Nyla of Brick & Lace on how she gets that lit-from-within glow
Written by: Deepa Somasunderam
@nylabricknlace
She’s the first Jamaican woman to surpass a billion streams on Spotify.
Welcome to our latest series, Emerge. We are spotlighting creative peeps who are from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Creating in every language you can possibly imagine, we want to highlight these international tastemakers. We are talking to them about their career journeys, beauty secrets and wellness tips.
To say we’re excited about this interview would be a major understatement. Since she burst onto the scene with the chart-topping and timeless “Love is Wicked” which was THE soundtrack of summer 2008 with Nyanda (her sister), Nyla has built a career spanning genres and generations.
She featured in and co-wrote “Light it Up” with Major Lazer and together with her sister forms a powerful songwriting duo having penned songs for artists like Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Nicole Scherzinger.
In 2022, “Love is Wicked” saw a resurgence on Tik Tok with a whole new generation playing the hit on repeat. For long-time Brick & Lace fans who loved the whole album, the international re-release of the album meant everyone could discover the album again.
Recently, World Music Views announced that Nyla was the first Jamaican woman to surpass a billion streams on Spotify.
Hi Nyla, we’re so excited to catch up with you. Tell us, what songs your playing on repeat these days?
Thanks so much. Well lately I’ve been listening mostly to some Afro beats playlists. For my workouts I listen to some of Apple Music’s fitness playlists, they really get me going.
Tell us about your creative process in penning lyrics?
The creative process is an interesting one . It usually starts with the melody. So I will go into the studio and put down a lot of different melody ideas then from there pick the best ones. From there I plug in the lyrics and it usually naturally comes together after that.
@nylabricknlace
You performed at Coachella a few years back! How do you prepare and get into the zone for big performances like this?
Well I think my years being in Brick and Lace kind of gave me training and the readiness to get on a Coachella stage.
Doing it solo is definitely a bit more nerve wracking though. But I’m thankful because the Major Lazer gang was there to buffer any uneasiness I may have felt. It definitely helps when the crowd knows the music and you yourself know that your music is dope and can rock the crowd.
We loved your video on Love is Wicked not being played by US radio after the resurgence recently. Why was it important for you to speak out?
Well, I saw the resurgence the song was making. Seeing it on Jimmy Kimmel and some of the big US blog sites like The Shade Room there was a disconnect in that it was making all this noise on the internet but still wasn’t being played on the radio in the US.
What were some of the challenges you faced early on when you were getting started in the music industry in Jamaica?
When I started out singing with my sisters in Jamaica, the industry was a very male dominated one and there were very few female artists doing more of a hybrid sound similar to what we were doing .
I think Jamaica and the industry didn’t really know what to do with us as we weren’t as hardcore as some of the other male and female dancehall artists that were out at the time. I know a lot has changed since then so that’s good.
Tell us about the Love is Wicked merchandising line - what inspired this?
Yes we thought of the idea during the pandemic. It was a new venture for us so there was definitely a huge learning curve. We are in a process right now of revamping and reevaluating our strategy on how to move forward product wise.
Tell us about what drew you to being an interior designer and some of your favourite interior designers?
I think my love for Interior Design started growing when I traveled around the world and visited some amazing hotels and destinations. I loved how in some countries that I visited the aesthetic and interior design reflected the culture.
I also had some exposure to architecture growing up as my dad is an architect and would bring home a lot of design magazines. I love how a room can make you feel. There is definitely a science to colors, lighting, texture and I love putting it all together.
We love your makeup looks. Tell us your must-have makeup products?
@nylabricknlace
Aww thank you. Well I am sort of a bargain hunter when it comes to makeup. I definitely rock my Ruby kisses, NYX, Pixie, La Colors.
I mix it up a lot, so what I use for eyeshadow wouldn’t be the same as what I use for my foundation or concealer and so on. @nylabricknlace
Your skin is always glowing. Tell us about your skincare routine?
I am using this brand right now called Beauty Concerns. The founder is originally from Nigeria and had her own spa there and decided to start her skin care line. Her products are so luxurious and soft on the skin.
Keep Reading: Does Darker Skin Need Different Skincare?
We saw you on a solo holiday - tell us why this is important to you?
Women, mothers in particular, we go and go and I had reached a point where I told my husband I just needed me time without him or the kids.
If you don’t stop to take a break from it all the burn out creeps up and then you are no good to yourself or anyone for that matter.
Tell us about any future plans.
I want to start doing more brand collaborations. I’m also working on my own venture to be announced.
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