LyricVids is thrilled to announce our collaboration with the influential queer artist, Nakia, on the release of his brand-new lyric video for “Show It To Me“. Nakia, a prominent queer figure in the Austin music scene and beyond, has been capturing hearts with his commanding and soulful voice worldwide for over 20 years. Sharing stages with legendary performers such as Alejandro Escovedo, Sharon Jones, Willie Nelson, BB King, and even The Muppets, Nakia is deeply respected not only for his musical contributions but also for his community service. When the pandemic struck, Nakia’s commitment to his community shone brightly as he played a pivotal role in creating emergency relief for Austin’s musicians and venues. His tireless advocacy earned him the title of “Local Legend” by Matthew McConaughey in 2020.
Recently, Nakia has expanded his creative horizons, venturing into composing for film and TV, and co-writing and recording a 15-song musical called “Dueling Pianos” with Joshua R. Pangborn. As a three-time former Recording Academy Texas Board Governor, a member of Songwriters Of North America, and founding President of Austin Texas Musicians, Nakia continues to be a leading queer voice in the music industry. His recent musical endeavors showcase his versatility and evolution as an artist. In 2022, he released an EP with five unique versions of his song “Unstoppable”, including Grammy-winning Dave Audé remixes, each accompanied by its own music video. 2023 saw the release of “Thrill-O-Matic”, a genre-blending single co-written with renowned songwriters Andy Stochansky and Jamie Hartman. The song’s innovative mix of pop, rock, and soul, along with its high-profile production team, has garnered significant acclaim, becoming the second most played local song on Austin’s Sun Radio.
Nakia’s upcoming album marks a bold new direction with an 80s synth-rock influence, showcasing his multifaceted talent as a writer, performer, and producer. The lead single, “Signal”, dropped on May 21st, and the official music video was released on June 26th. He’s currently performing the songs live with his new band during a Tuesday night July residency at Sagebrush in Austin.
Living in Austin with his husband of 22 years, Robert, and their Bouvier des Flandres, Baker, Nakia continues to inspire with his musical versatility, community leadership, and relentless creativity. “Show It To Me” features Norway’s only openly gay rapper, Big Daddy Karsten, a battle rap legend and LGBTQIA+ activist known for performing at pride festivals and major music festivals across Norway. Eager to explore new territories, Karsten has started producing songs in English, like this one, moving beyond his previous Norwegian-only tracks.
We asked Nakia how this song differs from his previous releases. He shared, “‘Show It To Me,’ like all of my upcoming new album, is a pretty big turn from what folks know me for musically. This song is your go-to jam for calling out the fakes and phonies. With its sharp and cheeky lyrics, catchy beat, and an explosive rap feature by Big Daddy Karsten, it’s all about demanding realness in relationships. The track showcases my soulful vocal delivery on top of a bombastic production, reminiscent of 1980s classics. It’s retro but still feels very modern. No more falling for empty promises or shallow vibes – this song reminds you to keep it 100 and only vibe with those who show up genuinely. It’s a whole mood for anyone tired of the BS and ready for something real.“
When asked why he chose a lyric video for this release, Nakia explained, “Karsten and I live in two different countries without any plans to travel to either’s home country anytime soon, so we needed to get something together that was rad but more than a TikTok collab.“
The lyric video features a cool retro 80s theme, full of ripped paper textures and popular 80s retro shape patterns. Cut-out photos of both artists and nostalgic items like boomboxes, vinyl records, skateboards, a Walkman, camcorders, old-school cameras, retro TVs, and VHS tapes add to the vibe. Nakia remarked, “I love how the team was able to use photos shot by Ima Leupp and other various photos of Karsten they found online and make them all look vintage and fit them right into the vibe of the video.” A fun primary color palette of red, yellow, blue, and pink, combined with textures and fun 3D camera motions, brings the video to life. The lyrics are displayed in two creative and unique fonts: an embossed cut-out serif and a true 80s cursive brush font. The video’s high energy and playfulness perfectly match the song.
For artists like Nakia, lyric videos are an excellent medium for creating buzz around new releases and can attract new fans to his music. The singer expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration, saying, “I had a blast collaborating with Anthony and the team at LyricVids.com to create this. I talked with them about the vibe of the song, how it was written and recorded, and what my vision for a lyric video could look like, and they delivered exactly that within just over a week. 10/10 would recommend!“
Looking ahead, Nakia is set to release several more singles and a full-length album titled “Signal” in the fall. We at LyricVids are excited to continue supporting Nakia’s creative journey and can’t wait to see the impact of “Show It To Me” on his fans and the music community. You can follow Nakia on social media @Nakia or on TikTok @nakia.net.
Check out the lyric video for “Show It To Me” on Nakia’s official YouTube channel here: