Nakia & The Never Not Now sit down for a One On One/Garden Session during The Underwater Sunshine Festival in New York City on November 21st, 2025. For more info visit: https://underwatersunshinefest.com & https://www.nakia.net/ Audio & Video by: Ehud Lazin
Nakia is an influential queer artist in the Austin music scene and beyond, captivating audiences worldwide with his commanding and soulful voice for over 20 years. He was a semi-finalist on The Voice where he quickly became the fan-favorite of season one. He has shared stages with legendary performers such as Alejandro Escovedo, Sharon Jones, Willie Nelson, B.B. King, and The Muppets.
Nakia is deeply respected for his contributions to the Austin music scene and his dedication to community service. When the pandemic hit, his commitment to his community shone brightly as he played a pivotal role in creating emergency relief for Austin’s musicians and venues. His tireless advocacy earned him the title of “Local Legend” from Matthew McConaughey. As a three-time Recording Academy Texas Board Governor and former founding president of Austin Texas Musicians, Nakia continues to be a leading queer voice in the industry.
Nakia has performed at major festivals and events including Austin City Limits Music Festival, SXSW Music Festival, and the Underwater Sunshine Festival, as well as specialty queer and bear-themed celebrations like Austin Pride, Mountain Star Pride (El Paso), Bearrison Street Fair (San Francisco), Tidal Wave (Orlando), Western Xposure (Palm Springs), Bear Pride Chicago, Cannonball (Fort Lauderdale), and Bearracuda. In addition to live performances, Nakia is also available for DJ sets, and as an ordained minister he is honored to officiate weddings and commitment ceremonies.
Recently, Nakia has expanded his creative horizons, venturing into composing for film and TV. He also co-wrote and recorded a 15-song musical, Dueling Pianos, with Joshua R. Pangborn. Nakia has written with some of music’s biggest writers including Bleu, Chris Seefried, Aris Archontis, and the late Lamont Dozier. Nakia’s recent musical endeavors showcase his versatility and artistic evolution. In 2022, he released an EP featuring five unique versions of his song “Unstoppable”, including Grammy-winning remixes by Dave Audé, each accompanied by its own music video. In 2023, he released “Thrill-O-Matic,” a genre-blending single co-written with renowned songwriters Andy Stochansky and Jamie Hartman. The song’s innovative fusion of pop, rock, and soul—paired with a high-profile production team—garnered significant acclaim, becoming the second most-played local song on Austin’s Sun Radio, where Nakia is now on the air as a DJ four nights a week.
Signal, Nakia’s first new album of originals since 2009, dropped on May 30, 2025. Drawing inspiration from 80s synth-rock, the album showcases his multifaceted talent as a writer, performer and producer. Nakia has also released several music videos and lyric videos for songs from the new album. His new band, Nakia & The Never Not Now, holds a residency at one of Austin’s hottest clubs, C-Boy’s Heart & Soul on South Congress, delivering electrifying live performances to local and visiting music fans alike.
Nakia lives in Austin with his husband of 22 years, Robert, and their Bouvier des Flandres, Baker. He continues to inspire through his musical versatility, community leadership, and relentless creativity.
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