NURD Is Rewriting the Rules of R&B with GODSPEED: Act I (Interview)
GODSPEED marks a new chapter for the rising South Central R&B artist
Every so often, you'll hear an artist who does more than make music; they build universes. For emerging R&B/Neo-Soul artist NURD, GODSPEED: Act I is that universe. The South Central-born and bred singer/songwriter is changing the definition of vulnerability with the release of her immersive new EP. Rooted in faith, chaos, heartache, and self-awareness, the 8-track EP is more than a project, it's a movie. A cinematic exploration of pain, growth, and the quiet courage needed to face yourself and finally see who you truly are.
In this exclusive Hype Off Life interview, NURD reveals her journey from a shy young girl to the bold, confident woman she is today, sharing stories of her challenges with mental health, creative reinvention, and times when it felt like giving up was the only option. There is no sugarcoating the truth behind NURD, from the multi-layered storytelling of songs like CRASH and DND to the mysterious release that had fans questioning her existence. More than just music, this is a moving spiritual experience.
Before GODSPEED and the rollouts, who was NURD? Tell us about the person behind the music — the experiences that shaped your voice.
NURD was this young girl living in South Central LA who knew she was different. A shy girl who felt music was the only true way to express herself. An only child of a hard-working mother, who fought hard to give her an extraordinary life. She was the church girl who would be too shy to do an Easter speech but would sing her heart out. She was the young lady that grew up with mental health issues and felt outcasted but wrote music to understand what she was going through. NURD was that girl that was called into purpose very early on.
There’s a lot of emotional truth in your music. What pulled you into storytelling through sound?
As a kid, around ten years old, I started experiencing symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, and looking back, it was a very confusing time. But it was also the time when I was reading like crazy. Books that were way beyond my school level. I was a very smart child. But storytelling was how I could regulate my emotions and understand them.
You said this project is you “shedding old skin.” What did you have to let go of emotionally or artistically to bring this chapter to life?
I had to let go of unresolved feelings. I had to finally speak about situations that really have shifted who I am. But I needed to do it in a way that felt authentic to me. I had let go of versions of myself that still from time to time peek through because of lack of emotional understanding.
"GODSPEED: Act I" feels like more than an EP — it’s cinematic, emotional, and layered. What was the moment or feeling that sparked the beginning of this project?
This project actually was five years in the making. I did not start writing until 2022. I remember praying to God that I wanted to put out a new project, and I remember asking Him what should it be about. And months went on, and then suddenly something whispered to me, “Tell them about you, the parts of you that you don’t let anyone see. The times where you were crying, screaming, and confused.” And that was so difficult because it required a new level of vulnerability that I wasn’t ready to deal with.
Each track feels like a chapter in a larger saga. Is GODSPEED based on true events, or is it more of a metaphorical journey?
GODSPEED is 10000% based on true events. Like the opening track, DND was really me speaking to my ex about how I felt lonely in our relationship. CRASH was really a dark moment where I was so close to giving up. I think it being based on true events speaks to the metaphorical journey as well, because it has literally been a movie. Each song is part of the larger universe that is my story.
You blend alternative R&B, Neo-Soul, and even cinematic vibes. Who are some of your artistic influences, and how do you see your sound evolving in the next act?
I love artists like Nina Simone, Erykah Badu, SZA, and Stevie Wonder, who I think have mastered the art of bringing you into their world and painting it vividly. I’m also inspired by my gospel upbringing, so Mary Mary, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, and J Moss were consistently in rotation for me as a child . I also draw influences from movies. My favorite directors are Spike Lee and Michael Bay, and I feel like they are amazing at building that cinematic element in their movies with music. I see my sound evolving into just incorporating more music I cherish. I love House music, Calypso, and Reggae. I also love Alternative Rock and Pop music. So definitely, I plan on incorporating more of these elements to showcase my love of R&B and Neo-Soul.
What role does identity play in your music, especially when you’re creating something so immersive and emotionally naked?
Identity plays such an important role in my music because sometimes I think in this industry, well just in life in general, if you're not careful people will try to project who they want you to be onto you and you can internalize that. I think as someone who is creative, my identity is always evolving but the core stays the same.
The rollout was crazy — secret drops, text messages, cryptic clues. What inspired the interactive mystery, and how does it tie into the story you're telling?
So the rollout was inspired by my constant reinvention of myself. The version of NURD that you hear on the project went through a period of time where she didn’t want to exist. And in my creativity, I was like, what would happen if I did actually suddenly vanish. What would that look like? How would the story unfold? Did I vanish or did I actually intentionally disappear? And this is a “coming to self” story not necessarily a “coming of age” story. I want my fans to understand that this is a journey. The ups and downs in the story are what will lead back to self.
What can fans expect as this saga continues to unfold?
Fans can expect a lot more experimentation. This is a 3-part series, so we’re just getting started. The visuals, the content is only going to create more of the universe I want to bring them int . I definitely want to push past the ceiling each time. But I also want to enjoy the journey as well with them. Expect more collaborations with different artists. I know so many talented artists. I want to showcase their talent as well. Whether that's for the GODSPEED series or on GODSPEED 2. The limit does not exist.
What gets you Hype Off Life?
What gets me Hype Off Life is me stepping into my purpose. And then realizing that everything from my relationships to my friendships to things I love all are connected to the purpose. To know that God blessed me with this amazing gift that is helping and connecting with others. That I am able to tell my story in such a distinct way. The journey has been beautiful. I cant wait to see what’s next!
