NariYella: Unleashing Musical Talents
Nila Anthony, professionally known as NariYella, is a third-year Vocal Performance major and MBET minor from Louisville, Kentucky, but was raised in Elkins Park, PA. As a child, watching her mother sing and perform in the church sparked her desire to start singing by the time she could form complete sentences. "From there, I would always sing around the house, but it wasn't until I performed for the first time at a school talent show that I knew I was a natural performer and had a passion for pursuing a career in music."
One of the things that NariYella likes most about the city of Philadelphia is its many historical landmarks. "Although I'm not privy to all of the historical landmarks nor the full extent of the city's history, I find it very interesting to be surrounded by it regularly, and I find myself still learning about its history after living in the area for over a decade now."
NariYella
NariYella has found that the city offers many opportunities for creatives to network, collaborate with one another, and build connections overall. As a student at the University of the Arts, she has access to various creative spaces, such as practice rooms, recording studios, and production suites, while also serving as a hub for people like her to connect and collaborate with other musicians and creatives in the area. "So far, working with my peers and other creatives in Philadelphia has inspired and motivated me to get more into the Philly music scene by getting involved in open mic nights, jam sessions, writers camps, and more."
Regarding challenges, NariYella says that ensuring she's getting enough rest and incorporating more balance into her life is a current challenge. "Having said that, I feel grateful and blessed to have my life consist of things that fulfill me, but I can say that it has been a challenge allowing myself to slow down and rest from time to time." Another challenge she faces is properly promoting and marketing herself as an artist. "I want things to be as presentable as possible. However, I do my best to combat this challenge by reminding myself that what matters most is me authentically showcasing myself as a person and artist. I firmly believe that everything will fall into place as I continue to grow as an artist."
For NariYella, dealing with challenges is an essential part of growth. "I feel that dealing with challenges is a part of life, and often it is an essential part of growth." Three words that currently describe her artistic expression/exploration are "Compelling, Authentic, and Versatile."
As an up-and-coming artist, inclusion is essential for NariYella, and she is still building a team for herself. "Being a college student at a performing arts university has definitely helped me connect and collaborate with other creatives that, although they have different styles of creatively expressing themselves, share the same passion for creating and building their careers as I do."
NariYella appeared on season 23 of NBC's The Voice, which began on March 6th of this year, and her vocal performance turned all four chairs! NariYella ended up being on Chance the Rapper’s team. "In addition to that, I look forward to continuing my studies at the University of the Arts, networking and collaborating with other creatives in the Philly music scene, and hopefully releasing some more music very soon."
Follow NariYella | LinkTree
Photos by Lillien Cirino @lilliedphotography