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player ready...Though love songs anchor “Gold Lion,” Njomza Vitia’s debut mixtape, the singer isn’t exactly a Valentine’s Day aficionado.
“It’s kind of cute I guess, but I’m not a big fan,” said the western suburbs native, who headlines a concert at Schubas on Saturday, Feb. 14. “That’s why I scheduled a show on Valentine’s, because I don’t have anyone to go on a date with [Laughs].”
Not that she’d have time for a relationship, anyways. Njomza, 20, has recently been ensconced in a Los Angeles studio where she’s putting the finishing touches on a new EP, which she hopes to release sometime this summer. The recordings mark yet another artistic evolution for the singer, who got her start in rock before branching out into hip-hop, where she’s rubbed elbows with the likes of Vic Mensa, Rockie Fresh and Mac Miller, who signed the singer to his REMember Music label.
What’s the most inventive pronunciation you’ve heard of your name at this point?
[Laughs] People come up with a lot of different things. I hear something different every time someone says my name. But it’s Nee-yome-za. You were very close.Have you had any memorable Valentine’s Days in the past — good or bad?
I had the cute little high school kind of Valentine’s Day, but I’ve never been romanced. It’s just another day to me, really. It’s kind of a Hallmark holiday.
A lot of your songs touch on things like love and heartbreak. Why is that such fertile songwriting ground for you?
I think deep down I’m a romantic at heart. I enjoy writing about love, and I fantasize a lot about meeting someone I can connect with on that type of level. And I’m really quick to fall for people, I think, so I tend to write about it a lot.
Judging by songs like “Medicine,” it seems you’re someone who feels emotions to the point where they almost effect you physically.
Yeah, I went through a breakup that really had a strong effect on me, and I think that’s where a lot of the songs on “Gold Lion” came from. I feel very deeply. It’s one of my biggest flaws, but at the same time I think it’s one of my strengths.
On “Breathe” you sing about not wanting to revisit your past. If time travel were possible, is there a point in time you would visit?
I mean, of course there are times I wish I could go back, but I don’t think I’d go back and change anything. I feel like if I didn’t go through everything I went through I wouldn’t be who I am today. Every day I’m becoming more the person I want to be.
How did you connect with Mac Miller?
I posted a cover of one of his songs on YouTube. He saw it, and that same week I ended up linking up with him at his show at the Rave in Milwaukee. After that I kept in touch and would send him demos. It just took off from there and we decided to work together.
You mentioned how difficult it’s been for you to settle on one sound. Do you find that indecision carries over into other parts of your life? Is ordering in restaurants a nightmare?
[Laughs] Oh my god, yes. I’m the worst at that. I’ll stare at a menu for 40 minutes without knowing what I want. I’m really bad at making decisions.You started out in rock. Are you surprised you’ve ended up in this position where you’re regularly collaborating with rappers?
Yeah, it’s really weird and super random, but that’s just how it all played out. I try to go with the flow, and whatever I’m feeling at the moment is what I create. I’m just me. I’ve never tried to be anything else. It’s just finding what I’m comfortable with and putting it out to the world
Considering the way you connected with Mac, I was wondering if you’ve come across anyone else posting covers of your original songs to YouTube yet?
Yeah! That was crazy when that started happening. It’s surreal, especially knowing that’s how a lot of people heard about me. I’m pretty active on the internet with all the people who support me, so I’ll usually reach out to [whoever posted the cover].
Do they generally believe it’s you?
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Oh, yeah. I’m not on some Beyonce level. I think they believe it for sure [Laughs].
Andy Downing is a RedEye special contributor. @andydowning33
Njomza, 7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Schubas. $12-$15.
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