Nardia Confronts Longing and Liberation in New Single “Is It You”

Australian artist Nardia returns with “Is It You,” the latest single from her forthcoming album Own Every Scar—a project steeped in emotional honesty and sonic heritage. Known for her ability to navigate the contours of R&B, soul, blues, and jazz, Nardia brings a grounded sense of intimacy to a genre often romanticized and rarely challenged.

“Is It You” leans into the vulnerability of attraction: that charged moment of possibility before anything is said out loud. While the lyrics don’t push into lyrical complexity, the track achieves emotional impact through tone and performance—particularly Nardia’s delivery, which carries the subtle tremor of confession.

The song’s production is restrained, giving space for the vocals to carry narrative weight. There are no sharp climaxes or overly dramatic arcs, but that’s where its strength lies: it captures a quiet, internal ache rather than a grand declaration. The decision to keep the arrangement sparse—echoed keys, warm basslines—lets the listener feel the hesitation embedded in the lyrics.

The music video complements this atmosphere. Shot with a sense of temporal dislocation, the visuals blend past and present like the half-remembered feelings Nardia often draws from. This aesthetic choice reinforces her commitment to nostalgia as a tool rather than a gimmick—a way to access emotional nuance without indulging in sentimentality.

Her background as the only female finalist in the 2025 International Blues Challenge’s band category points to a broader pattern: Nardia isn’t simply adapting soul traditions; she’s carving out her own room within them. This becomes even more compelling when seen from the lens of her hometown of Melbourne, far removed from the deep-rooted soul legacies of the American South. Yet her work remains respectful, not imitative—an exploration rather than an appropriation.

With Own Every Scar on the horizon, Nardia invites her audience to consider not just who they are, but what they carry—and how music might help them speak what they’ve never said aloud.