Nadia Maria drops debut EP

Based in Switzerland and shaped by her Ukrainian and Italian background, Nadia Maria arrives as an artist who understands both discipline and freedom, someone whose musical identity has been built carefully over time. Her work blends elements of pop, R&B, soul and electronic textures, but it’s the way she moves between those spaces that defines her unique musical output.

Her training started in classical tradition, studying both opera and jazz, two forms that demand technical control while leaving room for expression. That origins still echoes through her voice today, offering a sound that can stretch from something intimate and restrained into something far more expansive. Her emergence into the public eye came in 2016 when she stepped onto a national stage and earned the Golden Buzzer on Switzerland’s Got Talent, a moment that instantly amplified her presence and introduced her to a wider audience.

That momentum carried forward into the following year, where she reached the final stages of Switzerland’s Eurovision selection process, finishing as runner-up, placing her firmly within the conversation around the country’s most promising new voices. From there, her live presence continued to grow, with appearances at major festivals including Openair St. Gallen, Vaduz Classic and Artfestival Interlaken, as well as touring alongside Swiss electro swing group Klischée.

While her reputation on stage continued to build, her recorded output began to take shape more recently. With the release of her debut single “Say Something” last year, Nadia Maria translated her live energy into a studio setting, receiving critical acclaim and establishing herself as an artist to watch. That exploration is now fully crystallised in her debut EP titled This Is A Solo And Not A Duet, a project that lands as a poetic reflection on self-love.

“Say Something” sets up the release with a smokey fusion of warm piano chords and hazy vocalisations before the crisp pulse of the beat brings the track into sharp focus. Above the swing of the groove and intricate instrumentation, Nadia’s soulful voice dances to form a woozy R&B-inflected jam brimming with elegant melodies and infectious rhythm. “No More” shimmers with dreamy instrumental tones and the tap of percussion as dazzling vocal layers glide alongside twinkling textures, resulting in a stunning musical scene that’s impossible not to love.

With “Glue,” the soft chime of drifting notes and steady rhythmic drive is met by fluttering vocal leads to cast a dreamy pop soundscape that rolls with slick energy and catchy hooks. “Beautiful Coward” leans into an achingly emotive sphere where Nadia’s moving vocals carry poignant lyricism through a mesmeric arrangement that develops with the breezy hop of drums and inviting combination of laid back guitar and bright keys.

“Upside Down” casts a misty sonic spell through intricate percussive shots and atmospheric vocal layers which hover above a hypnotic musical backing before jumping into a bouncy jam chorus with commanding vocals and rustling drums. Closing the EP with “With The Wind,” the gentle brush of percussion and lullaby-esque blend of soothing instrumental textures and tender vocals crafts a stunning, psych-tinged finale to Nadia Maria’s incredible debut EP.

Speaking about the release Nadia offers, “Finishing and releasing this EP was an incredibly long process. I mean, I wrote one of the songs ten years ago! But it feels like the right time. The world is so obsessed with perfection, even though it doesn’t really exist. We’re all a little rough around the edges in our own ways and it’s incredibly important to see yourself the way you are. But it’s even more important to LOVE yourself the way you are.”

Adding, “This Is A Solo And Not A Duet is an homage to self-love and all the detours it can take. It took me a long time to reach a point where I can say that I genuinely love myself and it changed my life! I hope to convey that feeling through these songs and to inspire the listeners to meet themselves with more compassion – and, yes, more love.”

Listen to This Is A Solo And Not A Duet below