Nia Smith on Conducting the Perfect At-Home Listening Experience

The at-home listening experience has long been a fundamental part of the creative process for singer/songwriter Nia Smith. The native Londoner first gained international notoriety during the early days of the COVID-19 lockdown, when her home—by necessity—also functioned as her recording space and listening lab. Initially posting slowed-down, soulful covers of songs by Bruno Mars, Adele, and more to TikTok (where they quickly went viral), she soon began introducing original music, which was embraced with equal fervor by fans and music industry insiders. Smith has been prolific in the past several years. Her first EP, “Give Up the Fear,” was released in 2024 and her sophomore release “Payback Is a Dog” is now available on streaming platforms. Even as her reach as a musician grows exponential