LA-based artist and designer Nami Ondas opens up about the playful intensity and creative intention behind his breakout singles, channeling character, curiosity, and raw self-expression into the intoxicatingly catchy “Suzette” and his forthcoming debut album ‘WARM.’
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Stream: “Suzette” – Nami
Bright, bubbly, and intoxicatingly catchy, Nami’s third-ever single, “Suzette,” is an instant earworm dripping in playful charm and vibrant energy.
Fueled by the delightful delirium of desire, the song radiates a carefree spontaneity that captures both the thrill and madness of chasing after someone who feels just out of reach. Blending addictive melodies with subtly mischievous lyrics, “Suzette” transforms longing into something infectiously danceable.
“‘Suzette’ is an energetic record,” Nami tells Atwood Magazine. “I let my inspirations melt into this tune and tried to make it as catchy as possible. I’m proud of it; it’s your chase after the girl song – if you read into the lyrics, it could come off creepy, and that was on purpose – some of my favorite songs read a bit creepy,” he laughs.
I saw your pretty eyes
Passing me by yeah
Just give me a sign
And I will make you mine (oooh)
You know you want me too
All the time, (yeah all of the time)
But you’re so undecided
Got me waiting on the line
Driven by a raw, unfiltered, and undeniable passion, “Suzette” is both feisty and feverish: “Suzette, I ain’t got you yet, but no one’s taking you from me,” Nami sings in the track’s infectious, emotionally charged refrain, calling to mind the King of Pop himself. “Suzette, I’ll lose all my breath if you keep on running from me.”
‘Cause you are, yes you are
The only one for me
Baby can’t you see?
Suzette (Suzette)
I ain’t got you yet
But no one’s taking you from me
Suzette (Suzette)
I’ll lose all my breath
If you keep on running from me
Nami crafts an utterly alluring soundscape, masterfully balancing lush instrumentation with moments of unflinching, unpolished honesty.
The track’s buoyant rhythm and dynamic chord progression propel listeners forward, mirroring the emotional push-and-pull embedded in its narrative. While “Suzette” is purely fictional – more an intoxicating idea than a tangible, real-life person – Nami expertly channels feelings of hopeful anticipation and playful obsession into a song that’s as sweetly seductive as it is delightfully quirky.
Currently based in LA, Nami humbly identifies as a student first and an artist second, emphasizing his curiosity and passion for creative exploration.
“I design stuff, I love talking about any and everything,” the record producer, designer, and songwriter shares. “I don’t think there’s a separation between me and my artist project, which is maybe unhealthy in someone else’s book, but in mine it reads just fine.”
She got me right down to my knees
I’m begging and pleading her please
Oooh wee , oooh weeee
She run through my mind on repeat
Ah, no one else can compete
Oooh wee , oooh weeee
While he has worked as a sound designer and co-producer for globally renowned acts like Ariana Grande, Bryson Tiller, Jack Harlow, and Cordae, his own artist story is only just beginning – he released his debut single “Northstar” in January, followed by “Connoisseur” this past Valentine’s Day, “Suzette” in mid-March, and “Heaven” – his latest offering – in early April.
“Suzette” is especially near and dear to Nami as one of his most upbeat and uptempo tracks yet, reflecting his creative ambition to produce something instantly memorable and joyously addictive.
“I want people to spend years enjoying it,” he smiles. “There is a lot of detail in my music, some more noticeable than others, but all show up in their own time. I spent good energy and time producing it. My priority was keeping the main melody running throughout the track, and then Buddy Ross came up with that incredible chord progression in the pre-chorus that honestly took the idea to the next level.”
“A lot of its elements remained raw and naked! I think that’s one of the favorite things about my album. There were many opportunities to deliver a super clean, compressed and overly corrected version of all songs, but I purposely chose the alternative direction as some sort of soft-anti sentiment.”
