Naia Lika – Gas Station Bouquet (2023)
If Dua Lipa were to have a child with Ariana Grande, the chances are likely it would be Naia Lika. Born into a family of musicians, Lika was surrounded by music from her first breath and believed her future lay in music. In an interview with AnR Factory, Lika discussed her parents’ influence stating that “I definitely wouldn’t be sitting here today if it weren’t for them. From the day I could speak, they threw me into a world of music…” Yet, while tossed into this world, Lika began questioning her decisions while attending the Berklee College of Music eventually resulting in an identity crisis and dropping out of the school. Fortunately, she chose to begin writing songs and now we have this talented US-based individual releasing her debut track ‘Gas Station Bouquet’.
Adopting a strong commercial pop sound, ‘Gas Station Bouquet’ can easily be placed alongside Ariana Grande. The thing is, while Ariana Grande has an intriguing sound, it is pure pop and Naia Lika brings tinges of other genres into the melody. Tinged with soulful vocals, jazz-inspired instrumentation and a general chilled-out soul vibe, ‘Gas Station Bouquet’ is an inimitable, unique song. Perhaps this is because of her childhood in music, but the sophistication of Lika’s vocals far exceeds her 21 years and I cannot believe this is her debut release.
A charming, heart-warming and toe-tapping track, ‘Gas Station Bouquet’ has a smile-inducing effect leaving you with a grin on your face. Interestingly enough, while the song is intriguing, it is its history that increases its significance. Derived from an eight-track project brought to life in August 2022, releasing ‘Gas Station Bouquet’ is a pivotal moment in Lika’s life. She explains that “creating the song was an impactful moment for me. I had just experienced one of the toughest years of my life and it was such a valuable opportunity to actually sit down and write about something positive in my life amidst all the negativity swarming in my mind. I don’t think I take enough time to appreciate what I have in my life.”
For more from Naia Lika, check out her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
