Proudly, Nep
Written by: AJ Gardner
In celebration of Pride Month, I reached out to Nep, a sound engineering student who is carving out a name for herself in the music industry. Nep is a talented artist from Florida with a passion for music and making a difference. Her enthusiastic personality and humble composure allowed for a wonderful interview and a pleasant chat after her headline show in Chicago. Nep’s love for her art, her team, and her fans is evident, and her career in music is only just beginning.
Born and raised in Florida, Nep’s journey into music was sparked by her father's influence and her admiration for artists like Cavetown. Her passion for music blossomed early, fueled by a desire to make a meaningful impact through her art. After a recent headline show in Chicago, I had the pleasure of chatting with Nep about her career aspirations, her commitment to authenticity, and the power of music to connect and inspire.
Next Wave: What initially drew you to pursue a career in music, and when did you realize it was your passion?
Nep: My dad is the reason why I love music so much! I bought my first instrument (a ukulele) because of Cavetown. I feel like they’ve inspired a lot artists in the genre I’m in right now! I always knew I was going to make music forever, but I never thought I could do this for a career. My mindset on that only changed a few months ago.
Next Wave: Are there any fellow queer artists who have inspired or influenced your work? How so?
Nep: Cavetown!!!! Big time Cavetown. I know I already said that, but I was really truly constantly watching their YouTube covers, show vlogs, and production videos for like 5 years. I got my first mic because of them, I got Logic because of them, and I posted my first songs because of them.
Next Wave: How do you think the music industry can become more inclusive and supportive of queer artists?
Nep: It’s been really interesting seeing things change as I’ve grown up. There’s queer artists in my generation going mainstream (Chappell Roan, Reneé Rapp, Troye Sivan) as fuckkk right now, which is awesome. But streaming services should highlight their stories more, if the artists are willing to share. I feel like it would encourage more activism, donating, and volunteering in the queer community.
Next Wave: Have you faced any challenges or setbacks as an up-and-coming musician, and how have you overcome them?
Nep: I’ve had really bad anxiety since I was a little kid. It got really bad last year and started giving me these crazy physical issues. Music was really hard to like at that point because I felt like I could never be a healthy person, and you’ve gotta be healthy to show yourself to the world. I got some professional help around then and now I’m doing the best I have in, like, my entire life.
Next Wave: How do you approach building your fanbase and connecting with your audience, especially in the early stages of your career?
Nep: I used to reply to every single person who messaged me, which I now know is a bad idea for a 15-year-old. It’s a fine line between genuine people and creeps. I would say have some good boundaries and be careful about who you interact with, but also try to have fun. Try a bunch of different things until you find what you like most: performing, lip-syncing to your songs, live-streaming, discord chatting, etc.
Next Wave: How do you handle creative blocks or periods of uninspiration when working on new music?
Nep: I really just don’t write music during those times. It’s kinda bad but I have really good writing phases and really really bad writing phases. I wrote half of Storybook during a good one. I’m in a bad one right now. It always comes back somehow! I try not to worry about it too much.
Next Wave: Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey that has had a significant impact on you?
Nep: I remember when a few of my friends from elementary school found my music. We went to separate middle schools and I was pretty insecure in high school, so I was just over the moon when they messaged me.
Next Wave: Have you found that your identity influences the themes or topics you explore in your music? If so, how?
Nep: Eat It Too is about asexuality and feeling out-of-place in a relationship…Bagel is about liking girls…Flower Girl is about liking a straight girl…so most definitely! Even my songs that don’t use gender-specific names or pronouns feel kinda queer in nature to me.
Next Wave: What role do you believe technology and social media play in the modern music industry, and how do you utilize them in your career?
Nep: Huge deal! I try to stay on a schedule of making videos but sometimes views drop, or my inspiration plummets, and I take a break for a while. I’ve had some content do good on social media, but I’m pretty sure a lot of my online success is just luck.
Next Wave: What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting out on their own musical journey?
People hate everything online. Make what you want, promote it how you want, and record how you want. It’s your music!
Next Wave: Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations as a musician, both in the near future and long term?
Nep: I’m looking forward to exploring new sounds since Storybook is out now…I still have a year left of school, so my goals as a musician are kinda on hold until then. Right now, I just kinda let stuff happen and work on music as hard as I can (without failing my classes).
Thanks so much!!!
xoxo Nep
You can find Nep’s debut EP, “Nep’s Storybook,” on streaming platforms everywhere! She is currently headlining a tour to celebrate its release before joining Mxmtoon on the road. Catch her in Brooklyn, New York on June 18th or Los Angeles, California on June 25th.
