KIANA NADINE Turned a Harsh Winter Into “sundazed”

Some tracks come together quickly. Others take time, distance, and the right moment to finally make sense. “sundazed” from KIANA NADINE is one of those records that sat unfinished for nearly two years before it became what it is now.

The inspiration behind the track came directly from her environment. After going through a tough winter filled with cold, snow, and gray skies, she felt disconnected from the kind of energy that usually fuels her creativity. “I’m usually inspired by sunny days and warm energy,” she explains. Instead of waiting for that feeling to return, she created it herself. The track became her version of what the weather should have felt like in that moment, something warm, happy, and hopeful, like summer at the beach or by the lake.

The process of finishing “sundazed” reflects that shift. The original version was just 8 to 16 bars, slower, with no vocal adlibs, no chops, no bass, and no real structure. At the time, it was easy to leave behind. Later on, while feeling stuck on other projects, she pushed herself to revisit it and experiment freely. “I just got weird with it,” she says. After speeding it up and chopping the original chords, everything clicked. That moment pulled her into a flow state where she fully connected with the track. She also brought back a technique from her earlier work, using stuttered vocals, something she used often in the past and wanted to reintroduce in a fresh way.

Sonically, “sundazed” leans into dance pop while pulling from her usual garage sound and adding subtle elements of French house. But her sound isn’t built from a single lane. It reflects a wide range of influences that shaped her over time. Early on, artists like Disclosure, Flume, and ODESZA played a big role in how she developed her ear. More recently, she’s been inspired by Sammy Virji, Oppidan, and Daniel Allan. In terms of message and brand, she also points to LP Giobbi as a major inspiration, highlighting her impact on the scene and culture. At the same time, her foundation goes beyond electronic music, shaped by artists she grew up on like Mariah Carey, Bob Marley, Mary J. Blige, Sublime, and Nirvana, which influenced her sense of emotion and storytelling.

Her path into electronic music wasn’t direct. She started out producing for rap and R&B artists, where electronic music existed more as an experimental outlet. Around 2019, that began to change when she got deeper into house and dance music. Meeting a DJ friend named Adam, who wanted original tracks for his sets, became a turning point. From there, she fell in love with building full songs that didn’t rely on outside vocalists. “It felt more honest, like I was finally making something straight from my soul,” she says.

A major part of her growth came through live experience. In Nashville, she played at an afters spot called Golden Door, initially as a guest DJ. She later played the patio grand opening, and when another DJ couldn’t make it one night, she stepped in again. That led to a monthly residency from 3am to 7am, where she also had the freedom to bring in other DJs. Those nights became a defining period in her journey. “Those nights really shaped me, not just as a DJ but as an artist,” she says, while also expressing gratitude to Gabby, the owner of the venue, which has since closed but left a strong mark on the local scene.

Her connection with music also shows in how she approaches live sets. She enjoys playing edits of songs she grew up on or tracks that had a real impact on her. When people recognize those moments, it creates a unique connection. She describes those reactions as some of her favorite experiences, when people come up after a set or message her asking about a specific track. In those moments, she says she usually just smiles, nods, and laughs out of pure joy.

Outside of music, there are parts of her story that most people wouldn’t expect. She played varsity football on an all-boys team and even recruited her best friend in her second year so they could play together for three years as the only two girls on the team. That same mindset carries into her personal life and creative work.

Recently, she’s been listening to artists like Olivia Dean, while also paying attention to the rise of Lockerz, noting the consistency and quality of his releases. Outside of music, she’s deeply passionate about growth, especially helping people become their most authentic selves, believe in themselves, and step into who they truly are.

She also hints at upcoming momentum, mentioning that she has exciting shows planned for the second half of the year.

At its core, “sundazed” is meant to give listeners a specific feeling. “I want it to feel like a warm sunny day where you can forget about everything going on in the world and just pause, have fun, and be present for a few minutes,” she says. That intention defines the track, creating a space where nothing else matters for a moment.

Her philosophy behind everything is direct and personal. “Fuck fear. Do shit scared. Be yourself.” After spending years worrying about what people might think about her music, she reached a point where letting go of that mindset changed everything. “The second I got out of my own way, everything started flowing naturally.”

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