A few years ago, she graced our cover, and now, with a new era unfolding, we’re excited to catch up and dive into her latest projects. Since the release of her debut EP Pretty Poison, Nessa’s music has evolved dramatically. Aftercare marks a bold new chapter, from themes of empowerment and self-discovery to collaborations with artists like Tommy Genesis and Artemis, it’s clear this project holds deep personal significance. We sat down with Nessa Barrett to talk about her growth as an artist, the inspirations behind Aftercare, and what’s next on her creative journey.

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Your debut EP Pretty Poison explored the duality of beauty and toxicity in fame. How does Aftercare expand on or shift that narrative for you?

Nessa Barrett: I don’t think Aftercare really expands on anything from Pretty Poison. I feel like those are almost like two completely different worlds. I never really thought about how those two can relate, but yeah, they just feel like two different things entirely.

You’ve described Aftercare as an album meant to empower listeners, particularly when it comes to confidence and sexuality. What was the most healing or transformative song for you to write?

Nessa: I feel like the whole project as a whole was really healing, but for example, something like “Porn Star”—it sounds so weird to say—but talking about sex in such a normalized manner, as if it wasn’t really anything crazy, was really healing for me. It’s always been something so taboo and had such a negative meaning for me personally, so writing about it in a normal and almost positive way was really freeing.

From “i hope ur miserable until you’re dead” to “Mustang Baby”, your sound has evolved significantly. How do you feel your music has changed since your debut, and what influences shaped this new era?

Nessa: With my debut EP, I was such a young artist, and I didn’t really know what I wanted my sound to be. I was trying to figure myself out. From Pretty Poison to Aftercare, I experimented with so many things, and with Aftercare, I learned what I really like. I feel like this album represents who I am as an artist, whereas Pretty Poison was more of my developmental era.

You joined Lana Del Rey on stage at Hangout Festival. What was that moment like for you, and how has she influenced your music career? I even noticed she used your song for her Instagram story post the other day—what does that feel like?

Nessa: It’s amazing. She’s my favorite artist in the world, so to have her support is really special to me. Performing with her live was incredible. Never in a million years would I have thought that I’d share a stage with Lana, let alone sing my song with her. She’s the best, and she’s influenced the way I write a lot of my music. I tend to make music and write what I like, and I love her and her music, so subconsciously, I think that influence shows in my work.

Your new album has collaborations with Tommy Genesis and Artemis. What drew you to these artists, and how did those songs come together?

Nessa: I actually met Tommy in the trailer in Alabama because we were both performing with Lana, and from there, we just became really close. I love her so much—she’s an amazing woman, so confident in herself and her art. She’s so cool. I wanted to be really intentional with my features, and having my first female feature be someone like Tommy was important, especially on an album meant to empower women. She’s so powerful to me.

As for Artemis, I love his music, and we became really close during the writing period of my album. We would send songs back and forth and get each other’s opinions and feedback. He also makes a lot of “horny” music, and conceptually, that fit with this album. He really liked “Mustang Baby”, so I thought it would be cool to have him on it.

With over 2 billion global streams and a sold-out tour, you’ve built a massive fan base. How do you balance that level of success with staying true to yourself as an artist?

Nessa: This is a great question. I think that was something I struggled with for so long, but for a few months now, I’ve deleted all social media from my phone. That way, I’m not really influenced by outside opinions and comments. I know how I feel and what I do, and the art I make and the way I show up on tour is authentically me—not influenced by anything else.

You’ve spoken about music being therapeutic for you. Now that you’ve built a whole discography, do you find new ways of using songwriting as a coping mechanism?

Nessa: Writing songs has always been a form of therapy for me. With Aftercare in particular, I wasn’t specifically writing about certain things I was struggling with in my life. In my old music, I would write to get my feelings out—that was my way of not bottling things up. But over time, I learned that I could write from the perspective of what I needed to hear in order to heal, rather than just what I was feeling in the moment. That was a big shift for me.

Beyond music, you’ve partnered with La La Land Kind Cafe and Swinger’s Diner for special Aftercare-themed items. How do these collaborations reflect your personality and brand?

Nessa: Well, I love matcha, so that was really fun. The whole La La Land crew is amazing and so sweet, so being able to build a matcha flavor with them was really cool. The drink was matcha, but it was pink, and I feel like Aftercare has a lot of pink.

As for Swinger’s Diner, I thought that would be fun because after going out clubbing or being out late with your friends, you want that classic diner moment. Creating a meal for that felt like it made a lot of sense, especially with songs like Disco.

Looking ahead, what’s something you hope to achieve—whether in music, fashion, or beyond—that you haven’t yet?

Nessa: I think my next really big goal is to write and direct a movie. All of my songs are very visual, and I take a lot of inspiration from film. So being able to combine those things—whether it’s a visual album, a film tied to my music, or just a movie that I’m inspired to write—that’s my next big goal. It’ll take years and years, but yeah.

My last question—if you could give one piece of advice to anyone starting out in the music industry, what would it be?

Nessa: Stay true to yourself and don’t give up. There are going to be so many obstacles thrown at you that make it hard to see your future, but it’s so important to keep going. Stay focused on your art and your vision as an artist—don’t let outside opinions influence you. And I’d probably also tell them to not look at comments. That’s a big thing.