We had a chat with emerging Swiss R&B artist Nadia Maria following the release of her empowering sophomore single ‘Upside Down’
Quickly establishing a soulful R&B sound that is packed full of cute sonic intricacies and warm charm through the release of her first two singles ‘Say Something and Upside Down’, Nadia Maria has immediately inserted herself onto our radar as an exciting artist who’s laid-back and smooth sound is packed full of appeal and allure.
The release of her new sophomore single Upside Down’ does a great job of building on the momentum she has from her debut, weaving a narrative of determination and resilience through her immersive, swirling sound and taking on a more fierce and lively approach when compared to what came before it. We have rapidly grown enamoured with Nadia Maria, and had a chat with the artist to find out a bit more about the woman behind the music and the influences and stories that have informed such a compelling sound.
Who TF is Nadia Maria?
Wow, that’s a big question 😛 In a nutshell: I’m a singer/songwriter from Switzerland with Ukrainian and Italian roots who makes songs about self-love and empowerment. I love languages (I speak 7), fashion (I make a lot of my stage costumes myself) and being generally silly. I’m also genuinely in love with myself, which results in me being an extremely extroverted introvert.
How long have you been making music?
I literally came out of my mother singing! So, as long as I can remember. I’ve gone through many chapters: opera, jazz, musicals, you name it. And I sang in many different countries with some amazing musicians. But I just recently started releasing my own songs. My first single “Say Something” came out less than two months ago.
Why do you make music?
I realised really early on that I needed singing like I needed water and oxygen. Nothing else feels this good to me. It’s a very multidimensional way of expressing yourself and connecting with others, much more powerful than words can describe. Even when I listen to music, it has such a profound effect on my mood and my energy, so making music is that times a thousand. Therefore, my favourite place on earth is the stage. The energetic exchange with the audience is the whole reason I’m doing this.
What are your biggest influences?
When I was like years old, my first favourite song was “Miss You Much” by Janet Jackson. Later I discovered Destiny’s Child and I was completely hooked forever. I watched the DVD of their concert in Rotterdam so many times that the disc broke completely. Vocally, it’s always been Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Beyoncé, Adele, Lady Gaga and Celine Dion. Those are my core memories, but I feel like my influences always shift, especially with all the amazing artists moving into the spotlight like Anderson .Paak, Raye and Lola Young. I love to get inspired by all these different voices and perspectives.
What would you say has been your best moment so far?
I’ve had many, but one of my favourite memories was sharing a stage with Lebo M., who co-composed and lent his voice to the Lion King soundtrack. It was at the Vaduz Classic open air festival, the stage was enormous and we were playing with the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra. The rain was pouring down and the audience was still there, in their little ponchos and they were having the best time, as were we. It was magical! Another one was getting the Golden Buzzer on Switzerland’s Got Talent, but I think my best moment is still ahead of me 🙂
How would you describe your sound to somebody unfamiliar with it?
It’s definitely pop, catchy melodies, beautiful synths, but really heavy on the R&B/Soul with lots of vocal layers, tasty arrangements and some sweet guitars sprinkled in. My new song “Upside Down” also has quite a bit of electronics in it, so I would say it’s a healthy mix of genres overall.
What’s your dream “I’ve made it” moment?
Of course, I could list off all the awards I’d love to win or the venues I’d love to play, but I think it’s the classic “the whole audience singing your song to you” that I’m really dreaming of.
We love your new single ‘Upside Down’, what more can you tell us about it?
‘Upside Down’ had the most intuitive workflow ever! My best friend OLO, who is also my long time (and forever) producer, and I were in the south of Spain at the time. We were just messing around with the drum machine and some synths and before we knew it, it literally wrote itself! OLO’s vocal production is legendary, so that’s what really brought the magic to it. It’s such an empowering song about trusting yourself when the world around you is chaotic and ever changing and about the importance of staying centred and keeping your eyes on the life you want for yourself. It might be my favourite song of mine, I always listen to it when I need a pick-me-up 🙂
What else do you have planned for the near future?
‘Upside Down’ is the second of four singles that are leading up to the release of my debut EP “This Is A Solo And Not A Duet” in March 2026. The next one, “Beautiful Coward”, will be released at the end of November. In the meantime I’m also planning some concerts in Switzerland and the UK, so follow me on Instagram if you want to stay updated: @thenadiamaria
And finally, who is your biggest fan right now?
My friends and family are super supportive, but I have to give a special shoutout to Elena, one of my best friend’s little sister. She’s always been listening and plugging my music, coming to my gigs and being an amazing friend and fan. And of course: I am always my biggest fan 😛
