This week, Naida Lynn, a singer-songwriter and NSU alumna discusses her background and passions with The Professor. Lynn graduated in May 2009 with a bachelor’s in International Studies and is currently working on her first album. Her interview will air during RadioX’s Local Show Sept. 19 and on SUTV online, 6 to 9p.m. Check out facebook.com/officialnaidalynn to see when and where she’s performing.
I’m here with Naida Lynn, a Haitian-American singer-songwriter. Naida, where did you grow up?
I grew up in South Florida, born and raised in Fort Lauderdale.
You wrote your first song at six. What was that about?
That’s a funny song. It was actually called “Nobody Likes Me,” and it was a sad song. I got picked on as a kid and I would like sing it to myself over and over again. That’s why my siblings would make fun of me all the time. I’m kind of embarrassed about that.
Tell us a little about your musical style. Who or what do you sound like?
A lot of people compare me to India Arie and just like the acoustic mix of indie-pop. My choruses tend to be repetitive. But also soul-folk, a new genre.
Is your life a living musical?
Oh totally. It’s so funny. Today I was at work and I walked in and I’m like, (singing) “IIIII’m starting my jooooob right now!” I don’t know, I just sing everything, and my friend and I were thinking about it. We wish it would be more normal for people to just bust out in song. I do all the time.
Is it a musical — your life — like “Annie”, or a musical like “Cats”? Or none of the above?
Mmmm, none of the above. My musical is whatever comes to mind, whatever I’m walking through.
You said everything reminds you of a song. So what song does this sharpie marker remind you of?
Ummm, so let me clarify that. If it’s a song that I know that uses that word, it’ll come up. If not, I’ll make my own. So a sharpie song, I would create one, and I would be like, (singing) “There is a Sharpie in your hand/Isn’t that so cool?”
You also mentioned in your video that you fell in love with a guy and things didn’t turn out how you thought they would. What happened?
Ummm, I fell in love with him and I was not the apple of his eye; another girl came into the picture.
That’s tough.
The only thing worse than losing the love of your life is having him find his, they say.
How has that experience influenced your music?
I’m a really happy-go-lucky person, so rarely do things bum me out, so that was something that was like super-deep. So what it allowed me to do is to allow myself to go to those deep places, and to realize, you know what? Life isn’t over; I can still keep going. It allowed me to sympathize with other people, and just kind of write from the highs and the lows.
You said in your video you’re ready for your man to come. So what does he look like?
Oh my gosh! If you find him, tell me.
I don’t mean just physically, what he looks like; I mean what are his attributes?
Oh okay, that’s different. Well, he is, I actually like the quiet type. And a musician. I love the piano. The person I’m going be with next is going to play the piano. My husband is going to be a pianist. But anyways, yeah, quiet type who’s a musician, introverted primarily, but loves reading, speaking, that sort of thing.
Finally what is your website, your Twitter, what do you want to promote the most?
For now, YouTube. I’m actually going into the studio tomorrow, so I don’t yet have music that can be purchased, but for now, you can find me, just go to YouTube, type in Naida Lynn. Facebook the same, type in Naida Lynn, and my website is NaidaLynn.com.
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