Cultured, cerebral and gifted are just a few adjectives that come to mind when describing Nyla Thorbourne. Piercing beauty paired with powerful verbal linguistic capabilities as a songwriter have enabled Nyla to charter a unique course to success in the entertainment industry, but her effectual dynamism surpasses the confines of music. The St.Andrew High School past student is an emblematic representation of the institution’s Life More Abundant motto as she expands her consummate creative endeavors from music to the realms of interior design. It is not unnatural for creatives to engage in multiple facets of artistic expression but very few, especially from Jamaica, have done it as seamlessly, gracefully and with the level of exactitude that Nyla has done it.
At the core of Nyla’s essence is her inexhaustible commitment to family life. The genetic advantages of being a Thorbourne woman are evidenced in the mesmeric allure of Nyla and her sisters Nyanda, Tasha and Candace. The allure runs deeper than just exquisite physical appearances and the Thorbourne family places a strong premium on balancing artistic expression with formal education hence why Nyla pursued a Marketing degree at Miami Dade College before breaking onto the music scene in 2007 with Love Is Wicked. Now with a son of her own, Liam is the optimum source of Nyla’s existential and creative inspiration continuing the Thorbourne tradition of being family-oriented.
As we conversed with Nyla, it wasn’t hard to tell by her eloquence why she is so successful as a songwriter. Her erudite command of the language is substantiated by unique, mellifluous vocals which have thrust her to the top of music charts all around the world reflected in the success of tracks like Stand Up, Body Calling, Light It Up ft Major Lazer & Fuse) and Shape of You Remix with Ed Sheeran and Kranium. Where as most would rest on their laurels on the basis of these outstanding musical achievements, Nyla’s insatiable desire to be multi-faceted led her to pursue another degree, this time in interior design at Penn Foster College in Scottsdale, Arizona. Subsequently, she started her own interior design firm – Nailah Talitha Interiors. Since then she has been working assiduously at balancing motherhood, continuing her decorated music career and being an interior designer. Her new single with Charly Blacks, Go Hard and Done is more than just another one of Nyla’s musical masterpieces but more of an anthem that is indicative of her current state of mind and all roundedness.
Carib Voxx : Both you and Charly Blacks can be included in a very elite conversation within the Jamaican music space. In many ways the international success of Charly’s “Party Animal” can be likened to the international success of “Love is Wicked”. Did that commonality shape your decision to collaborate?
Nyla: I think it’s a co-incidence that you drew that parallel between the success of Party Animal and Love Is Wicked. Initially I was just focused on writing a record and it was Jugglerz- the German Djs/ producers that put Charly and I together. I guess we could say it’s a scenario of serendipity the way Charly and I connected musically, seeing that Love Is Wicked and Party Animal have had similar pop/dancehall success. I think that I have an innate proclivity towards the pop/dancehall sound when I’m writing and I think Charly has that as well, which is maybe why Go Hard & Done worked so well.
Carib Voxx: The syncopation and rhythmic patterns in the beat for Go Hard & Done channels a noticeable Reggaeton vibe. How much influence did “Jugglerz ” have in that decision and tell us about their involvement in the project?
Nyla : Reggaeton and Dancehall are really interchangeable genres of music. Jugglerz are German DJ’s so that sound could just be their interpretation of rhythmic music. I didn’t have a direct hand in terms of the production aspect of the song so I don’t know exactly what their influences were, but of course Reggaeton and Dancehall have infiltrated the world and a lot of international rhythmic records all that undertone and embodiment of Reggaeton and Dancehall elements.
Carib Voxx: You’ve been an exemplary advocate of fusion music in the Jamaican space since the early 2000’s. What is it about your musical philosophy that facilitates this commitment to fusion?
Nyla: It really just stems from the musical influences that I’ve had growing up. We were a household that listened to a myriad of different genres. So I think innately that’s what we express in our music. We always say “you need input to create output” not just in an auditory space but also in a visual space. My father played guitar and piano and my mom sings so I always had that appreciation. My mom is from New York so I got that cultural duality growing up hearing her play Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion while also hearing Reggae legends like Bob Marley and later on being moved by that dancehall culture and spirit that’s in everybody, lol.
Carib Voxx: Your decision to start your own interior design agency is reflective of the quintessential dynamism of a Caribbean woman. What inspired this decision to be an interior designer?
Nyla: Well that’s so crazy that you asked me that. So my father is actually an architect by trade and definitely has a musical side to him as well. Interior Designing I’ve always loved and it’s a craft that is also a part of the creative space. It’s more about visual creativity as opposed to auditory and even though I always had a love for interior design I didn’t know how to articulate it. Maybe it’s a part of growing up in Jamaica too – we have some beautiful homes and villas in Jamaica and I was subconsciously inspired by the intriguing architecture on the island. I didn’t even know that interior design was a viable career path until I lived in Canada, I used to watch this show all the time called Trading Spaces and I would be so fascinated by how they would just transform each other’s homes. It really burgeoned when I started touring with Nyanda. We started falling in love with the architecture and visual art across Europe and Africa. I just love the visual aspect of creativity. I think innately though, I am a curator and whether it be in the music space or the visual art space; I just love putting things together. I love to walk into a space that feels good and I love to see a transformation of space. I just think it’s the most beautiful thing because your space really affects you psychologically, it can really alter your mood.
Carib Voxx: Understanding the rudimentary principles and elements of art and design are applicable in multiple contexts. How did the knowledge of music and songwriting help your transition into interior designing?
Nyla: As I said before I think it’s all about curating. It’s about putting elements together so in visual design some the elements are texture, colour, shape and line while in music some of the elements are melody, rhythm and lyrics. All of these things are a culmination of artistic content which contributes to your creative intellect. It’s like putting pieces of a puzzle together. When I studied design I had to draw bubble diagrams and floor plans. It goes from a bubble to blocks then you start spacing them out and inputting elements to make the space come to life. It’s similar with music. When you go into the studio, you’re really working from a blank canvas or blank palette. You can utter different melodies over a track then start picking out which ones work best and then you start to shuffle them around. So it’s similar in that way, as I said it’s like a puzzle. It creates this picture then you layer it. In the same way you can layer your vocals in music, you can layer your space in interior design.
Carib Voxx: How do you balance your time as a mother while pursuing your career as an artist, songwriter and as an interior designer?
Nyla: I am a mother first and foremost. When I had my son, the whole situation changed so, I’m a mom first and everything falls under that. It’s definitely a challenge! I think it was easier before the pandemic but because my son can’t be in daycare it’s been difficult. I am at the point where I have to learn to say NO! I can’t do everything and no one can do it all. Sometimes you really have to set boundaries and figure out if things are worth your time and energy. That’s apart of the challenge of an entrepreneur. Knowing when to say I can do it, I can’t do this or I can’t do this right now and you just have to be resolute in that.
