, the Best Educator
The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area gets more than 3 million visitors every year, putting it in the top 35 of all 417 National Parks in the National Park Service.
(Cedric Talley, Visual Information Specialist at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Image: File)
Maybe that’s because of the proximity to urban Atlanta—the river is within the city limits, although you’d never know it by the number of enormous trees on the river banks. I saw a couple of deer during my trip, as well as a blue heron and osprey flying above, but other wildlife also make their appearance—including muskrats, alligators, and the occasional bear.
There’s also tons to do in the park—paddle boating, river floating, kayaking, fishing, horseback riding, and mountain biking, as well as simply hiking or running the 83 miles of trails.
School groups come to the park to get hands-on lessons in nature, wildlife, insects, and the abundant flora. The state of Georgia stocks the river with rainbow trout and striped bass, which survive because of the river bottom’s cool temperatures.
(Raukisha Talley told us about the history of the park. Image: File)
This place is a naturalist’s dream. My son was an avid nature lover when he was little—and this was the kind of park he would have loved visiting. If you’re in or near Atlanta, you must take your kids for a day trip.
Class I Rapids
“People see the river as a real asset,” Bill Cox, superintendent of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, told a group of us in the park’s visitor’s lodge, which is included on the National Register of Historic Places.
(Bill Cox and Hilson. Image: CatMax Photography/National Park Foundation)
The park’s vast 7,000 acres create a serene space for people living in the city. It’s accessible and free, though if you want to fish you need to purchase a permit and license; there’s also a cost to rent paddle boats.
But hiking, walking, or riding your own bike is free—and you still get to commune with nature and de-stress.
I’m glad the rapids were Class I when we floated down the ’Hooch, as locals call it, although water released from the dam causes the river depth to change rapidly—so checking the release schedule is advised.
(The author, ready to wade in the ‘Hooch. Image: )
Keri Hilson, the singer, songwriter, and actress, is an ambassador for the National Park Foundation. She regularly takes advantage of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
“I’m an outdoorsy girl,” she told me. “Fitness is important to me, so I run in the park.” Being in the park elevates Hilson’s senses and puts her in a meditative mood.
(Image: CatMax Photography/National Park Foundation)
The great news is that you don’t need to live in Atlanta to run in one of the National Parks. With 417 National Park Service areas, chances are good that there’s one near you. As the National Park Service campaign says, Find Your Park!