LyricVids is proud to unveil our newest collaboration with the incomparable Nakia for his song “Mary Mary”, which premiered on Friday, December 5th. Having had the pleasure of working with Nakia multiple times over the years, each new project feels like a creative reunion and Mary Mary is no exception. This video allowed us to lean fully into the song’s retro energy and emotional heartbeat.
Nakia is a powerhouse of the Austin music scene and far beyond. For over two decades, his soulful voice has captivated audiences around the world. Many first discovered him as a fan-favorite semi-finalist on Season One of The Voice, where his charisma and vocal range made quite the impact. In May 2025, he released Signal, his first album of original material since 2009. It’s a vibrant, synth-rock-infused collection inspired by the sounds of the 80s that further cements his reputation as a versatile writer, performer & producer. Alongside this release, Nakia has delivered a series of striking music and lyric videos, while his new band, Nakia & The Never Not Now, now holds a residency at Austin’s iconic C-Boy’s Heart & Soul on South Congress. At home in Austin, Nakia shares life with his husband of 22 years, Robert and their beloved dog Baker. He continues to lead with creativity, authenticity and community spirit.
Mary Mary explores the ache of longing and the frustration of being invisible to someone you desperately want to connect with. As Nakia shared with us, the song captures “the frustration of never being given the time of day by your crush.” The singer says, “This is one of my favorites on the new album because it shows off a bit of my pop side, some southern soul, and some hard rock.”
From the very beginning, Nakia’s visual inspiration was clear and exciting. He envisioned something that felt like a classic pop performance video from the 80s.“If it was live action, it would feel like Michael Jackson’s ‘The Way You Make Me Feel’ or Janet’s ‘When I Think Of You,’ so it would be great if the viewer was somehow following the lyrics around.” That vision became the foundation for our creative direction.
The resulting lyric video unfolds through a stylized urban nightscape, the gritty streets, glowing city lights, chain-link fences, graffiti-covered alleys and sweeping city views. The lyrics appear as if they’re floating through the city or appearing on the building walls, carried by elevated 3D camera movement that pulls the viewer into the heart of the city. Bursts of color explode against the darker urban textures, mirroring the emotional push and pull of yearning and hope within the song. When asked about his favorite part of the finished video, Nakia summed it up perfectly: “I love the explosions of color and the city vibe.”
For Nakia, choosing the lyric-video format was a natural fit. “People love lyric videos — now more than ever!” In today’s landscape, lyric videos offer fans a powerful way to connect immediately with both the sound and the story without breaking the bank, and Mary Mary thrives in that space.
As for what’s next, Nakia shows no signs of slowing down. “I am ready to make another album — but this time with my new band, The Never Not Now,” he says, hinting at yet another exciting chapter ahead.
We’re honored to once again collaborate with an artist whose creativity and vision continue to evolve in such inspiring ways. “Mary Mary” is available everywhere now and you can follow and support Nakia at @nakia on all social platforms (except TikTok), and explore more at nakia.net.
Check out the lyric video for ‘Mary Mary‘ on Nakia’s YouTube here: