Photo Supplied by Karyzma Agency

Naya Ali – Five Questions With

Jenna Melanson·March 27, 2024

Naya Ali Releases New Single, “Open Fire”

Naya Ali, Canadian hip hop’s rising star, continues to make waves with her third single, “Open Fire,” a captivating preview of her upcoming album, We Did The Damn Thing.

“Open Fire” is a rap masterpiece with exceptional flow that delves into life’s highs and lows, embodying Naya’s commitment to growth and consistency. The track, produced by Gary Wide, and known for collaborations with artists like Charlotte Cardin and Rohff, seamlessly blends dark undertones with lighter melodic textures, mirroring the duality inherent to the human experience.

Naya Ali shares,

*I believe there’s a time for everything, a time to celebrate, a time to rest, and a time to put in the work. ‘Open Fire’ is about ‘locking in’ and committing to growth. It’s also about being conscious of how precious time is and how easily we can be distracted from our paths by external opinions, fears, and our own impatience.”

Care to introduce yourself?

My name is Naya Ali, and I’m a hip-hop artist. Originally from Ethiopia and raised in Montreal, Canada, My upbringing brings a unique perspective to my music.

Tell us a bit about your recent release.

I believe there’s a time for everything, a time to celebrate, a time to rest, and a time to put in the work. ‘Open Fire’ is about ‘locking in’ and committing to growth. It’s also about being conscious of how precious time is and how easily we can be distracted from our paths by external opinions, fears, and our own impatience.”

How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?

I like to think of my creative process as entering the studio with a blank canvas – I would catch up with my producers, and converse – eventually from this we’d spark an idea and create songs on the spot. My producers would create a skeleton instrumental and I would come up with toplines and we’d structure the record together. I would then plug the lyrics in at the end.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?

This record is preceding my second studio album – We Did The Damn Thing – set to release in 2024.

Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?

One of the many highlights I would say is to have won English Album of The Year at the 2022 Adisq Awards. It was the first time that a hip-hop album had ever won this category. It cemented my belief that this is way bigger than me, because “when I win, we win”.