Niia: V

Niia, the Italian / American singer who has been performing since the mid-2010s, has journeyed through various musical incarnations.  From subtle to shocking, she seems to have an insatiable lust for changing musical partners.  She had an early dedication to classic jazz vocals, darted over to PJ Harvey-inspired angst; she embraced the smooth purring undulations of Sade as well as the alluring whispers from that elusive girl from Ipanema and more.  At one point, Niia pointedly stated that "contradiction is the truth," while a music critic once declared she was "uninhibited."  With the release of V on the storied Candid Records label, she returns and is just as enigmatic.

 Visually, the cover of this album features a metallic heretic fork (a medieval torture device) strapped to her neck as if she is screaming out for our attention.  OK...   Musically, Niia is a shape-shifting protean with songs that confess, declare and share a variety of moods, passions and secrets.  She launches the album with a bitter "leave me alone" ultimatum on the dramatically titled "Fucking Happy," and, later, she wanders through a daze of confusion on "I Found the Restaurant" as she states, "no one cares about me."  A few songs later, Niia tells us about darkness, clouds, regrets and demons, but sneaks in a note of optimism when she finally shares that "I'll wait until the sun rises / To try again."  Toward the end of the album, Niia reveals "The Awful Truth," a haunting song in which she repeatedly confesses that "I'll stay until I hate you." All four songs seem to deal with various inner challenges as she tries to navigate through them.

But there is also the engaging instrumental "Ronny Cammareri," the album's second offering.  It smartly echoes the vibrant jazz fusion sounds of Weather Report, complete with an insistent Jaco Pastorius sounding bass and feisty Joe Zawinul inspired piano and synthesizers. In addition, Niia presents a brief, more ambient instrumental piece at the midpoint of the album that serves as a refreshing oasis.  Both selections, as with most of the songs, are rich with a library of instruments including vibes, French horn, saxophone, trumpet and more. 

But wait, there is yet another Niia.  "Throw My Head Out the Window" opens with baby girl whispers of "I'm so beautiful" while "Maria in Blue," one of several standout songs, finds her telling us she is "a silly schoolgirl" in her best The Shangri-Las delivery while confiding in us that she is "far too young for this lonely territory." There is yet another thematic twist with "Pianos and Great Danes."  The song starts where a sultry Donna Summer left off years ago when she moaned "Love to Love You Baby," but Niia's 2025 song aggressively penetrates into a description of a steamy sexual encounter.  If you thought the opening track of the album was borderline X-Rated, get ready for this one. Then there is "Dice," an upbeat, addictive cotton candy confection.  It is spunky, sassy, spicy and, at one point, it tosses in the piercing sounds of an unexpected saxophone.  The album draws to a relatively tame conclusion as Niia presents her version of "Angel Eyes," a 1946 jazz standard.  It is the only cover song on this consistently unpredictable collection.

So who is Niia?  Your mission is to insert V, push play (or drop a needle on the vinyl edition) and search for the clues. 

Comments