Alternative Pop Star Nxdia Promises No One’s Watching

In today's alt-pop landscape, where genre lines blur and aesthetics often outrun authenticity, Nxdia is a rare standout. The Manchester-based artist is building something that feels less like a trend and more like a personal revolution, mixing vulnerability, sharp-edged production, and cultural nuance into a sound that's entirely their own. With roots that stretch from Egypt to the UK and a perspective shaped by queerness and dual identity, Nxdia isn't interested in fitting in. They're here to make space, and their music is doing precisely that.

Born in Heliopolis, a district of Cairo, Nxdia spent their formative years amid the rhythms and stories of Egypt's capital. Living next to the Roxy Cinema in Heliopolis, they drew early inspiration from nearby films, sketching characters and penning poems that would later influence their songwriting.

As a child, Nxdia kept diaries and songwriting journals, transforming introspection into lyrical expression long before they ever considered a music career. At age eight, Nxdia and their family relocated to Manchester, a move that would set the stage for their artistic journey across two continents.

Relocating to Manchester at eight years old marked a turning point in Nxdia's life. The cultural shift was immediate and disorienting, but it also opened up a new world of creative possibilities. In a city known for its rich musical legacy, Nxdia found space to explore their identity more openly and began gravitating toward alternative and indie sounds. Music quickly evolved from a private outlet into a serious pursuit.

Nxdia started uploading covers online, experimenting with production, and gradually developing a sound that blended their early influences with the raw energy of the UK alt-pop scene. As their confidence grew, so did their ambition. What began as bedroom recordings soon evolved into polished, genre-bending tracks that reflected both their origins and the direction they were taking.

Their breakout moment came when “She Likes a Boy” went viral on TikTok, racking up millions of views and streams before it even saw an official release. The platform became more than just a tool for exposure; it was a space where Nxdia’s openness about identity and emotion resonated deeply, especially within the queer community. Their viral hits and unfiltered presence helped them cultivate a genuine connection with listeners, turning online momentum into real-world impact.

Still, Nxdia resists the idea of “TikTok music” as a formula. “You can absolutely tell when people are just trying to play it by numbers,” they explain, “also, there’s so much variety with the music that has blown up on TikTok in the past year.” For them, it’s less about chasing trends and more about creating moments that feel honest; reflections of who they are, and who they’re becoming.

During a backstage moment at Bludfest, Nxdia spoke candidly with Bleu about their evolution as both an artist and a person. "I've learned to embrace every part: the highs, the lows, the growth."

Bludfest wasn't just a special performance for Nxdia; it was a milestone. The set marked one of the first times they performed songs from their debut project, I Promise, No One's Watching, in front of a live crowd. For an artist whose work is deeply rooted in vulnerability and inner dialogue, sharing that body of music on stage was both nerve-wracking and affirming.

"The crowd was incredible, and they were all jumping and excited and so up for it. I just needed it,” Nxdia shared. “I feel sometimes you give so much as an artist, and you overthink so much about what people are taking and giving back. It was so clear with them."

The mixtape, which navigates themes of queerness, anxiety, and self-acceptance, was never meant to be background noise; it was written to be felt. At Bludfest, surrounded by a crowd that sang back lyrics and held space for that emotion, Nxdia experienced what they described as a full-circle moment: music that once lived privately in their head now echoing through a festival tent, unapologetically loud and undeniably theirs.

At its core, I Promise, No One's Watching is an act of quiet defiance, an offering to anyone who's ever felt paralyzed by their self-awareness. For Nxdia, the project was born out of a year-long fog: a period when they felt disconnected from themselves, as if a stranger was living inside their mind. "Honestly, I think I just felt like I had this weird parasite in my brain," Nxdia tells Bleu backstage at Bludfest.

The mixtape became a way to process that disorientation, asking questions that cut deep: Is this just a part of adulthood? Why does it feel like this? Beneath the alt-pop hooks and genre shifts lies a constant thread wrestling with the hyper-visibility of modern life, the fear of being watched, judged, and never quite measuring up. By naming the mixtape I Promise, No One's Watching, Nxdia wasn't just reassuring listeners; they were trying to convince themselves, too.

"You can't decide how people will react to you, and if they do bloody react badly, fuck ‘em," said Nxdia. "At the end of the day, you're not going to be thinking about this on your deathbed."

That tension between wanting to retreat and needing to be seen threads through the songs that resonate most with Nxdia, both personally and with their listeners. Lately, they've found themselves gravitating toward "Boo, Nevermind," a track that mirrors the quiet irritations of daily life. "When I'm walking around the tube underground and everyone does a stand-still, I reckon ‘Boo, Nevermind’ is the song that speaks to me … like just fuck off," Nxdia shares with a grin. Then there's "Nothing at All," a softer, more internal moment on the mixtape. "I feel like my head is just empty, always," Nxdia tells Bleu.

Though Nxdia has their personal favorites, the song they hoped would land most with fans is "Feel Anything." Written without expectation, the track's chaotic half-aching lullaby, half-frenzied structure mirrors the cycles of mania and burnout Nxdia knows all too well.

"A lot of people say what the fuck is this track about and don't get it, but a lot of people who have also experienced manic depressive episodes have reached out and said, yo this is exactly how this feels when it’s in my brain." Nxdia continues adding, "You can't sleep, you can't eat, you can't fucking do anything, but you feel incredible … and then the next minute you're in bed for like three days."

That kind of emotional honesty could easily feel like the closing of a chapter, like a purge, but for Nxdia, it's only the beginning. The project was described by Nxdia as "pushing the door open a little bit," adding, "with the next thing, I'm gonna kick it ajar." There's a sense that I Promise, No One's Watching wasn't about tying things up but about cracking something open, making space for mess, discomfort, and transformation. Now that the door's been nudged open, Nxdia isn't backing away from it. They're charging through.

Looking ahead, Nxdia is embracing the festival season with excitement and gratitude. Reflecting on her experience at Bludfest, they shared, "I just wanted to see people and say hi to everyone. It's a big festival stage, and I'm new to playing live in that way. I'm even new to just having a festival season; this is my first proper one! I wanted to enjoy that moment with my amazing band, and I think I did. I had the best time."

With a whole festival season ahead, they're eager to keep that energy alive: "It's gonna be a lot of shows, and I'm so excited," Nxdia tells Bleu. Each performance is more than just a set of songs; it's a living, breathing conversation between Nxdia and their audience, a space where vulnerability meets strength and stories unfold in real time. The raw honesty of Nxdia's album isn't confined to studio walls; it will travel with them, carrying on the voices of those who listen and feel its truth.

In opening the door with I Promise, No One's Watching, Nxdia hasn't just invited change; they've embodied it. The festival season ahead is both a celebration and a challenge: a journey into new territory, where every note played and every word sung pushes the door wider, cracks it open further, and calls others to step inside. For Nxdia, this is only the beginning, and the road ahead is wide open, full of possibility, and charged with the electric pulse of what's yet to come.