Everyone's Watching: Nxdia on Their Buzzy Debut Mixtape and Festival Season
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Written by Jack Butler-Terry
Since the release of their 2020 debut single Eyes On Me, Nxdia’s star has been rising. The Egypt-born, Manchester-raised singer-songwriter’s upbringing on Fall Out Boy, P!NK and My Chemical Romance is wonderfully evident in their brand of self-anointed “chaos pop”, combining emo and pop-punk with bubblegum hooks and flecks of indie-rock, rap and grunge.
After a string of EPs and singles, last month they released their first mixtape ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’, which has been met with critical acclaim (including our four star review) thanks to its powder keg of massive choruses, party-ready bangers and obvious sense of vulnerability, with moments of self-doubt meeting jolts of self-confidence.
The result is a salve for the misunderstood and those who just want to get everything off their chests — it’s intimate, relatable and cathartic, and one of the year’s most impressive debuts, teeing up a blockbuster summer of festivals before Nxdia heads out on a UK and European tour with American alt-rock singer Sofia Isella.
But before the madness of their schedule really sets in, we managed to catch up with Nxdia backstage at Yungblud’s BludFest, a sprawling event at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. Still recovering from their high-octane set, our conversation coincides with the rain clouds clearing and is soundtracked by Denzel Curry on the main stage nearby (“I reeeeeally want to be out there,” Nxdia pleads as we end our chat, and we get it). We find out more about ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’, what the rest of the year holds and how it feels to be living their dream.
How’s your day going?
“Honestly, it’s been incredible. It’s been so warm, but in a really nice way, I’m glad. And the rain stopped, which is amazing. All the acts, everyone is amazing and so friendly, it’s a beautiful place to be.”
We’ve already seen you out there on the BludFest Main Stage — from our side it looked and sounded amazing. How was it for you?
“I had the best time. I was just trying to look at as many people in the eye. I just wanted to see them and be like, ‘Thank you for being here.’ But, mostly, I was so shocked at how many people were singing.”
It was loud out there.
“I know! They were so nice, I could hear it over my in-ears. I was like, ‘This is fucking wicked!’ I love it, it was super cute.”
Considering ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’ has only been out a week as we speak, it’s really impressive. I was going to ask how the reception’s been for you, but…
“[Points to the field and exhales] It’s been great! I love it.”
When did you start and finish work on ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’?
“The songs were a testament to the past year, a time capsule of 12 months that left me a bit beaten and bruised but, weirdly, for the better. And it was mixed and mastered literally a few weeks before it was released. The song order and the artwork came together quite naturally and quickly, but the polishing always feels like a last minute surge. You can make a million edits until it feels and sounds right, so letting go feels difficult. But I love how the songs sound, especially in the order they’re in — it’s so lovely to listen back and feel everything again, but differently this time.”
What are your personal favourite songs on the mixtape?
“I love love love performing Boo, Nevermind on stage, it’s so fun. But probably Nothing At All at the moment. It changes depending on my mood and how I feel.”
What have you got lined up for the rest of the year for yourself?
“I got festival season — I’m so excited. I literally just got back from Prague yesterday, which was so fun, I’ve got Reading and Leeds, Latitude, and Lollapalooza in Paris, which I’m so excited about. I’ve never had a festival season this way. And I’ve got Sofia Isella’s tour, I just can’t wait to get out there and see people, thank them in person, and sing with them. It’s gonna be amazing.”
What can fans expect?
“A fucking party! I’m itching to get back on stage, honestly. I feel so lucky to be able to play so many shows and in so many places. I can’t tell you how good it feels when I see a comment like, “You need to come to this place!” And I can be like, “I bloody am! See me there!”
Nxdia’s ‘I Promise No One’s Watching’ is out now.
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