For Nashville-based singer-songwriter Nanseera, folk music offers a way to confront the world around her as much as explore her own experiences. Born in London and raised across Uganda, Ethiopia and the United States, her songwriting carries a perspective shaped by movement, identity and an acute awareness of the social forces influencing everyday life.
Her latest single ‘Poison Rain’ brings those qualities sharply into focus. Written in response to a US Supreme Court ruling affecting the Voting Rights Act, the song turns political concern into stark, atmospheric storytelling. Nanseera describes its acoustic blend of guitar, dobro, banjo, upright bass and drums as “back porch gothic”, creating an apocalyptic yet ultimately hopeful backdrop for her pointed lyricism.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The guitar! I grew up watching my dad play when we would go camping and on our back porch with our neighbours. My parents got me my first guitar when I was six, started me in lessons, and the rest is history as they say.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I’ve always been about the girlies. My favourites when I was younger were Juliana Kanyomozi, Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman, The Chicks, and Alison Krauss.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I remember buying Lemonade by Beyonce (I needed, I mean needed, the visual album) when I was fifteen and had just moved to the southern U.S. Life changing.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Amelia by Joni Mitchell. I find that song so moving and so mysterious at the same time. It haunts me in the best way.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Yes! I love to do a warm up with a word game. I will pull up a category list, usually from a game like Scattergories, and fill in the categories with whatever first comes to mind. For example, sport: tennis, clothing item: boots, etc. then I try to write a song and include every word that I used. It helps me loosen up and remember that music doesn’t always have to be serious.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
Right now I’m really loving Olivia Dean, Mon Rovîa, Bad Bunny, and some of my Nashville favourites, Sydney Altbacker and Maddie Lenhart.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Tracy Chapman!!!!!!!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
Working with other amazing musicians and experiencing the magic of hearing something I crafted on my own takes on a bigger life and meaning when it’s in the hands of amazing players.
And what is the most frustrating part?
Navigating western capitalism. Bruh.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
You can’t show up at 100% every day. You’ll burn out. The trick is to show up even if it’s 5% some days, 85% other days, you have to show up for your career and most importantly your music. Someone out there needs to hear your song.
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Nanseera's new single 'Poison Rain' is out now. Check it out in the player below.