“Suzette” is pure fun, and a phenomenal introduction to an artist – ahem, student – with a bright and exciting future ahead. From its bold, feel-good beats to its tantalizing melodies, Nami’s third release proves an instant singalong, inviting listeners to lose themselves in its carefree spirit. With its irresistible hooks and effervescent vibes, “Suzette” firmly establishes Nami as an exciting new voice poised to captivate listeners, setting high expectations for what’s still to come.
Nami’s debut album WARM is due out May 9th via ONDAS!
‘Cause you are, yes you are
`The only one for me
Baby can’t you see?
Suzette, I ain’t got you yet
But no one’s taking you from me
Suzette, I’ll lose all my breath
If you keep on running from me
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:: stream/purchase Suzette here ::
:: pre-save WARM here ::
:: connect with Nami here ::
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Stream: “Suzette” – Nami
A CONVERSATION WITH NAMI
Atwood Magazine: Thanks for taking the time to chat, Nami! For those just getting to know you, can you share a little about yourself and your music - who is Nami, as a person and as an artist?
Nami: I’m a student first, artist second. I design stuff, I love talking about any and everything. I don’t think there’s a separation between me and my artist project which is maybe unhealthy in someone else’s book but in mine it reads just fine.
Who are some of your creative “north stars,” and how do you describe or define your music?
Nami: I would say Quincy Jones, Ari Aster, Frank Lloyd Wright, Michael Jackson, Isamu Noguchi, Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell to name a few. All trailblazers, all greats, all overachievers… I think there are beautiful lessons in the kind of dedication the names on my list have that truly redefines things that come after you. I wouldn’t be able to describe my music with common genres or comparisons, I feel that’s limiting. I would only use terms like true to self or engaging… maybe even great. Although, how great I feel it is comes in waves as with any creative.
You debuted back in January and have to date released three songs, with “Suzette” being your third. What’s the story behind this song, and does it have any special, personal significance for you?
Nami: “Suzette” is an energetic record, I felt I needed one or a few on my album to compete in today’s market so I let my inspirations melt into this tune and tried to make it as catchy as possible. I’m proud of it. It’s your chase after the girl song, if you read into the lyrics, it could come off creepy and that was on purpose.. some of my favorite songs read a bit creepy. [laughs]
I hear the title character Suzette as more of an idea, than a real person. Who is Suzette, for you personally? One of the things that makes this song so intoxicating, I think, is that mix of hope and longing that propels it forward. Can you talk about those emotions, the feelings that drove you make this song, and the ones that you now take from it, as a listener yourself?
Nami: “Suzette” is purely fictional – the emotion is something I might’ve felt often, but in reality I’m much less deranged and maybe even overly nonchalant. I let the crazy out on songs; it works for me.
How did you get into songwriting, and what inspired you to start releasing music this year?
Nami: I’ve been writing from early teenage years. I wore out of pure need, nothing technical, just pure child-like expression that I kept up over the years. I had all songs in my album for a few years now, I’ve been wanting to release for a while… It came out this year due to the time it took to find a partner to fund my endeavors.
“Suzette” is your third release, following “Northstar” and “Connoisseur.” For folks hearing you for the first time, can you talk about these three songs, and why you've chosen to debut with them and what they mean to you?
Nami: They held the most immediate reaction from my close group of trusted ears. I love all of my records, but “Northstar” had a strong “door opening” sentiment that I felt was right as my first single. The rest just felt right as time came.
Lastly, what do you hope listeners take away from “Suzette,” and what have you taken away from writing this song and now putting it out into the world?“]
Nami: I want people to spent years enjoying it. There is a lot of detail in my music, some more noticeable than others but all show up in their own time. I spent good energy and time producing it, my priority was keeping the main melody running throughout the track and then Buddy Ross came up with that incredible chord progression in the pre-chorus that honestly took the idea to the next level. A lot of its elements remained raw and naked!
I think that’s one of the favorite things about my album. There were many opportunities to deliver a super clean, compressed and overly corrected version of all songs but I purposely chose the alternative direction as some sort of soft-anti sentiment.
— —
:: stream/purchase Suzette here ::
:: pre-save WARM here ::
:: connect with Nami here ::
— —
Stream: “Suzette” – Nami
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