Nakia Interview

“My journey was just starting ten years ago,” Nakia reflected.

On January 29, 2011, the Austin-based songwriter attended an in-person audition for The Voice after being personally invited by one of the show’s producers. Although this moment was a turning point, his career had already been years in the making. He had been performing solo piano shows in the early 2000s and shared the stage with B.B. King in 2008. But it was his run to the semi-finals of The Voice’s debut season that truly expanded his fanbase.

Now, Nakia wants to bring fans into his story more directly than ever. He plans to share personal archives, unreleased recordings, videos, live performances, and other special pieces of his journey. “I have hours and hours of song demos, things that I’ve started, things that are completely done and ready to be released,” he explained. “I want to find a way to take these creations and offer them to my core fanbase. Whatever level of musician or artist you are, having a real archive of all of your writings and material sorted out is so important.”

A decade after his time on the show, Nakia’s latest single, “It’s Never Too Late,” was co-written with first-time songwriter Charlie Cotton, who is just eight years old. The song was inspired by a Facebook post from Charlie’s mother, Savannah Welch. For Nakia, the experience was refreshingly different. “Everything that’s in the song that came from Charlie is almost verbatim what he said in the moment,” he shared. “Charlie doesn’t think about limits, not yet at least.”

They completed the song over a video call, and it was recorded with producer Matt Parmenter at Ice Cream Studios in Austin. Most of the proceeds from the song on Bandcamp are going to the SIMS Foundation, an Austin organization providing musicians and their families with access to mental health care and addiction recovery services.

“Charlie and I wanted to find ways to use this song to give back and really connect with other people in the community,” Nakia explained. The project’s success has inspired plans to virtually pair more songwriters with children to create music centered on empathy, teamwork, and fresh starts. “Absolutely listen to everything these kids have to say—they’re the future,” he said. “Musicians and songwriters can have jaded feelings about the industry. But the kids are untarnished by bitterness.”

Nakia was especially proud that “It’s Never Too Late” became part of Inauguration Day celebrations, aligning with poet Amanda Gorman’s call to find light in the darkness. He paid close attention to the event—not just because of its political weight, but because his friends, including Black Pumas and acting teacher Betty Buckley, were involved.

Reconnecting with his love for musical theatre, Nakia has been taking acting classes and exploring more vocal work. Broadway remains one of his lifelong dreams. For now, he’s appearing in Skeleton Crew and preparing for reshoots for the fifth season of the series, which will involve trimming his signature beard.

He has also collaborated with show creator Joshua Pangborn on the music, working remotely through Zoom, Google, and Facebook after an initial session in New York in March 2020. “Composing music and writing songs together in that way has been really rewarding for me,” Nakia shared.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Nakia has maintained close personal connections. “I FaceTime a lot with people all over the world,” he said. “It’s really my favourite way to communicate.” He has also become adept with Zoom. “The most memorable Zoom call I’ve had during the pandemic was with Matthew McConaughey,” he said. “I was honoured he selected me as one of his four ‘Local Legends.’” The actor thanked him for his philanthropic work during a half-hour conversation, part of a partnership with Wild Turkey that also awarded Nakia and his husband a trip to Las Vegas.

Whether diving into his music archives or stepping back into acting, the theme of “It’s Never Too Late” runs through everything. “Sometimes things happen later in life,” Nakia said.

Coming from The Voice, where he performed songs by Cee Lo Green and Kings of Leon, Nakia would love to hear Wilco cover the track. “Anybody that would choose to cover the song, I would be honoured,” he added. “My top of the list to perform with, or sing something of mine, would be Elton John. Below that would be Dolly Parton.”

His renewed focus on music and acting has also brought him closer to his core as a writer. “I write songs in the way I hear them in my head,” Nakia said. “You can’t be an authentic storyteller unless you’re really in touch with your own self.”

Therapy has played a big role in his growth. “My therapist always tells me to ‘be bold,’ ‘make yourself known,’ and ‘choose connection,’” he shared.

Looking at his journey so far, it’s clear he’s living those words.

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