With her recent debut drop, “I’d rather be here (Than anywhere with you)”, we got cosy with Naina. She’s a big name in the game right now so if you’re not familiar, it’s about time to get to know her. Whether it’s behind the decks at a party, controlling the crowd via radio, or being one of the head honchos at a highly rated label, Naina’s keeping herself busy, and on top, whilst always keeping us on our toes. We learnt about allllll of the many plates Naina’s spinning, who’s got her feet tapping and the kinda energies she’s channeling right now.
We were seeing you tease a little something for a while that now you’ve finally dropped, and we adore it! What sneaky secrets or hints can you share with us on what could be next for you as an artist?
I’ve been channelling all my emotion (good and bad) into making music, and you’ve only heard the first part of that… more to come
Apple Music and NTS Radio are your stomping grounds, what feelings do you wanna capture + share with audiences in these sessions?
It’s such a blessing to bring new sounds into people’s lives. I’m really keen on creating memories for people through music – whether that’s on the radio or in the club. But that feeling of knowing you’re introducing a track or an artist to someone for the first time – which could be their next favourite artist or a huge influence on them – that’s really special. Those kind of connections and memories in radio is one of a kind.
As a club DJ you’ve played at some of the best, are there any particular spots or cities that hold a special place in your heart since a set?
I really love playing in Bristol. The crowd there are energetic and really open-minded to all the different hybrid sounds of dance music, which makes sense because it’s home to some of the best. I also just had my first ever Bangface experience recently, which was bat shit (in a really good way). Yeah that was sick, the vibe and the crowd were wicked.
You’re well known for playing an always curated but super varied selection of beats; what genres are you leaning into right now, whether it’s listening or playing?
I’m really fucking with Latin Core right now. Especially an artist called CRRDR. It’s so much fun, and I’ve been playing some stuff in my sets which works really well within all the hybrid variation of genres
You’ve got a lot of plates spinning, Hooversound being a big fat jewel in that crown; what’s been the best or most interesting element of co-founding a label?
It’s forever a learning curve, which I think is really important in your career – regardless of what industry you work in. Seeing some of the artists we’ve worked with from the early go on to absolutely smash it is such a fantastic feeling. We give these artists a platform because we rate them so much, and we want more people to hear them – so when their audience grows, it’s wicked to see. It’s also cool to get artists to link up together or jump in the studio to work on something for Hoover, making that kind of vision come to life is so rewarding.
Between Hooversound and your impressive lineup of radio gigs, you’re in a prime spot to promote new talents. Who’s on your radar right now?
I’m really into an artist called Kloke; they’ve done some stuff with Tim Reaper. Anish Kumar and Renao are also artists you should have on your radar.
Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed sitting on the other side of the interview. But switching back into that hat for a sec, what’s something you’re always curious to know about your guests?
What top three artists do you wish you had seen live (dead or alive)
Mine are: Nirvana, Amy Winehouse and Prince.