The R&B Duo NULA’s Music is a Sign of the Times

Photo by David Sessions.

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Born and bred in New Cross, London, the R&B duo NULA is making hypnotic music that serves as a sign of the times. Having begun their career recording together for a major label, Nadiah Adu-Gyamfi and Luke Osborne have built a steady partnership. Their sound is self-described as “homegrown;” they produce, mix, master and write each of their songs. (“We do everything,” Luke says.) Their latest single, “Tone Deaf,” is an ode to empowerment and a tribute to Black lives. The video was recorded in southeast London, the site of several protests and a birthplace of social movements. In honor of their timely single, NULA’s Nadiah and Luke sat down with Interview to discuss their artistry, the difference between the UK and American music scenes, and how Nadiah feels about appearing in Beyoncé‘s Grammy Award-winning video for “Brown Skin Girl.”

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On “Tone Deaf”: “We wrote this song in lockdown last year. We like to think of it as a poem and a tribute to Black lives, both in Britain as well as America. I think after everything that went on with George Floyd, it really hit a nerve. This song came as a natural response to the trauma that is usually felt by Black people. “Tone Deaf” is really about singing about those who are tone-deaf and don’t care about Black lives in the government and in society. It’s just shining a beacon of light on the beauty of blackness.— Nadiah

On being a duo: I think it’s always really great because we can work with each other consistently. I think it’s so different when you’re working on your own. There’s a different vibe altogether. We’ve known each other for years and I think that’s been really important for us. We both love the same kind of music. We both love the same kinds of things that helped us create NULA. I think we really do push each other creatively, which I think’s so important. Really thinking outside the box. — Luke

Photo by Eve Mahoney.

On living across the pond: “In England, we’re so inspired by soul, gospel, jazz, and blues. From the ’60s up to now, we had rock music or electronic music—white music was the mainstream for a long time. Now, we’re a bit more experimental than maybe people would be in America. When you listen to someone like Massive Attack, which we really like, there’s a lot of influences of gospel and soul and jazz and stuff like that, but then it’s done over a really dirty bass and some drum. It gives it more of a British sound, rather than it being a more traditional sound. So, I feel like right now in the industry when you listen to, let’s say Jorja Smith, the music is still quintessentially British. That’s what I find. Even what I’ve just said is actually quite reductive because there are different spaces. I’m talking more from an alternative R&B perspective. But I personally love America because when I was growing up, the only gospel that I ever listened to was Karen Clark and The Winans.” — Nadiah

On their inspirations: “I really loved Sum 41 and Blink 182, punk rock bands. I started out as a drummer and that was my main thing for years until I got into uni and really got into production. Then I really got into Boards of Canada, Vortex—electronic music. I really loved jazz stuff as well, like Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. So just a diverse amount of stuff really. 90s stuff is a big inspiration for NULA—Portishead, especially Massive Attack. — Luke

Photo by Jay Brasier-Creagh.

On Afrofuturism: “Aesthetically, I’ve always been into Afrofuturism. When I was growing up, N.E.R.D was quite a big thing for me, because I loved the idea of bringing really cool Black music with a tinge of something a little bit out of this world. I really loved Missy [Elliott] and Timbaland. I loved the way they sprinkled those beats with really cool and weird synths. I love that kind of futuristic thing. Janet Jackson and Busta Rhymes—that video as well. So, from seeing those images growing up, it’s just naturally become part of my aesthetic and the way I see sound. In my fashion and in the way that I represent myself, it’s always been Afrofuturistic, because it’s how I see and hear the world.” — Nadiah

On their favorite films: “The Truman Show just absolutely blew my mind. I’ve probably seen it about 15 times. It just never gets boring.” — Luke

“My favorite film of all time is Belly. I loved the aesthetic. I love everything by Hype Williams. People try and recreate it, and it just doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t work. And Rest in Peace DMX. Yeah, I love Belly.” — Nadiah

Photo by Eve Mahoney.

Photo by Jay Brasier-Creagh.

On working with Beyoncé: “Do you know what? It feels so good. It feels so iconic. When it happened, it was so quick. It’s only now that I’m sitting down thinking, ‘Wow, my grandkids are going to see that and see lack women glowing on the screen alongside the queen Beyoncé.’ I’m just so grateful for the experience. I’m very honored.” — Nadiah

On being homegrown: “I would like for any person to be able to enjoy NULA and see people like myself and Luke, who don’t come from rich backgrounds, make real music. I hope that people can take that and be inspired that no matter what your age or your race, if you work hard and you make music that’s honest and truthful, you can get somewhere in life. A lot of this music that we make comes from our bedroom studios. We don’t go to some really fancy studio and do it. This is pure and raw. There’s no sexism, racism, or ageism involved in what we do; it’s just joy.” — Nadiah

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