Since the release of her debut EP, Give Up the Fear, in 2024, Nia Smith has been on everyone’s radar. A South London native influenced by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill, Smith’s sound is an amalgamation of growing up in a city defined by diversity. In just under two years, she’s become a name to note on festival bills such as Glastonbury and All Points East, performed on national TV, and received a MOBO nomination for Best Newcomer. This month sees her return with her sophomore EP, Payback Is A Dog, a seven-track strong offering charting the trials and tribulations of growing up, falling in and out of love, and the process of looking back to look forward. As the tracklist shifts from dancehall-infused beats to melodic R&B moments, Smith’s storytelling ability remains steadfast, delivering lyrics which articulate tales of growth, uncertainty, and love. In the conversation below, we caught up with Nia ahead of the launch of Payback Is A Dog to discuss her songwriting process, her visuals, and how Amy Winehouse changed everything.

Ella Joyce: What’s the story behind the EP’s title, Payback Is A Dog?
Nia Smith: To be totally honest, the title came from the intro track, which includes a sample of Payback Is A Dog by The Stylistics. Once that sample was in there, the phrase just stuck with me. It felt like the perfect title to sum up the whole project.

EJ: Who were your musical influences when you got into the studio? 
NS: Daniel Caesar, Jazmine Sullivan & Chronixx, to name a few.

EJ: A lot of the subject matter on this EP focuses on relationships in all their varying forms. How would you describe the feeling of the record? 
NS: I’d describe the record as a reflection on growing up. It’s about the ups and downs of becoming an adult, learning from your experiences, and dealing with the uncertainty that comes with change. A lot of the songs sit in that space between looking back and moving forward, trying to make sense of where you’ve been while figuring out where you’re going next. To sum it up, it’s a project about growth, self-discovery, and embracing all the messiness that comes with both.

“It’s about the ups and downs of becoming an adult, learning from your experiences, and dealing with the uncertainty that comes with change.”

EJ: I love the trailer you’ve released for the record and the music video for High. How does your visual process work? 
NS: I’m probably not the easiest person to work with creatively because I can be quite particular about visuals. I definitely have opinions on angles, styling, and how things look overall. But that’s mainly because when I make music, the visual world tends to come to me quite quickly as well. I’ll hear a song and immediately start imagining colours, pictures, or certain feelings that go with it. A big part of my process is then trying to translate those images in my head into something real. I want the visuals to enhance the music and help tell the same story, so I’m pretty hands-on in making sure everything feels cohesive.

EJ: What is your routine like during the writing and recording process? 
NS: It always starts with some nice chords and me singing into a mic with loads of reverb, and then the words come later. I need the melodies first in order to tell a story.

“I’ll hear a song and immediately start imagining colours, pictures, or certain feelings that go with it.”

EJ: How did growing up in London influence your sound?
NS: London definitely influenced my sound because it’s such a multicultural city. You’re constantly exposed to different cultures, perspectives, and genres of music. My friends all listened to completely different things growing up, and I think as artists we’re natural sponges. We absorb what’s around us. A lot of those influences have found their way into my music, whether consciously or not.

EJ: What’s the first album you listened to that transformed the way you experience music?
NS: Frank by Amy Winehouse! Her voice, paired with her raw lyrics, really sparked something in me and inspired me to express my exact emotions through music.

Payback Is A Dog is out now, check out Nia on Instagram here.