SPOTLIGHT: NBDY
Meet Nobdy and tune into his newest single “My Guitar!”
You’ve released a new song every single month for the past 22 months; that’s incredible. How has that pace shaped your growth as both a songwriter and a performer?
It’s been a challenge, but also the best kind of pressure. Releasing monthly forced me to stop overthinking and just create. It taught me how to trust my instincts, finish songs, and let them go, instead of sitting on a hard drive forever. As a performer, it’s kept things fresh. Each song adds a new emotion or energy to my live set, and I’ve grown a lot figuring out how to bring those to life onstage.
Consistency is hard in music. What keeps you inspired enough to write, record, and drop a new track every month?
Life doesn’t really slow down, and I think my music reflects that. I’m constantly processing things through songs, whether it’s love, change, confusion, whatever. That monthly schedule has been a way to document my life in real time. And honestly, hearing from listeners who connect with the lyrics keeps me motivated every time.
You've described your lyrics as feeling like they’re straight from a best friend’s notes app. How do you balance honesty with storytelling?
I try to write the way I’d talk to someone I trust, that’s where the “notes app” vibe comes from. The honesty is real, but I also like shaping moments into something poetic or bigger than just me. Sometimes I’ll exaggerate a detail or combine a few different feelings into one story, it’s all rooted in truth, just told in a way that hopefully resonates beyond my own experience.
From Rhode Island to Maine to Boston, venues like Middle East Downstairs. How has New England shaped your identity as an artist?
New England’s got this quiet resilience to it. There’s beauty, but also grit, long winters, rocky coasts, small towns. That duality has definitely seeped into my sound. Playing local shows here taught me how to connect with people in an intimate way. The crowds aren’t fake; you earn every cheer. It’s shaped how I write and perform.
With over 2 million streams, you’ve built a loyal audience. What do you think draws people to your music?
I think people just want to feel something that feels real. My songs aren’t overly polished or trying to be trendy. They’re vulnerable, sometimes messy, and I think that’s relatable. I try to say the things most people feel but don’t always have the words for.
Your sound ranges from emotional acoustic ballads to explosive indie-pop tracks. How do you decide which direction a song will take?
It’s usually the lyrics that decide. Some words need to sit gently with just a guitar, and others need to be screamed with drums behind them. I love having that range because emotions aren’t one-dimensional and I want my sound to reflect that.
You’re known for high-energy shows and even crowd surfing. What’s your favorite live performance memory so far?
“The Sonia” in Boston was my first time performing in Massachusetts, and the energy in that room was unreal. It was one of those crowds that just got it, singing the lyrics back, jumping with me, matching every beat. I even ended up crowd surfing for the first time during one of my favorite songs. It felt like everything clicked that night, like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. Definitely a core memory.
“My Guitar” is your newest single. What inspired the track, and what does a guitar represent in your life and music?
That song’s about using music to process everything when you don’t know how else to deal. My guitar has always been my outlet, it’s seen every version of me. The good, the bad, the lost. This track is like a love letter to that relationship.
“A Tall Tale” sounds like it could have some narrative weight behind it. Is it drawn from real life or more imagined?
It’s a mix. The core of it comes from a real situation, but I pushed it into something more cinematic. It’s about watching someone rewrite history to make themselves feel better and trying to make peace with it, even when it hurts.
Can you share anything about the meaning behind “Vacationland” and how it fits into your current era of releases?
“Vacationland” is one of my favorite songs I’ve made, it’s a love letter to Maine. The title comes from the slogan on Maine license plates, and I wanted the track to feel like a true Maine anthem. It’s got that warm, laid-back summer energy, like you’ve got your feet in the sand and the ocean breeze on your face. It fits perfectly into the summer vibe I’m leaning into right now, and I’m extra excited about it because it drops on my birthday. Just feels like the right time and the right sound.
Your fans have stuck with you through nearly two years of monthly drops. How do you keep that connection strong both online and off?
I try to show up as myself. Whether that’s replying to DMs, sharing voice memos, or just being honest online, I think people can tell when you’re being real. Live shows are huge for that connection too, nothing beats sharing those songs in the same room as the people who’ve been listening all along. Thats the beauty of being on the come-up, no matter how busy life gets, I’m still able to connect with each and every one of my fans and im so grateful for that.
You have a warm, nostalgic tone to your sound. What artists or albums did you grow up with that shaped that feeling?
Blink 182, Justin Bieber, Jack Johnson, Brunos Mars Doo Wops and Hooligans album, all those records made me feel seen and had an impact on how I approach music. They weren’t afraid to be emotional or tell stories, and I think that gave me permission to write the same way.
What do you think surprises new listeners the most about your music or your live shows?
People usually assume it’ll be super mellow based on the acoustic stuff, but live, the energy is wild. We jump, we scream, we crowd surf. There’s softness in the songs, but also release. I think the contrast catches people off guard in a good way.
When you're not writing or performing, what helps you reset creatively?
Honestly, scootering is my go-to when I need to clear my head. I’ve been riding since I was a little kid, and it’s still one of my favorite things in the world. There’s just something about it that makes everything else fade away. I throw on some music or just cruise in silence, and for a little while, I’m not thinking about anything—just riding. The ocean helps too, or going on random drives, or being around friends who don’t care at all about the music industry. But scootering? That’s the one thing that always brings me back to myself and makes it easy to be creative.
With new music on the way and a growing fanbase, what’s your biggest goal for the next year of your career?
I want to release a full-length project, something that tells a bigger story. I also want to tour more, especially outside of New England, and meet more of the people who’ve been supporting from afar. Building a real community through the music, that’s the goal.
Listen to Nobdy here.
