London R&B singer, songwriter and artist Nia Chennai kicks off her 2026 era with ‘It’s Not Me (Don’t worry, darling)’, an upbeat new single that pairs 90s/00s-inspired R&B, pop and neo-soul with a message about boundaries, self-worth and choosing yourself.
Already championed by COLORS, F Word Magazine, Viper Magazine, TMRW, Earmilk and Stereofox, Nia has steadily carved out her own space with a sound that blends contemporary R&B with a strong sense of nostalgia. Away from music, she has also represented brands including Bluebella, The Sensualist Shop and Beyond Retro.
While ‘It’s Not Me’ arrives with a danceable, feel-good energy, its lyrics deal with the weight of other people’s opinions, fake concern and the realisation that you don’t have to carry every burden placed on you.
For Nia, the track came from reflecting on an old friendship and reaching a point where she stopped making herself smaller to keep others comfortable. Rather than leaning into bitterness, she wanted the song to feel like a release, confident, funny and empowering.
That approach carries through into the wider creative world surrounding the single, with Nia introducing a new visual identity through its styling, artwork and music video concept. Describing it as the most confident and fully realised version of herself so far, the new era sees Nia embracing her individuality while encouraging listeners to do the same.
Nia Chennai sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:
1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?
From young, I’ve always loved music, and I think that was definitely influenced by my parents. I was always watching MTV, looking at Whitney Houston and Beyoncé completely mesmerised. But I think the moment it really clicked was when my dad bought me SingStar for the PS2. I remember singing and thinking, “Wow, this makes me feel alive.” That was probably the first time I realised just how much music meant to me.
2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?
I’ve always been heavily influenced by Lauryn Hill. She was basically my gateway into neo-soul. Then Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé… the list genuinely goes on forever. I’m a student of music. I’ll literally sit and listen to the acapella and instrumental versions of songs just to understand how they did that one little thing two minutes in. I need to know!
In the future, I’d love to work with RAYE. Her brain is ridiculous. I feel like I’d leave one studio session with her having learnt about 47 new things. Brent Faiyaz is absolutely on the list too.