[INTERVIEW] Nala Discusses Mi Domina Records, Latest EP Get Familiar, + "It's Not About You"

Nala, LA-based producer-vocalist, began asserting her merciless dominance in Miami with Riot Grrrl-style vocals, now recognizable and distinguishable as she has formed LA's electronic music scene submissive to her. Commanding every club or main stage to succumb to a cutting-edge sound of minimal tech, disco, techno, deep house, indie dance, electro, breaks, only reveals a fraction of her musical ability. While Claude VonStroke still manages her career, it hasn't satisfied Nala's unapologetic desire to exercise her appreciation for feminine empowerment and Femdom (female domination) Culture  to the extent of creating her own femme-dominated platform, Mi Domina Records.

Mi Domina Records, "home to music that dominates you", debuted the latest three-track EP Get Familiar featuring E.R.N.E.S.T.O for its inauguration exposing its sonic and philosophical ethos to not only represent artists but to empower them. iEDM adored studying Nala's persuasive valiance towards Mi Domina Records' intended contribution to the electronic music scene, self-empowerment, and more. 

Read iEDM's exclusive interview with Nala Below.

iEDM: Your new record label, Mi Domina means “dominate me” in Italian. How did femdom culture inspire the label’s name and overall mission? After brainstorming ideas for the label’s name, what made you certain that this was the best fit? 

Nala: Well, in Femdom culture, women are given the power to be in charge of the relationship. Obviously, there is a sexual aspect to that culture, but I liked the concept of dominant women being desirable and respected. A lot of my ethos as an artist is about feminine empowerment, and the name matched that energy.

iEDM: Mi Domina Records is a femme-dominated platform that seeks to empower and provide a space for artists who exhibit talent, respect, and kindness within the music industry. Because of this, what do you specifically look for in an artist when representing your label?

Nala: I’m looking for a strong sense of identity and talent, first and foremost. I sought out artists who have their own unique sound and are looking to push boundaries creatively. This is then followed by their character. Are these people nice? Do they have a good reputation within the community?

iEDM: In “Get Familiar”, you shed light on the fact that people tend to hide their intimate encounters because they’re afraid of what others might think. Why do you think society has been shaped this way and what advice can you give to help people overcome this fear?

Nala: It’s a power play. People withhold information because they fear getting hurt, so hiding their truth is a way to maintain power. The current status quo says emotions are for the weak, but we all experience the same emotions. We’re all searching for love and acceptance, so does that mean we’re all weak? 

My hope is we’re evolving enough to see that openness and honesty are actually strengths and do more for the greater good.

My advice is to reframe your perspective on what is considered weakness. Fear is more of a weakness than honesty is.

iEDM: Your new track, “God Complex” contains powerful lyrics and seems to be open for interpretation. Can you explain the notion: God complex is a mockery of egomania? What do you mean when you sing, “Above the law. Below your standards.”?

Nala: I wrote God Complex after scrolling Twitter one day. In that track, I’m making fun of people who seem to think they know it all, and yet, they hypocritically do the exact things they’re shunning publicly.

'Above the law, Below your standards’ is the idea that we act like we’re better than everyone else. We claim we’re following the rules and making wiser decisions, but we do things that are likely below the standards we claim to uphold. 

iEDM: What was your biggest motivator to create Mi Domina Records? Can you explain the possible epiphany or moment when you knew you had to breathe life into this endeavor? What has been the most fulfilling part of launching the label for you?

Nala: My biggest motivator was having an outlet for my creative endeavors. I love that I have complete control over the artistic direction of this project. I have an outlet to release music that caters to the underground where I can incubate new sounds that maybe aren’t widely accepted yet. 

The most fulfilling aspect of this was the positive feedback I received that validated the decision I made. I knew I was taking a risk, but I never could’ve imagined the support I’d receive. 

iEDM: You are a role model to women who seek empowerment and want to showcase their talent within the music industry. What has been the biggest challenge on your journey of self-empowerment and how did you overcome it?

Nala: My biggest challenge was my self discovery as an artist. It took years of introspection and blocking out the noise of the industry to find myself. Once that happened, I became self assured and confident enough to combat the industry and what it asked of me.

iEDM: What was your favorite part about working with E.R.N.E.S.T.O on your Get Familiar EP? What were some of the highlights of analyzing the different tracks on his “Wednesday Roast” Livestream and helping producers strengthen their craft?

Nala: Working with E.R.N.E.S.T.O was incredibly easy. He came prepared with so many cool ideas, which made writing and recording a quick and painless process. I think our session lasted like 30 minutes. He’s also an insanely talented engineer and producer. I would love to see him get the recognition he deserves. 

It was interesting hearing the music from newer producers. A lot of my critiques were in regards to song writing whereas E.R.N.E.S.T.O had a lot of great advice about sound design and mixes. I think the highlight was discovering how much E.R.N.E.S.T.O cared about the development of his community and their ability to write well. He gives off proud dad energy every time a producer gets better at their craft.

iEDM: “God Complex” is slower-paced in comparison to “Get Familiar” which exudes a more energetic trance vibe. In your opinion, how do the two tracks complement each other to create an EP that exhibits the sonic and philosophical vision that Mi Domina embodies?

Nala: I come from a dance music background that incorporates a lot of different subgenres within a set. To me, it’s not about genre or tempo, but overall vibe, and I felt these three songs sonically fit well together despite their differences. 

Mi Domina is designed to be a free-for-all genre wise. It’s meant to be an exploration of sound, not something that fits within the mainstream dance music box.

iEDM: You’re rumored to be featured on an unreleased ID track with Walker & Royce unofficially named, “Give ‘Em Nothing”. Fans are in a frenzy waiting for the official release. If you’re at liberty to discuss details about this track, what inspired the message behind the strong lyrics? Is there a possibility you’ll be releasing the track on Mi Domina Records?

Nala: Haha, yeah, that song really is driving people crazy right now! The track is actually called “It’s Not About You”. The lyrics are about not wanting to conform to what the industry was telling me to do. I had so many people try and tell me I couldn’t play both underground and commercial, that I would be boxed into a specific sound, that there was really no point in creating music because everything had already been done before and to that I say “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!”

That song is coming out on a bigger label. I think sometime in September.

iEDM: What is next for you and Mi Domina Records? How would you like to see Mi Domina Records’ sonic and philosophical vision develop in the future? Can you reveal any information about upcoming releases, collaborations, or projects?

Nala: Up next for the label is a blend of genres and artists. I want to bring back some of the styles of music I grew up loving to develop a new iteration. For now, I’ll leave it at that. The label isn’t designed to release music every month. It’s designed to release when the right project comes along.

Photos Courtesy of Nala

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