My love affair with music began with boom boxes on stoops, and walkmans on a rainy day. As much as things change — through the years, through the platforms, through the devices and radio shows and playlists and webs — that ascendant feeling that comes on when I hear something truly magical remains the same; it hits me right away, no matter the time or place. With that said, I’m so excited to welcome Nidia Martinez to the i-wave spotlight this week, whose indie pop meets shoegaze existential sound has been giving me renewed hope for indie music.
My first introduction to Nidia’s music was on sound.xyz. I hadn’t been on the platform in ages, so I was taking a tour around to see if anything caught my ear. When I heard “please,” I was hooked from the opening angsty chords, and then lifted up into the clouds via her airy vocals & melodies. It sounded like nothing else on the platform by a long shot, let alone anywhere else.
A little more digging got me to her latest, the mesmerizing “lycheelicheelychi” (or “lychee” for short). Upon pressing play, we are transported somewhere fantastical. Her lulling harmonies undulate, surrounding the listener in the song’s intro, which takes its time; it’s like we’re in a lush forest with fairies abound! Finally, a driving drum beat kicks in and Martinez once again captures us completely:
Don’t wanna laugh
Don’t wanna cry
I wanna scream
Til my face turns blue
Facing you
Martinez stands out in many ways. Besides rocking a short but stacked collection of singles to date (quality over quantity), posting a bunch of live performance videos (brave and dope), and sounding like a 1990s alt rock pop angel (truly), her collaborative choices are creative and powerful. Take, for instance, this gorgeous & ethereal ballet meets disco style campaign video/music video featuring “lychee” that she did with local Vegas clothing brand HoneySpice.
Welcome to web3, Nidia Martinez! Hear from the artist in her own words below:
Artist Statement of the Moment:
Nidia Martinez is a las vegas based singer/songwriter/producer/guitarist. Under the desert sun, nidia has created a wave with her indie pop melodies. A balance between soft and pure tones, her music feels like a warm embrace. Diving in head first to the web3 music space, Nidia recently released her first nft through soundxyz. ‘Please,’ Nidia’s second studio record, is available to mint exclusively on sound and for streaming on all major platforms. Ethereal, breathy, hopeful, and angelic are how the listener may perceive her music.
How are you feeling now?
grateful! hopeful. full of love!
What does success mean to you?
success is when my cup is filled and i am able to pour into those who i love, constantly growing in all areas of life, being able to live in the state of constant creation, and for it to be received by a loving audience that i’ve cultivated.
What work of yours has you excited & inspired right now?
i’ve recently dropped my third studio single titled ‘lycheelicheelychi” or ‘lychee’ for short. i collaborated with a las vegas local clothing brand on a campaign and it was ethereal, beautiful, wonderful and all the things. the campaign was titled ‘venus at the disco’ which highlighted ballet aesthetic with a modern disco flare. the campaign video featured my song lychee as ballerinas fluttered within my melody. it was stunning overall! the full video can be found on youtube and short snippets are posted throughout mine and the brand’s creator’s (goldie spice) social media. @officialhoneyspice @nidiamrtnz
What does web3 mean to you, and what excites you about it?
independence! it’s exciting that web3 allows artists to take control of the distribution of their music and include fans within that space.
What artists/creators are inspiring you right now & why?
remy wolf is my girl, i love her unapologetic demeanor and fresh take within all things in her artistry.
Fill in the blank: I wish the web3 music world was more ___________________.
known!
The web3 music scene has changed so much in such a short time! Thoughts on where we started, and/or where we’re at right now?
i love the ability to upload directly to a platform similar to a distribution system. i think web3 music spaces like sound.xyz are the future of sustainability within independent music artist’s careers. it is simple and streamlined and any artist is capable of releasing their music on it’s platform.
Describe yourself in one word!?
resourceful
What question do you wish more people asked you?
what’s the most important thing you’ve learned on this journey of being an independent music artist.
What message do you have for fans/supporters?—
do all things from love not for love. learn to trust and rely on your own intuition. don’t take yourself so seriously. live and enjoy life in the moment. go outside, talk to trees, look people in the eyes and tell them you love them.
How do you stay grounded in the VERY online world of web3?
talking to trees! spending time with loved ones and finding leisure activities that don’t involve electronics.
Any other comments/questions?
thank you for reaching out! i actually cried when i saw you reposted my song please on sound. i was like oh my gosh this is amazing! this is the authentic support from real people i was looking for when i uploaded my first web3 project. i’m very grateful.