Nessa Barrett
moved from New Jersey to Los Angeles to be who she always wanted to be - but thought she could never be. But then she walked into a recording studio for the first time in May 2020, sat down at a piano and walked home with her first song, "Pain," a gentle yet powerful pop ballad that also introduced her to the world when her debut single was released on Warner Records just two months later.

When Barrett started writing, she discovered that even when her songs focused on complicated feelings, the act of creating was liberating. After years of shutting herself down - whether after bullying incidents, mental health struggles or wrangling with her dreams - she realized that music was the thing that made her feel at home.

About a year earlier, Barrett had begun her search in another medium and soon had 16.3 million followers on social media, but they could only get a superficial look at the 18-year-old. There she put on a bubbly facade, but as an artist she is thriving as herself: a bit of a tomboy who prefers oversized clothes, tries out a variety of genres and feels comfortable expressing darker truths.

"Pain" is the beginning of her story and was musically stripped down to give Barrett space to move in whatever direction her experiences and emotions dictate. In addition to cathartic songs like the 808-infused romantic revenge anthem "if u love me", she plans to use her platform to advocate for mental health and remind others affected that they are never alone.