Naomi in Blue invites listeners to feel deeply, to reflect, and to find solace in the shared human experience.

Naomi in Blue is a poignant voice, blending the introspective with the anthemic, the personal with the universal. Hailing from the bustling streets of London, Naomi brings forth a unique blend of influences, shaped by her British-Chilean heritage and a musical journey that traverses through genres and emotions. At the core of Naomi's musical essence lies an exploration of the human experience, woven intricately into melodies that oscillate between alt/indie, DIY, and psychedelic realms. Her live performances pulsate with energy, adorned with heavy synths and a punky fervour that ignites the stage. Drawing inspiration from her Chilean roots and the politically charged Nueva Canción movement, Naomi infuses her songwriting with a sense of purpose, using music as a conduit for social justice and personal expression. Her lyrics resonate with intimacy and clarity, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in stories that transcend boundaries.

For those unfamiliar with your music, can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?

I’m a British-Chilean musician based in London and I’d loosely describe the music as alt/indie, but mainly because I think I float around different genres. I started with country music and over the last couple of years my work has moved into alternative, DIY with tinges of psychedelia. The live shows are loud with heavy synths and a band that gives it a punky feel as well. 

Can you walk us through the inspiration behind your latest EP It Takes Time and how it reflects your personal journey?

It’s essentially a mini breakup album but goes a bit further than that. I was in a bad relationship for a long time, this EP is my processing of that and learning and understanding what went on during those years. I’ve described the EP as a trilogy - though it’s actually four songs. But those three tracks about this relationship go through the different levels of processing. ‘Pictures’ references sexual harassment, ‘Skin’ is the understanding there’d been a betrayal, and ‘Broken’ explores the pain and anger after certain revelations. I wrote those songs a few years ago now, but I think because of how personal they are, they took a long time to build into the songs they are now. 

"Skin" seems to be a particularly poignant track on the EP, exploring the aftermath of betrayal. Could you delve deeper into the emotions and experiences that inspired this song?

The lyrics in ‘Skin’ are clear and very literal and true to what happened. In essence, it’s about being cheated on, and it’s my way of speaking to that person. I wanted these words to be very clear, without any flowery, poetic language trying to skirt around the issue. For me, there’s strength in the clarity of the statement. And of course, it’s a story and an emotion that’s so relatable to so many people. 

You mentioned being influenced by the Nueva Canción movement. How does this influence manifest in your songwriting and musical style?

My mum’s Chilean, but I’ve spent my whole life in the UK so as I’ve grown older I’ve wanted to find further connections with Chile. Music is a really important part of that culture, of my culture, and I was drawn to the political nature of Nueva Cancion, inspired by the way they used music for social justice. In my other life I’m a journalist and I’ve covered a lot of human rights issues, so I use that to influence my songwriting, and visa versa. 

Again with Nueva Cancion, I’m drawn to the clarity and apparent simplicity of the songwriting. These are folk songs that are accessible to everyone, and that’s what music should be. 

Could you share a bit about your creative process when writing songs? How do you translate personal experiences into music?

I keep a little notebook around that I use to write down words or phrases that pop into my head. Then at some point I’ll sit down with a guitar and try to put those ideas into fully formed songs. But when I feel quite strongly about something, like the songs in It Takes Time, that will usually come out in one go. I think the emotions behind those songs were so strong that I was able to write those lyrics quite easily. 

Your lyrics are often described as intimate and intricate. How do you balance vulnerability with storytelling in your songwriting?

I think I just go full on vulnerability and just put everything out there in the storytelling. That might change at some point, but at the moment that’s where I’m at.

What do you hope listeners take away from your music, particularly from your latest EP?

I hope they feel something from it, whatever that may be. I hope it moves some people, and I hope it makes others think. 

Can you discuss the role of feminism and identity exploration in your musical project, and how it intersects with the themes in your songs?

All my writing stems from my identity. I write from my experience as a woman, and things that have happened to me and other women because of who we are, and things we may have been subject to due to bad men and patriarchal structures more generally. I write a lot about women, but I use that term inclusively. 

Robert Chaney and Ian Taylor have been instrumental in crafting your sound. How do you approach collaboration in the studio?

I tend to begin writing my songs on a guitar by myself, and will take it to the band and then they make it into so much more. I’m very lucky to have talented friends who have such a unique musical insight. It’s a collaborative process, and the songs are crafted over a long time mostly by playing them live at gigs. 

What do you love right now? 

I went to see Altin Gun last night at the Troxy. They were so tight and put on a great show. Also there was a very tall man in the audience who was having the time of his life. 

What do you hate right now?

The weather. 

Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s still important to you? 

Revolver. One of my earliest memories is my dad playing a Beatles single on the record player. They’ll always hold a special place in my heart. 

Looking ahead, what can fans expect from Naomi in Blue in terms of future projects or endeavours?

I have my EP launch gig on 30 April at Servant Jazz Quarters in London, the same day It Takes Time will be out in Bandcamp. 

And in a very exciting turn of events, I’ll be playing a festival in Mexico in June.