**Interview with Nao: Celestial Bodies**
After facing significant health challenges, Nao is ready to make her comeback with 'Jupiter', her uplifting and confident fourth album that reflects her newfound appreciation for life's simple pleasures.
When experiencing her latest studio album, Nao wants you to gaze at the moon—or more appropriately, the brilliantly bright object that orbits nearby. In astrology, Jupiter symbolizes growth and expansion, and by naming her album after the largest planet in our solar system, she's aiming to impart a sense of joy and self-assurance through the music within. "It represents good fortune, growth, and wisdom, just hovering above us," she explains, wanting listeners to feel a piece of that joy when they look up while enjoying her music. "It’s tangible." If Jupiter indeed signifies growth, it's fitting. The London-based artist, known officially as Neo Jessica Joshua, has never sounded as comfortable in her own skin as she does across the eleven tracks of 'Jupiter'. From the bright, fresh optimism of 'Happy People' to the smooth, seductive R&B vibes of 'Poolside', and the heartfelt country influences on '30 Something', the Grammy, Mercury, and BRIT Award nominee navigates various musical styles with ease, fully embracing her artistry.
While Nao refers to 'Jupiter' as a "sister album" to her second album, 2018’s 'Saturn', it also serves as a spiritual sequel; 'Saturn' emerged during a particularly challenging time in her life, its title reflecting the planet's meaning of life transitions. "Navigating my late 20s into my 30s was incredibly tough for me; it was an emotional rollercoaster. I experienced a lot of upheaval," she shares.
During this tumultuous time, Nao was diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis, more commonly known as chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating autoimmune disorder she describes as "like having the flu all the time." She struggled with brain fog, muscle and joint pain, and overwhelming fatigue, all exacerbated by becoming a mother in 2020. "When you have the flu, you can barely make it to the bathroom and then back to bed—it's all you can manage," she explains. “That’s how chronic fatigue syndrome feels, except you appear fine externally, so it goes unrecognized."
“There was a real hopefulness, a heaviness lifting from me; I felt it in real time.”
If 'Saturn' chronicled Nao’s acceptance of her condition, then 2021’s 'And Then Life Was Beautiful' marked her journey back to her true self. When discussing that album, she noted the realization that “happiness isn’t a destination,” but rather “something that appears momentarily throughout the day.” She reflects that she was about “halfway through the journey” when that record came out, but with 'Jupiter', she is breaking free from those constraints once and for all.
As everyday joys became more frequent—such as the enhanced value of nights out with friends—she recognized that her next album would strive to share her newly found inner peace with her audience. “I'm not claiming I'm constantly happy now, because I don’t think that exists,” she clarifies. “I think happiness comes and goes for a few moments each day or once a week, or however often. But I’m certainly in a much better place now, and I didn’t realize how much confidence I had lost during my time away. It wasn't just an illness; it stripped away a lot of my self-assurance and changed my body significantly too.”
As she began to regain her strength, every aspect of her life began to improve. Motherhood felt easier, and discovering she was pregnant with her second child only two months into writing 'Jupiter' provided her a further boost and motivation. She decided to move to Los Angeles for recording, solidifying her rejuvenated confidence. The warm weather accelerated her healing, and she collaborated with key producers Loxe and Stint. “As soon as we arrived, I felt another 10% improvement; it opened me up creatively," she recalls. "I felt happier because I wasn't in pain anymore and managing basic tasks became easier. It marked the next step in my recovery; I was around 80% healed. I thought, ‘I’m going to overcome this’. I truly felt a heaviness lifting from me in real time.”
It’s no surprise then that the album conveys a message of hope. 'Elevate' radiates with the infectious spirit of someone who just mastered levitation, while 'We All Win' celebrates the joy of positivity. In '30 Something', she sings, “I know something good’s coming if I let my worries slip away, not the same old thoughts on different days.”
“I don’t have any rules,” she notes, reflecting on her musical journey.
Since her arrival on the music scene over ten
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Following a time of significant health struggles, Nao is ready to make a comeback with ‘Jupiter’, her uplifting and self-assured fourth album, which showcases her shedding constraints and appreciating the small joys in life.