British artist NAO was all smiles backstage during her first time at ESSENCE Fest. Although from across the pond, the "Another Lifetime" singer brought perspective to the event celebrating black culture in New Orleans.

"I'm British, we have a whole different scene out over there. To be black and British and a singer is actually quite new," she told the Recording Academy. "There's only a handful of people that have really been able to stand out, but with the change of how music's been listened to and the fact that we do have the internet, artists like me are able to find our way and sell out tours around the world... It's a really amazing thing."

Through her two albums, For All We Know and Saturn, the singer has transitioned from a sound she callled "wonky funk" (because there was no other way to describe her mix of R&B, electronic and funk) to what she called a more solidified sound on her sophmore effort.

Throughout her music making, she has been afraid to be raw.

"How I wish perfect was enough/ For my own heart/ Sometimes I swear it was enough/ For my own heart/ I guess I'll wait another lifetime," she sings in "Another Lifetime."
 
Regarding being open and honest in the studio, she said, "Being vulnerable is really easy when you're in the studio on your own, and I guess I kinda forget that. But in general what we understand about being vulnerable is how much it helps other people. I really understand now the power of music and the power of healing and the power of sharing your story in your words and how it can comfort  so many people."
 
NAO hopes to start working on her third album soon and that will probably mean more songs from the heart. "I'm happy to be vulnerable if it helps somebody get past a difficult time in their lives," she said.

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