By Cem Akdeniz
•
October 15, 2020
British newcomer NAHLI returns with her momentous new single ‘Catch 22’, a luxurious, defiantly old-skool UK Garage inspired track that features South London’s legendary Big Narstie. ‘Catch 22’ is released globally on October 16th 2020 and serves as the debut release from Independent label and studio, Rebel Records. Hailing from Essex, and living in London, NAHLI is a multifaceted talent. Her soulful sound is rich with tender feeling and her unapologetic songwriting and delivery is mature beyond her years. The Pop-Soul artist-on-the-rise owns a personality as warm as her vocals are soulful and she’s endearingly honest - there’s as much grit to her undeniable British tone as there is sincerity. Mixed by MSM (Drake, Skepta, Wretch 32) and produced by long-term collaborator DaVinche, the track sees NAHLI continue her assured ascent to the upper echelons of new stars emerging from the UK and follows last year’s debut EP ‘Therapy [Side A]’. Teaming up with Big Narstie for ‘Catch 22’ finds NAHLI in familiar territory, having previously featured on Professor Green’s ‘Bad Decisions’, Conducta’s ‘Only U’ and Crystal Fighters ‘Costa Rica’. Big Narstie himself needs little introduction. He is a revolutionary artist in his own right and a master of his craft. The effervescent entertainer (and national treasure) is one of the UK’s top talents and lends his street inspired raps and larger than life personality to ‘Catch 22’, which pair perfectly with NAHLI’s sophisticated modern soul-pop sound. On linking up for the track, Big Narstie tells it how it is:” 'I love this tune. It has that old-skool feeling what makes you wanna skank (dance) It’s got a beautiful vocal from NAHLI with a hard beat from DaVinche. I can’t wait to perform this one when we get back to the live shows. Also, it was a big pleasure being part of the first Rebel Records release! On the bittersweet inspiration behind the song, NAHLI explains; “Catch 22 is about being stuck in that weird middle ground of not being together in a relationship but being ‘exclusive’. But you don’t actually know if they’re matching your exclusivity. This generation is nuts for that. But you can’t stop the cycle because the toxicity is addictive. It's kinda hot. So…you don’t know whether to leave or whether to stay. Catch 22.” NAHLI’s bold visual aesthetic is proof of this striking new talent’s deep and long-standing obsession with music and the Arts, which is reflected in the video for ‘Catch 22’. ‘Catch 22’ is just the beginning for NAHLI, coming as the first track to be taken from the singer-songwriter’s forthcoming EP, slated for release in 2021. Listen to 'Catch 22' here; https://slinky.to/NAHLIBNCatch22