We recently connected with Nia Johnson and have shared our conversation below.
Nia, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My name, Nia, means purpose in Swahili, an East African language. My parents went back and forth when deciding what to name me, but when they discovered “Nia” and its origins, they thought it was the perfect fit for the person they hoped and prayed I would grow to be. I’ve always aspired to live a purpose-driven life, even though I am not always sure what that looks like.
Since childhood, I have loved the arts. I grew up in art clubs, musical theater, choir, and talent shows. My room was filled with instruments and paintings where I wrote silly little songs about changing the world someday. As an adult, I often think about her: brave, wide-eyed, and ready to use her creative superpowers to make a difference.
In my first year of college, I took a break from the arts scene to focus on my studies, only to pick up where I left off again in my junior year. A friend and I started recording music in his home studio, which landed us several gigs in our city. I was so nervous initially that the music wouldn’t be successful or that no one would care, but the response has been quite the opposite. I am excited to connect with even more people this year; my team is currently working on the rollout for our first album, applying to some festivals, and laying the groundwork for some pretty awesome content and experiences.
The truth is, I didn’t find my purpose; it found me. When I get discouraged or lose my way in life, it finds me again, reminding me of the person I am supposed to be and the work I’m supposed to do. My advice to others looking for their purpose is to examine the things that bring you joy like nothing else, that you can’t seem to stay away from, and that ultimately help people. Not only will you live life more authentically with these observations in mind, but you will surely be aligned with your purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a singer, songwriter and artist based in Charlotte, NC. I’ve been making music about 5 years professionally now, and performing since I was a kid.
Music is how I navigate the world and understand my place within it. It allows me to express my most intimate thoughts, feelings, and vulnerabilities in a way that words alone could never. In sharing these parts of myself, I hope to create a space for anyone listening to know they are not alone in these moments of joy and pain –– we all fall, get back up, get lost, and find our way back home. I want to help others in their time of need, and music is how I’m able to do that.
This year my band/team is focused on releasing more content and ramping up the frequency. My first album is releasing May 19, 2024, which is the anniversary of my first release ever! Leading up to that, we are rolling out a couple songs; one of them is called GWHF (girls wanna have fun) and is currently out on all streaming platforms.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1) Confidence. Be confident in who you are and what you bring to the table.
2) Perfect doesn’t exist. My dad always told me not to be so hung up on everything being perfect that I don’t even do it. Sometimes you have to get out of your own way!
3) Stay true to yourself. Don’t sacrifice your authenticity for what you think will resonate with more people.
Continue to be vulnerable and put yourself out there, even when it feels like you’re getting nowhere. It’s also much easier to keep going when surrounded by people who love, support and see the value of your vision.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am definitely looking for people to collaborate with at this time! It would be great to get connected to more musicians, as well as people who have more experience on the business or media side of things. My email is [email protected] and social media handles are @theniaj 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theniaj.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theniaj/
- Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@theniajmusic
Image Credits
Gabrielle Strickland, Marc Prosper, Zion McKnight
