INTERVIEW: NERIAH releases new EP 'No One Cries Forever': "This project is so special because it is the reason I was able to get over my ex."
Los Angeles native NERIAH wrote her first song aged just five years old and after releasing her debut single in 2020 has gained acclaim and a growing fanbase for her intimate, introspective music that chronicles her life experiences.
She has recently released new EP No One Cries Forever which over six tracks details the journey of a relationship ending, from heartbreak through to moving on and finding yourself. It is a beautiful listening experience that covers multiple genres and moods and despite the subject matter ends ultimately at a place of hope and healing.
The EP opens with the title track ‘No One Cries Forever’ and deals with the immediate aftermath of a breakup when your emotions are uncontrollable, to a pop tinged with rock soundscape. “I think I’m okay for a minute / But those sixty seconds run out and I’m right back in it,” she sings, before coming to a place of acceptance: ‘Time to say goodbye / Nothing lasts forever…and tears they have to dry / Because no one cries forever.”
‘Fight or Flight’ follows in the pop-rock sound and looks back at the beginning of a relationship and a tendency to push people away to see how much they care: “I'll push you away to see if you stay,” she sings.
‘ME & U’, featuring lilspirit, brings a brooding R&B sound to the EP and is a back and forth argument about the collapse of the relationship, while ‘Shoulda, Coulda, Didn’t’ brings a faster beat and more pop feels and sees NERIAH looking back at the relationship and seeing all its flaws: “I missed you for so long / But now missing you just feels wrong,” she sings.
“In my past relationship I was in a place where I was wishing things could have been different if only the guy had put in the effort,” she says of ‘Shoulda, Coulda, Didn’t’. “The song is an anthem for those who have been through a similar experience, offering a sense of empowerment and closure as they move on from the relationship and realise they deserve better.”
‘Dumpster Fire’ features an electronic beat interspersed with quieter moments and a gorgeous string filled closer. It sees NERIAH still hurting over the relationship and entertaining self-blame, questioning what she has done. “Should it take this long to completely move on? / The internet says probably not /I started a dumpster fire / Fell in love with a liar / Did things I said I'd never do.”
The EP ends on a song that is probably the biggest sonic outlier, ‘Blockbuster’. It is a stunning song with a soundscape that switches from gentle ballad to distorted electronica and is an endlessly fascinating listen. It is also the most heartbreaking song on the EP as NERIAH yearns for her ex despite knowing the relationship is over: “If you were a movie / I'd turn down my phone, put it on airplane mode…I would even stay for all the credits / To be yours in the end.”
NERIAH has created a magnificent EP with No One Cries Forever and is sounding more assured and confident in her sound than ever. She has a talent to take you on a sonic journey that moves in directions you weren’t expecting, in the best way possible, creating an incredibly immersive experience. An EP to have on repeat. We recently caught up with NERIAH to chat more about her music.
Hi Neriah! So lovely to chat to you. How is life with you right now?
Life has been really good. I honestly could not be happier.
Your third EP No One Cries Forever is out now, congratulations! Can you tell us a little about the creation of this collection? Was there a particular sound or message you are hoping to project with it?
Thank you so much! This project is so special because it is the reason I was able to get over my ex. I was in such an interesting place in my life while I was writing this song and it really brought me the closure that I needed. I wanted to give everyone a special surprise EP for my birthday and I was really stoked to see which songs made it. The main message is to tell everyone that even if it seems impossible, you will get over them eventually.
Your recent single FALLING 4 SOMEBODY' was released in January and is such an amazing track. It has this powerful contrast between an up-tempo, joyful beat, and very melancholic lyrics. What was the inspiration behind this song?
I was going through a breakup at the time. It actually was released on my ex's birthday, funny story. It is really a song of power and realising that sometimes you are too good for the person you are with. For me effort is a big thing and this song talks about realising you need to be with somebody that deserves you. Don't stay in relationships where people don't treat you right. It is all about falling for somebody that.
As mentioned, this is your third EP, and over the last decade or so the EP has really seen a revival. What is it about an EP that creatively works for you as opposed to an album or just singles?
Every time I have decided to do an EP there has just been extra songs that I thought needed to live on it. I have always had the dream of my debut album being 24 tracks, so I wanted to wait until I could actually make it happen.
What role did music play in your childhood, and who were the artists that you loved growing up?
A huge part of my early life was always listening to music. I used to be obsessed with doing karaoke in the car rides to school. I started writing at 5 and since then, it has all been the most amazing therapeutic outlet. Growing up I loved the likes of Adele, Colbie Caillat, Sarah Bareilles, and Chelsea Cutler.
Writing your first song at just five is incredible! Was a career in music something you just knew you would always do, or did it just naturally unfold that way?
I always knew.
As an independent artist, you have complete control over your art which must be both extremely liberating, and I imagine at times overwhelming. How do you balance the two?
I love it. I don't think I need to find a balance because I love being so hands on in every aspect of my career. I went to college and graduated a year early with a marketing degree, so they are both big passions of mine. I have such an amazing team around me so together we really make everyone so much fun.
The music industry has never been a particularly welcoming or safe space for female artists, mainly because It has been run by older, straight, white men for decades. What are your thoughts on gender (in)equality and sexism in music?
Although things have been moving in the right direction, gender inequality is definitely still an obstacle that female & non-binary artists face. Being taken seriously as a woman in music can be challenging, so finding a team that respects & appreciates you is so important. There are so many talented women breaking barriers and holding doors open for the next generation of artists, and I hope they will help make it easier for female musicians to feel comfortable in this industry.
No One Cries Forever is out now, what else do you have planned for 2023?
24 track album!
No One Cries Forever is out now. You can buy and stream here.
To keep up with all things NERIAH you can follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
