Offie Mag

A few weeks ago I was watching minor league baseball highlights with dreamcastmoe. It was the early hours of the morning and, after a Morley’s and a couple of blunts, our conversation eventually arrived at who in the UK we should be looking out for. A few names were knocked around, but he suggested we keep a close eye on NAYANA AB. And we have.

NAYANA AB releases ‘Madness’, the first single ahead of her debut album Once You Wake Up, Don’t Go Back to Sleep. ‘Madness’ reflects on the chaos of the world but also how important it is to stay grounded in reality. It explores how the liberation of one’s mind, body, and soul can depend on the surrounding noise of the world — and the ability to adjust how it affects you, or better yet, not let it affect you at all.

NAYANA adds:

“Madness is more than just a song; it is a reflection of conversations that have been resonating through creative community spaces. It is a call to action to everyone I have ever spoken to or heard speaking about the need for communal healing. As individuals, there is little we can do, but as a collective, our impact is loud and it is time we push ourselves to engage and connect in a new way.”

The track is built around groove-heavy production. Syncopated rhythms and elaborate, ornamented sax and keys parts add a real musicality to the sound. NAYANA’s vocals are powerfully soulful, showing off her impressive range. Featured on the track is Saiming, whose development as an MC has taken leaps and bounds since I first heard ‘Night Tube’ back in 2022. His lyricism is nuanced, and he flows through the pocket effortlessly. In his second verse, NAYANA’s ad-libs add so much character to the track, making for a natural and dynamic progression.

‘Madness’ is accompanied by an after-dark visual directed by Nnamdi Izuchukwu, shot between London and Amsterdam. The video perfectly captures the energy of the track — moody, grounded, and alive with movement.

You can watch the video for ‘Madness’ below.