Words by Matthew Buckley

Image by Lula Cucchiara

We managed to catch up with the synth-pop queen herself on the eve of her new release out today!

New Zealand based solo artist Navvy has blessed us with yet another EP ‘The Final Pieces’ tackling grief, moving on, and the importance of being Ok. We have no doubt we’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from Navvy.

With that in mind, why don’t you get to know her a bit better?

Where in the world are you based?

I currently live in Auckland, New Zealand. I used to split my time between here and London, but that is obviously not possible anymore. I'm looking to move to London in the very near future though.

How long have you been playing music?

Well, I've been a singer since I was about 8 when I started training classically. I studied voice and piano for 10 years, and then I started learning about Pop music in 2014. I've been writing my own songs since then too. 

How did you come up with going by Navvy?

It is not a good story at all, unfortunately. I saw it written on a magazine like 'NAVY' and I liked how the letters were really symmetrical. When I first released music, we realised you couldn't search for 'Navy Music' and find me, because of THE Navy. So, we added a 'v' and arrived at Navvy. 

We're in love with your new single Pieces. What influenced this concept? 

A couple of days before going into the session, I wrote a journal entry that said something like 'I'd been shattered into so many pieces when we broke up, I don't know if I'll ever be able to find them all'. When I went into the room with Rory Adams and Starsmith and we started talking, that just kind of came out. But through writing, I realised I had found them and put myself back together. It was a wonderful day. 

Would you say you have a particular style or genre of music that defines you?

I think straight down the middle 'pop' music really makes me excited. Songs like 'Teenage Dream' by Katy Perry, or 'Love You Like That' by Dagny, that are just perfectly crafted songs from start to finish. I think that has been defining for me. Also, The Beach Boys. I love their harmonies and lyrics. I love them.

Are there any artists that inspire your sound? Your biggest musical influences?

Yeah, no doubt. I am really inspired by Robyn, and the way she can write these incredibly sad songs that just make you want to dance. I also listen to a lot of Julia Michaels; her honesty really speaks to me. My biggest musical influence is no doubt Taylor Swift. Her entire career. A masterclass in how to be a wonderful person while also being one of the greatest artists. 

What has been your favourite venue to play so far?

Here at home I love The Tuning Fork. I have been lucky enough to play there a handful of times, and I just love it. It has carpet and there's something about that that makes me smile so much.

Biggest career highlight?

That is a hard question. I think that when I first started university, I really wanted to play my own music overseas. It has been so wild to have played in London a few times, and also in Australia. The shows here mean a lot too, but there is something about being in a new city and not knowing anyone in the crowd that is wild to me. 

Dream collaboration? 

Taylor Swift. I don't even know what we'd do, but I think it would be wonderful whatever it was.

Anything else?

I have a new EP out on the 4th of September ! It's called 'The Final Pieces' and I absolutely love it. I talk about a lot in this EP, like grief, and moving on, and realising it is OK to not have the ability to always be there for everyone all the time.

 Check out Navvy and 'The Final Pieces' below!