We had a chat with emerging dark pop talent NYRE following the release of her empowering new single ‘You Didn’t Mean It’
On her stirring and empowering new single ‘You Didn’t Mean It’, exciting Toronto dark pop artist NYRE sees herself rising from the ashes of failed relationships and dishonest, insincere love interests to emerge more empowered and strong than ever before, buoyed by her effortlessly slick trap-influenced sound and engrossing, charismatic vocals.
The track is a beacon of strength and self-discovery, both for the artist and for listeners that can resonate with and relate to the narrative, and one that continues to signal the immense potential and talent that NYRE possesses as an artist. Following both this track and the legion of immense releases the artist has released to date, we figured that it was time that we got to know a little bit more about NYRE and her expressive, engrossing sound, and had a chat with the creative rising star.
Who TF is NYRE?
That’s me! NYRE is a dark pop artist from Toronto who blends ethereal winter melodies and moody city trap beats to story tell intricate tales of power, heartbreak, and self-discovery. My goal is to captivate audiences with my eerie soundscapes and evocative lyrics I bring to life with my acting background. My music is a mix of emotional honesty and dark pop appeal that I use to reflect upon and understand the experiences I go through, while finding sentiments others can relate to and feel empowered by in their most challenging or triumphant moments.
How long have you been making music?
I have been writing songs for over 16 years now since I was 8 years old, however I began releasing music in 2019. Music has always been a part of my life; I remember my mom always playing piano throughout my childhood which led me to learn piano as well, along with documentaries of musicians on the television and concerts being a constant outing. I was quite the avid Hannah Montana viewer in elementary school, and I became obsessed with how I could also become a performer on stage making an audience smile.
Why do you make music?
I make music because it’s the most profound way for me to express and learn from my emotions and experiences. Through lyrics and music, I feel I can best communicate and share the intensity at which life impacts me. It’s a therapeutic process that allows me to connect with others who might be going through similar feelings since I often feel very isolated and unseen when I get caught up in my mind. Since sharing my songs, I’ve realized how not alone I am in my experiences through all the awe-inspiring messages from listeners of how validated and heard my music makes them feel. My goal is to create a sense of understanding and solidarity through my songs, offering a soundtrack for the highs and lows of life that can act as a bridge to a new burst of perseverance.
What are your biggest influences?
My biggest influences are a bunch of different people, places, and things. Musically, I’ve really been enjoying Camila Cabello, Tate McRae, Leah Kate and Lilyisthatyou recently. However, my adoration for BTS is eternal so I consistently return to their catalogue for inspiration. Lyrically, I continue to bring to the surface so many experiences I’ve kept buried out of my own comfort – I have no end in sight of all the things I want to say into the world. However, to get these words down coherently on paper, my prime time for song writing inspiration begins at dusk and rises as the city lights dance along the skyline into night. I love my city and I love capturing the cool winds from Lake Ontario in my synth melodies and the intimidating presence of Toronto nightlife in my beats.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
There’s been so many enchanting moments I’ve experienced so far that little me used to literally endlessly dream about living one day (including the opportunity to do interviews like this!!). Every chance I get to perform and bring my musical tales to life on stage is such an honour, and I love crafting music release strategies because it allows me to further the concept and storytelling around the release itself. However, I’ve been collaborating with some new producers and songwriters the past few months which has led to so much personal growth for me and my sound, so I’m very excited for You Didn’t Mean It to get the new music momentum going!
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
My sound is a blend of pop, R&B, EDM and alternative music genres, infused with moody trap beats. It’s emotionally charged, lyrically bold and introspective, perfect for those who enjoy music that dives deep into themes of love, loss, and personal reflection. NYRE is like a hauntingly beautiful and electrifying mix of Halsey, Billie Eilish, Ellie Goulding and Miley Cyrus.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Ah I have so many, I like setting incremental goals for myself to make each step in achieving much more massive, long-term goals clearly visible for myself. Every once and a while I reflect on what I have achieved so far and it freaks me out because it makes me realize how tangibly my dreams are truly coming together before my eyes. I’m obsessed with my goals and terrified by them but I couldn’t have it any other way; I feel the need to go for the extreme. One key “I’ve made it” moment I constantly daydream about is hearing a sold-out crowd attending my headlining stadium tour sing my songs back to me. Sitting with this thought often leaves me speechless as that moment will be the culmination of years of belief and effort, along with the growing support of so many individuals who amplify my messages of perseverance beyond myself.
We love your new single ‘You Didn’t Mean It’, what more can you tell us about it?
‘You Didn’t Mean It’ is a deeply personal track I wrote that explores the inner echoes of past relationships and the journey towards self-love after betrayal by your person. For a really long time after a previous relationship ended, I wasn’t able to admit to myself that maybe this person didn’t actually love me in the way they constantly said they did despite their actions never aligning. At the time I wasn’t a good friend – let alone partner – to myself, so the idea that this person didn’t love me in the way I wanted them to made me feel like that was my fault and I was lacking in some way to not deserve being loved like that by them. With a bit of time, therapy and song writing though, I was able to see the bigger picture and in reality this person didn’t foster the personal capacity to be able to live up to their words. Similar to stories like Maleficent, it delves into how betrayal and heartbreak can shape us, transforming pain into strength though it may come in cold and enigmatic forms. The song blends haunting melodies with moody beats, creating an introspective yet powerful listening experience.
What else do you have planned for the near future?
Hehehe, I’m working on quite of few things, including some larger projects at the moment. That feels cheesy to say since it seems like artists are always like “exciting things on the way, stay tuned” kinda thing but it’s true and I don’t want to spoil it so early on like I usually do, haha! Focusing on You Didn’t Mean It, I’ve been releasing an absolute boatload of fun content across my social media accounts that will continue into the summer, and there will be an animated lyric video for You Didn’t Mean It releasing on my YouTube Channel on June 7th. Make sure you check it out and follow me on social media to join the new adventures coming mid-summer!
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
I’m so lucky to have the support of so many people I’ve met in the Toronto music scene and online in the dark pop algorithms. Some of my biggest fans I’ve been able to meet in person originally connected with me after hearing my set at a show they attended for another artist, the city is so welcoming and collaborative – I love it. Online I’ve also been able to link with a lot of like-minded listeners that go out of their way to show support on my posts which I appreciate so greatly considering the wave of self-consciousness cringe I feel leading me to yeet my phone across my apartment each time after posting on social media. Finally, my family and friends are also my biggest fans as they consistently show up for me every release and every show. I love all y’all so much <3
