Atlantic Records enchanting new songstress Netta Brielle isn’t just from the Bay Area, she is the Bay Area. From Oak Town to Sucka Free City, Emeryville to keepin’ it real, the region loves its rising star and she loves it right back. As sweet and sincere as Netta may be, don’t get it twisted and misconstrued (Cali lingo) and take her kindness for weakness. The articulate Oakland native - with golden state braids falling like autumn leaves and a glowing set of the pretty brown eyes she hummingbirds about – is all about her Town Thizzness.
With a sound reminiscent of, and inspired by, classic 90’s R&B, the young pretty person pleasantly surprised the Pop planet with her breakout single “It’s The Weekend” featuring label mate B.o.B., a fun and sexy record for the city clubs and foreign whips to dance and drive to. DOPE MAG‘s new BFF sat down with editor ToneSwep, a fellow Nor Cal native, to discuss the misperception of Oakland, Netta’s upcoming debut album, rocking the DOPEST then Instagramin’ the moment, and why making love songs is easier than making love.
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(TS) “It’s The Weekend” is a big record. Label mate B.o.B. had a hot verse on there. Did you make that record to let the listeners and the label reps at Atlantic know how well you create music for contemporary urban radio in addition to classic R&B? So they wouldn’t sleep on a sister’s versatility?
(Netta) I wanted to have a mixture somewhere between traditional R&B and being young and fun, because I am still very young with a young spirit, but I also wanted to really sing on my records. The song was an opportunity to show my young side, and with B.o.B. hopping on it with one of the hottest verses I’ve heard him do, it was a DOPE collaboration.
(TS) What do you want from the game? What do you feel the game, in turn, wants from you?
(Netta) I want everything by the way. Everything! (Laughs!)… This is all I have. All I’ve worked for since I was 5-years-old. I feel like this is what I want to bring to the game, me. I want to be an inspiration to all of the young girls. Brandy, Aaliyah, TLC, they were such strong young women who we loved for their personalities and not just their looks, even though they are all very pretty. I want to be a part of that type of movement, because R&B has fallen in recent years. I want to recapture what music used to feel like, what it used to mean.
(TS) You feature several remakes of 90’s classics on your Will You Go With Me mixtape, including “Rain” by SWV, “Pretty Brown Eyes” by Mint Condition, and “Don’t Walk Away” a 90’s Jade hit.
(Netta) I wanted to pay homage, and also bring back what we’ve been missing which is classic R&B. And I also wanted to introduce myself in that space of being a singer who is inspired by that era of music. I grew up listening to that music and it has so much to do with why I sing to this day.
(TS) You are currently working on your debut album. Give us a window into the project, who are you working with and when can we expect new music and videos?
(Netta) We are almost done with the album. So expect new songs and videos soon. We’re getting ready to close it. I’m so excited! I got a chance to work with people I grew up being inspired by, like Pharrell. The R&B feel is going to heavily be there. It’s a great body of work. I’m grateful for making it out of the Bay Area and onto a major label, a lot of artists don’t make it out of the Bay Area. So I’m grateful for that and hope to open the door for other artists from the area.
(TS) You were originally discovered by the late Shakir Stewart, a fellow Oakland native. Share one invaluable lesson you learned from Shakir prior to his untimely death.
(Netta) When I went to his office and played the collection of songs I’d been working on to that point, none of the songs really connected genre-wise. I had gospel, R&B, Pop, Hip Hop. He sat me down and told me to find my lane and create music solely in that lane before branching out. That inspired me to record the way I do today, and to create a signature sound and look for myself before experimenting. And it worked.
(TS) Let’s talk about Oakland. The city is representative of so many things culturally, politically, historically, in sports, in entertainment. What does Oakland represent for you?
(Netta) The thing about the Bay Area is we have a wide range of DOPE artists in different genres of music and art, but a lot of people don’t know how involved we are in the culture because all you hear on the news is the negative sh!t. Me growing up poor, but still being able to enjoy a culturally diverse place, is what Oakland means for me: Diversity. But we were the fourth or fifth city for murders and violent crimes last year, and that is what makes the news. I want to be a part of letting people know we have more to our city. I love my city and they’ve supported me. And so many artists make money in the Bay Area. We have a great scene for independent artists.
(TS) Economically, the town is suffering like most chocolate cities due to rampant unemployment and high crime rates. But on a personal observation level, what is the biggest change you’ve recognized in Oakland now in comparison with say 10 years ago?
(Netta) I’ve seen that even talking about the Fruitvale Station movie, by director Ryan Coogler who is from the Bay, brings attention to Oakland that wasn’t going on prior to the movie. I went and saw the movie while I was in Atlanta and it was very accurate and real. Even down to the music for the score, it showed the real Oakland. I remember marching in downtown Oakland and being teargased when the Oscar Grant incident happened. I was proud when our story made it out of the Bay Area and in front of the whole world.
(TS) If you and I went on a date. Name three things that you would like for that date to consist of.
(Netta) Good conversation, gotta make me laugh with a great sense of humor. Ummm, that’s about it. I’m pretty normal. I’m a Bay girl. You know how we are.
(TS) So you’re paying? Aw, that’s perfect. Let me work on these restaurant reservations somewhere pricey.
(Netta) Wait, wait, wait, now (Laughs!). I’m probably not paying. Hold on a minute, now (Laughs!).
(TS) Is it easier to make party songs or love songs? Is it easier to party or make love?
(Netta) It’s easier to make love songs. And it’s easier to party (Laughs!). I’m a natural performer and I get a natural high from being on stage and doing what I love to do. My partying is me performing. Love songs are my favorite to create because I get to sing with a lot of emotion and passion about things I’ve been through, from heartaches and pain to joyful moments that bring tears to the eyes.
(TS) What is the single most important consistency to have in your relationships, and why?
(Netta) Communication. Good communication is most important because it makes everything easier. Easier to make decisions, get to the root of a problem, or even to celebrate a good new development. I mean, how can we even plan something great if we can’t even communicate with each other?
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Listen to NETTA BRIELLE‘s New Single “It’s The Weekend”
Visit NETTA BRIELLE‘s Official Site