Based in the vibrant city of Miami, Florida, Nala is no stranger to the party scenes around the counrty. She has an ear for creating hits and producing mixes that will make the room shake. Her Shabang festival set left the audience sweating as they moved to every drop, sample, and original track she threw at them.
I sat with this incredible tastemaker after her set at the Funk Safari at Shabang. Learn more about Nala, her most memorable moment in her career, and her journey below.
Headliner tours and playing a festival are completely different ballparks. What’s something that you’ve learned from both, and which one do you prefer?
Nala: I prefer festivals just because I get to see so many of my friends, there’s a bit more camaraderie. And I’m not so alone. With clubs, there’s intimacy, you play longer sets, and you can be a little bit more experimental. Whereas with a one hour festival slot, you have to be short and sweet. There’s definitely pros and cons to both. I think I like festivals a little bit more just because I get to see everyone I know.
How have these last two years of touring influenced you as an artist?
Nala: At first I wanted to make songs that would work really well on stages. Now I want to do the opposite. I want to do something more creative because I hear the same thing so often. Now I’m like, wait, I want to do something new and different. It’s a push and pull where I’m drawn to make songs that people will dance to. But also because I hear so much of the same music, I gotta do something different.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had in your career?
Nala: I think the most memorable was when I was at Outside Lands and the kids broke the stage. That was insane. There’s one thing I can always like guarantee with California festivals. People really want to dance. I’m always cognizant of the fact that maybe the floor might break.
I saw you posted on Instagram last May a photo when you were 16 at EDC, and a photo of you performing there years later. How does it feel being able to perform at places that you used to attend or places that you’ve always dreamed of performing?
Nala: It’s pretty wild. In the moment you’re like, oh my God, I can’t believe it’s finally happening. This is the thing that I’m actually doing. I wonder what all my high school friends think. Those are really wonderful festivals, especially for people that are just getting into raving. But now I get more excited about this stuff. Like Shabang festival where it’s beautiful, nature-y, and everyone is super cool down to earth. I get more excited about that now. My younger self is really stoked for EDC and Coachella and Ultra.
Nala
