by HQ
At just 26, Nija Charles has already achieved what most artists only dream of: Grammy nominations, multi-platinum hits, and writing credits with Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Summer Walker, and Lady Gaga — to name a few. But now, the powerhouse behind some of the biggest chart-toppers of the past five years is stepping fully into the spotlight with her boldest chapter yet.
With her latest single “Back Outside” (dropping August 15), Nija signals a new era — one that blends the songwriting precision that made her a behind-the-scenes star with the unapologetic presence of a solo act on the rise. Paired with a dynamic visualizer, the track is the third release off her upcoming EP, following the success of “Heaven.”
A Jersey native based in LA, Nija is also a growing force on TikTok, where she shares raw takes on songwriting, the music business, and self-made success. In this tmrw 1&A, she opens up about her journey from The Carters to carving out a sound of her own — and why “Back Outside” is more than just a title: it’s a statement.
<h3>When I write for myself, I don't hold back. I don't hold back creatively, lyrically, and I like to experiment and blend genres together. I like to blend different staples from different genres.</h3>
“Back Outside” feels like a personal statement. What’s the story behind the song, and what does it represent for you right now?
I wrote “Back Outside” at a point in my relationship where there was a bunch of arguing and I just wanted to see the light and have fun. I didn't want to make it a sad song. I wanted to still dance to it. I wanted to consciously take summery sounding music with a nice groove and be inspired by that situation in the music. Personally, it represents freedom and a good time – a time to be with friends and just have fun and get the most out of spending quality time with yourself.
As a songwriter, you’ve helped shape some of the most iconic records in the last few years. What made you decide it was time to step into the spotlight as a solo artist?
What made me decide it was time to step into the spotlight was perfect timing, God's timing, and also Beyonce timing… As a creative, I make so many things and it was time for me to tell my story and put my own sound out there. Beyonce couldn't have featured me at a better time. It all just came at once and that was a sign for me to put myself first, and put myself into the public eye singing my own records.
You’ve worked with Beyoncé multiple times — what’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from collaborating with her?
The biggest lesson I've taken from collaborating with Beyonce is that you can always do better than what you think is your best. There's been so many times where I've had to rewrite one song and I've had to dig deep to find different ways to approach a lyric or a melody and for anyone that knows that's one of the hardest things to do, but working with Beyonce helped sharpen my tools and make me a better writer.
The visualizer for “Back Outside” brings a bold vibe. What was the creative vision behind it?
For the back outside visualizer, I wanted to incorporate the blues and also just the early 2000s aesthetic because that's how the song makes me feel. The light blues make me feel like there's a sense of light heartedness.I wanted to make sure that I got a lot of close ups to really symbolize how bold I felt in the record, while also being able to dance and just show how fun the song is.
How does your approach change when you’re writing for yourself versus writing for other artists?
When I write for myself, I don't hold back. I don't hold back creatively, lyrically, and I like to experiment and blend genres together. I like to blend different staples from different genres. I like being rhythmic similar to a rap song, but also incorporating R&B elements with runs, using pop chords with R&B drums. Sometimes I like to just try different things to make sure that I'm standing out, having fun and making something new.
“Heaven” and “Back Outside” both carry very different energies. How would you describe the overall sound and story of your upcoming EP?
I would say the overall sound of my upcoming EP is warm; definitely warmer than my last project. Don't Say I Didn't Warn You. Whereas my first project was talking about having to prove myself to people. It was about the toxic relationship. Whereas this upcoming EP is moreso about the different feelings that you get in a new relationship. And the sounds that I'm incorporating in this EP have been inspired by a lot of early 2000s and also 80s synth sounds. So I wanted to blend all of that together with the new school, the jersey club, the sexy drill, so it's my own little world of just being in a much more happier place.
You’ve gone #1 with “Rain On Me” and “Positions,” and also written on Summer Walker’s “Come Thru.” Do you ever feel pressure to “compete” with your own past success?
I never feel the pressure to compete with my own past success. I feel like other people pin that on me, but I don't see that for myself mainly because that's something that I have accomplished alread. Creating art is fun. I'm doing it for me. I'm not doing it for anyone else. So with all those goals that I accomplished as writer, of course, I hope to see that as an artist, but it's not something that I need to put up against my own success. In due time, it will come and I wholeheartedly believe that, because that's the mentality that got me success as a writer.
You’ve built a strong following on TikTok by sharing the creative process. What inspired you to be that transparent?
To be honest, I've always been that transparent. That's how I've gotten my following on Instagram and been able to network within the industry. Social media is just a part of my everyday life. I remember when I was just making beats, I would showcase what I was doing on Instagram, back when there were only 15 second videos. And when TikTok came along, I remember seeing Charlie Puth do something similar and I was like, this is cool. Maybe I can do this and go a little more in depth, because I remember, that's also what inspired me on YouTube when I was 13 watching Ryan Leslie videos, so I kind of wanted to do it in my own way for the newer generation on TikTok.
As a young Black woman navigating the industry, what barriers have you faced — and how have you pushed through them?
Every day, I'm facing barriers as a black woman, because I feel like everyone wants to pigeonhole me, whether that's them wanting me to only make R&B, or just be a writer and be of service to people. I'm always facing some type of challenge, and this is something that's not new to me. As a black woman in general, I've always had to push past the barriers and make sure that I just stand on all 10 and showcase what I can do and prove people wrong.
Who’s an artist you haven’t worked with yet but is at the top of your list?
Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
When you’re not making music, what keeps you grounded or inspired?
I love, love, love, love, love watching TV shows outside of music. That's one of the things that definitely holds my attention the most...the stories, the writing, the characters & being able to get involved emotionally, that's one of the things that definitely keeps me inspired, because there's a bunch of different situations that maybe I haven't gone through in my own life, but because I'm seeing on seeing it on TV, it can become inspiration for me.
What do you hope people feel when they listen to “Back Outside” — and what’s next for Nija in this new chapter?
When people listen to “Back Outside,” I hope that they feel free. I hope that they feel like just having a good time with their friends and really just experience the most out of life. And what's next for me in this new chapter, I'm putting the gas behind myself. I'm choosing me and making sure that I see the success for Nija, the solo artist that I've seen as Nija the writer.