Nisa is the solo project of New York based singer-songwriter Denisa Lumaj. Nisa was first inspired to begin writing songs after an old guitar teacher encouraged her to draw from the enchanting storytelling of fearless acts like PJ Harvey and the Cure in her own work. Born to Albanian immigrants in the Bronx and raised on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Nisa’s homegrown indie sound is the product of her coming-of-age in a transnational and curious household at the center of a diverse and accepting arts community. She began playing at open mic night at Sidewalk Cafe in high school, eventually joining a rock collective in college that performed regularly around Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Check out “Wheel,” (below) the staggering and dialed in new song from Nisa. With crushing guitar tone and powerful vocal charisma, Nisa cuts across a raucous bed of electric guitar tone with an exuberant low-end groove. With direct and penetrating lyrical flow, “Wheel” is a robust effort that with a full-flavored rock tone reminiscent of St. Vincent and Sharon Van Etten,
“Ferris Wheel” is about the whirlwind dynamics of a long-distance relationship, and the rollercoaster of emotions involved with trying to keep the ups and downs in check. It is inspired by the freeform garage sound embraced by the Pixies,” says Nisa.
