As a self-proclaimed music enthusiast, I am always looking for new music and artists. Sometimes, I get in a groove and can find new tunes left and right. Other times, I can’t get my Spotify to stop rotating the same 10 songs. `As a self-proclaimed music enthusiast, I am always looking for new music and artists. Sometimes, I get in a groove and can find new tunes left and right. Other times, I can’t get my Spotify to stop rotating the same 10 songs.
Recently, I went and saw one of my favorite R&B artists, Jordan Ward, in concert. His opener was someone I was unfamiliar with. Her name is Nali, and as soon as she stepped onto the stage, I was mesmerized by her beauty and elegance, but I hadn’t even discovered the best part.
She started singing, and immediately, I was in a trance.
Not only was her voice smooth like honey, but her range was wide and she sang high notes like it was her natural tone of voice. I got full-body chills. Who was this woman, and why had I never heard of her?
Finding a new artist or song that you really enjoy is amazing as it is, but discovering a new sound in real time right in front of me was nothing like I’d ever experienced. I took out my phone in the crowd and added her artist account to my music library.
Nali’s music journey
Nali comes from a Jamaican and Puerto Rican background, and she was born in New York — specifically, Brooklyn. She started making music only shortly before posting her first track, “POV,” on SoundCloud in June 2021.
Nali released “POV” on Spotify in 2022 and, since then, has released music fairly consistently. She has many singles — including some only available on SoundCloud — and recently released her first album, “I Love Nali” in 2025.
She is only 23 years old and has already gained upwards of 3 million streams since 2022 on Spotify alone. She also features Coi Leray in “Maybe,” a single with over 300,000 streams. This May, she will be performing in her first-ever music festival in New York.
While she isn’t a world-renowned artist yet, I see her recent tour with Jordan Ward and collaboration with Coi Leray propelling her in a successful direction. She has the talent, creativity and originality to go far as an R&B singer.
Nali’s music
Nali’s music leans heavily into the dreamy side of R&B. By this, I mean her pieces are very melodic, focusing on the range of her voice and using it to convey her message instead of leaning more lyrical. Still, her songs hold a lot of meaning in their lyrics.
During the concert I saw her in, she shared the song “journal entry.” Before she sang, she explained that this song was exactly what the title says it is. She wrote this song with the intent of sharing some strong feelings that she just needed to get out.
Many of her tracks follow related themes, “she describes (“I Love Nali”) as music she simply felt compelled to share.” Her songs talk about romantic love and its hardships as well as its highs. Her lyrics are sensual in nature and mention longing for previous partners as well as inviting new ones into her life. These themes pair perfectly with the smoothness of her voice and create such soothing, almost alluring, works of art.
One of my favorite songs by Nali is “Hold Me Close.” The song is about her feelings toward a past relationship. She talks about her inability to contain the strong feelings and how she just wants to be held close by them. The beats under her lyrics are jazz-forward with light hits of the cymbal and soft piano and bass notes.
Another one of my favorite songs is “Maybe” with Coi Leray. It’s one of her songs that incorporates more rap-style lyrics with Coi Leray’s part. It feels like the perfect song for a getting-ready playlist on a Friday night. It’s catchy with a distinct repetitive beat that has me unable to resist dancing and mouthing the lyrics.
Nali as an artist
Something that can make or break my interest in an artist is how they handle their relationships with fans. While I have immense respect for artists who draw clear boundaries between themselves and the people who enjoy their music, I also have that same respect for artists who treat their audience with generosity and kindness. Nali does not disappoint there.
When I saw her in concert, her stage presence was graceful. She looked at the crowd as a community rather than just fans. She interacted with us and asked us all sorts of questions, all 500-plus of us. It felt so intimate and special, even though I had no previous knowledge of her at all.
Additionally, after looking through her social media, I noticed she posts videos after her performances. These videos are targeted toward the city she performed in, and she thanks the audience for simply showing up. Her appreciation isn’t one-size-fits-all; she specifically mentions the city by name and what she liked about performing for them. She isn’t inauthentic or extravagant when she speaks either; she tells it how it is while still showing gratitude for their presence, which I find very admirable.
Final thoughts
It’s a great day for music lovers when lesser-known artists get the spotlight they deserve, which is what I hope happens for Nali. She has such a beautiful energy and radiates an unmatched aura when she performs; it would be incredible to see her get more recognition.
It’s important to support small artists by sharing their work with friends and following them along their artist journey. Support is what motivates artists, so let’s support! Share a newly discovered artist of your own with a friend, or go looking for new music. Spotify’s Discover Weekly and Discover Daily are two playlists I visit frequently to find new tracks. More importantly, if you’re an R&B fan, or even if R&B isn’t your style, stream one of Nali’s songs. Who knows? Maybe you’ll discover your new favorite artist.