Nadia Reid is a musician, originally from Port Chalmers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Nadia has been a friend of ours for a long time. Her reflective lyrics and dreamy soundscapes often soar through the Kowtow stores. Now living in Manchester, with a new album due to be released early next year, she’s returning to our shores to tour across New Zealand and Australia. We spoke to Nadia in anticipation of her first show back home.
Kowtow Loves is a regular series that spotlights intellectual crushes, thought leaders and humble challengers. In this series we speak to people we love, admire and are inspired by.
Can you describe your style in three words?
Comfort, well-made, well-loved.
How do you approach getting dressed?
I wish I had a romantic answer to this.
Currently, for my everyday life, I throw on pieces that make me feel held-in, and ready to tackle the day. Tight yoga pants and my oversized Kowtow knitted vests.
For stage time, I go for powerful, bold, often black, or darker colours. I have a pair of Italian boots I wear on stage 99% of the time. I found them in an op-shop years ago. They act as a sort of good luck talisman now.
We’re so excited to see you are touring NZ & AU this November. What are you most looking forward to about summer in Aotearoa?
- That beautiful sun shining down on the long white cloud.
- Great coffee!
- To see my familiar audiences and my beloved band.
- To soak up vitamin D before returning to the UK winter.
- To be back on stage performing new songs is going to be enlivening. I’m so ready.
We can’t wait! Your lyrics are always so detailed and inspiring, do you have a creative process that you follow? Or does it change per project or song?
For each record I’ve made (I’m coming up on four now), there has been a different approach which has related to my age or whatever has been going on in those years prior.
My first two records hold a lot of heartbreak, and longing, and as I’ve grown those feelings have changed too. With my new album (out 07/02/25) I’ve been able to combine joy, sorrow, longing, and pain into song. And also my renewed razor focus that motherhood has brought me, is in there as well.
What helps you when you are lacking in creative inspiration?
It’s cliche but, nature - seriously. Walking, running (I’m new to running - I think it’s the repetition I love…one, two, one two, left, right, left, right).
The beach, and getting alone. Which is harder now with two little ones. But I relish that time. I’m so protective of my own time and space. I truly need it to get my thoughts in order. I get energy from being alone and I get energy from being on stage. They both work in alignment together.
