The last 18 months have been a blur for just about everybody. From the movies to the music, everything that has been created within this time period feels like it’s been jammed into this never-ending period of COVID-19. As a result, it’s hard to recall what life was like before the world stopped. Fortunately, NAO’s latest studio effort takes us back to a simpler time.
Following the success of NAO’s second album, Saturn, she was left in a peculiar position. She felt that her apartment in east London was too small, so she rented out a larger space so that she could have jam sessions with other talented creatives. In less than two weeks, she says she built the nucleus of her album.
“My own studio in East London is really, really small. So I hired a bigger space and invited loads of musicians and friends down just to jam and create and make interesting ideas,” she explained to Apple Music.
Not long after the nucleus of her album had taken shape, the pandemic hit. However, the music remained and pushed through the musical dead zone that was 2020. While the world is far from a post-pandemic era, things have opened up enough for Nao to feel comfortable releasing her latest work into the world for everyone to enjoy.
Leading up to the album’s release, she came out strong with “Wait” and “Woman” featuring Lianne La Havas. One track in particular, “Messy Love, stood out as the standout single. The majestic production provided by D’Mile perfectly matches Nao’s tone as she opens up about guarding her heart to the best of her ability. Ultimately, it’s songs like “Messy Love” and “And Then Life Was Beautiful” that set the stage for this project about heartbreak and revival. Check out the full album below.
