“A week ago, exactly, I released a song that’s very special to me,” Nessa Barrett said to attendees at weekend 2 of Austin City Limits on Friday (October 13). “It’s called ‘Club Heaven’ and I want to play it for your guys right now. And I just want to say that my heart goes out to all you guys who can relate to it. I love you all.”
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She then jammed out to her latest song. A 21-year-old singer/songwriter from New Jersey, Barrett’s aforementioned release of “Club Heaven” is actually just the latest moment from an incredibly busy year for her thus far.
Before her trip to ACL, Barrett put out an 8-song EP titled hell is a teenage girl in July, which built upon the hardened, yet bold pop-rock sound she’s honed in on for most of her career. In the American Songwriter review for the EP, written by Jacob Uitti, he notes that the project “pushes you and pushes you with a bouncy, driving tune. So much so that you want more.”
[RELATED: Nessa Barrett Announces North American Headline Tour for ‘hell is teenage girl’ EP]
Following hell is a teenage girl, Barrett did not let her foot off the gas. In early September, she would put out a song titled “sick of myself,” less than two months after her EP’s arrival. Then came “Club Heaven” on October 8, which chronicles her process of grieving the loss of Cooper Noriega, her best friend who passed away from a drug overdose in 2022.
After using this release as a catharsis, though, Barrett appeared to be in a great headspace during her ACL performance, as well as when we caught up with her afterward. Currently on her nationwide Church Club for the Lonely Tour, Barrett opened up with American Songwriter about her new EP, her new single, and her current tour. Along with this, she even hinted at a full-length album in the not-so-distant future.
Check out our conversation below.
American Songwriter: You recently put out “Club Heaven” as a tribute to Cooper Noriega, where you said, “I’ve never been more proud of a song or video.” What was the process of writing that song like?
Nessa Barrett: Well, I was having a hard time grieving the loss of my best friend and I was in the studio working on a project. We made a handful of songs and I told [my team] all I could think about that on that day was my best friend Cooper. So I really needed to sit down and write about it. And we wrote “Club Heaven” and I’m very excited that it’s out now.
AS: The project you mentioned, are you talking about the hell is a teenage girl EP you just put out?
NB: Yeah, it was supposed to be on EP. But after writing it I listened to it, and the whole grieving process just comes in deep waves. When I would listen to it after I wrote it, it just made me angry. And I was like, “I’m never putting that song out.” It made me so mad. But now I’m at a place where I feel like I could put it out.
AS: You just got done performing a few festivals in Europe and kicked off your Church Club for the Lonely Tour. How have you felt your fans have responded to the new EP as you’re playing it live for the first time?
NB: Oh my god, everyone’s been so incredible. It’s really special to see how people relate to my music and how much they care. It was also very eye-opening for me to go internationally and see all the support there. It was unreal.
AS: Months after you put out the EP, you’re already back releasing singles like “Club Heaven” and “Sick of Myself.” Is there another project in your plans soon?
NB: Yes, I’m currently working on a new album, my sophomore album. So I’m very excited about that.
AS: How has that process been so far?
NB: It’s been really great. My producer came to watch my set today at ACL and he’s gonna join me on tour and come on the bus and we can actually start writing more for the album and finish while I’m on tour, which I’ve never done before. So, that’ll be interesting. I’m always so inspired every time I’m touring, so it’s gonna be really nice to be able to write on the road as well.
AS: You’ve been open about your struggles with mental health issues and persevering through them. How has 2023 been for you personally, especially since you’ve been super busy since the summer?
NB: 2023 has been, I would say life-changing. I feel like it’s just been a lot of growth, not only career-wise but myself, I feel like I’m just more inspired and motivated than ever. I really put the work into music. I made my whole life music.
Photo by Greg Noire for ACL Fest 2023
