Q&A: Nala Talks Portola, Her Thoughtful Approach To Artistry and More
SHORTLY AFTER HER HIGHLY ANTICIPATED PERFORMANCE AT PORTOLA MUSIC FESTIVAL AND THE RELAUNCH OF HER INDEPENDENT LABEL MI DOMINA, we had the chance to catch up with Nala, the LA-based vocalist, producer, and DJ who's been turning heads with her Riot Grrrl-inspired electronic music. Having spent over a decade honing her craft, Nala has collaborated with legends like Blondie's Debbie Harry and The Dandy Warhols, and played major festivals like Coachella, Ultra, and EDC Las Vegas. But now, she’s ready to take things to the next level.
Nala is proving what it truly takes to stand out as an artist in today’s electronic music scene, combining fierce creativity with unrelenting focus. Nala takes a refreshing intentional approach to everything she does, beyond just her music and live performances. The artist isn't just here to press play on a DJ set. She’s shaping a full artistic experience, from the stage design to the sonic world she creates with every track. With her latest single "Spiritual Psychosis”, a boundary-pushing blend of indie dance and acid house, Nala continues to challenge the conventions of electronic music, all while supporting femme artists in the industry through her label’s relaunch.
Read below to learn more about her evolution as an artist, the importance of cultivating an online community, and the journey of creating immersive live performances that go beyond what’s expected from a DJ set.
LUNA: We’re here at Portola and you just played an amazing set! You’ve had a busy year and you just had a new single out this past week - how are you balancing everything with back-to-back shows these past weeks?
NALA: It’s been amazing. Balancing everything really comes down to building a team around you that can take on things when you’re not able to. I feel like I've finally found the right people, both creatively and on the business side. Before, I was putting too much into the business and not enough into the art, and I felt like I was drowning. Now, we’re moving forward smoothly, and I feel like everything’s in sync.
LUNA: That unspoken connection is so important. Having someone understand your vision without needing too much explanation makes a huge difference.
NALA: Exactly. I think it helps to work with people who are well-versed in my project but also have good taste. It's been a game-changer
LUNA: You’ve played so many live shows. Has that impacted your creative process?
NALA: It definitely has. I’ve started writing songs with live performance in mind. Even my more melodic tracks have a punch to them now. I’ve also invested in elevating my stage presence—working with visual artists and choreographers. I'm not a trained dancer, but I’m learning, and it’s been fun. Ideally, I'd love to mosh with the crowd and get rowdy, but for now, I’m still behind the DJ booth. I’m working towards creating a more interactive experience with the audience. I’ve been working on a bunch of “buckets” beyond just the music to level up. I am trying to be more thoughtful with the whole thing, like for today’s set I wore red, and I wanted the lights to be red and I passed our red roses to the crowd.
LUNA: Is there a new "bucket" you haven’t explored yet that you’re excited about?
NALA: Right now, I’m focusing on building an online community. A lot of artists have mixed feelings about content creation, but I’ve realized if I don’t engage with my audience online, I’m missing out. It’s our main medium of communication now, and the more I engage, the more I see people showing up to my shows and getting involved in my project.
LUNA: With this online community-building, what kind of content are you focusing on?
NALA: It’s a learning process, but I’ve been trying to engage with fans through giveaways, contests, and just being more interactive overall. Traditional methods like merch are great, but without that online connection, it’s harder to get traction. It’s so different for newer artists. The older “traditional” artists like LCD Soundsystem don’t need to get on TikTok.
Anytime I’ve talked with labels, or heard from my friends on their experiences, they talk all about posting content and that’s what I’m already doing! For big pop stars, I understand the need for major labels—budget and resources are key. But for developing artists, it’s not the same anymore. The old-school marketing approach isn’t as impactful, and a lot of it falls on the artist to engage with their audience directly. That’s what I’ve been focusing on—staying hands-on and involved in every aspect of my creative process.
LUNA: What are your intentions for the rest of the year?
NALA: Things slow down a bit in November and December, and I’m excited to focus on writing. I’ll also be going to Japan for the first time, which will be a cool experience. I’ve been working with an amazing team of engineers, and we’re churning out a lot of music. It feels like everything is finally clicking into place, and I’m looking forward to releasing more consistently.
CONNECT WITH NALA
