Photo by Catalin Stelian

Exclusive: Singer-songwriter Nakia’s new soulful tune inspires you to ‘Dream Big’

27th August 2021 Kyle Jackson

Beary talented singer-songwriter Nakia is back with a soulful inspirational tune for all you dreamers out there!

In a Bear World Magazine exclusive, we are bringing you the video for Nakia’s brand spanking new song “Dream Big.” The song are inspired by Nakia’s own experiences growing up as a “queer brown kid in Alabama”, and chasing his dreams all the way to the stage of the hit television show The Voice in 2011.

“This was the first song I wrote after leaving season one of The Voice back in 2011,” says Nakia. “I called up my ol’ pal Bleu (Jonas Brothers, Big Freedia, Demi Lovato) and headed over to his apartment in Santa Monica for a writing session the weekend after the season finale. Upon arrival, Bleu told me he had dreamt most of the chorus the night before and that he immediately began working on it when he woke up.”

Due to a management disagreement, the song was shelved for years. This year, Nakia is celebrating a decade since his appearance on The Voice, and he thought it was the right time to revisit the song.

“As I was digging through audio and video files to share with fans, I found the original demo again and knew I had to ask Bleu to finish the track and give it a proper release,” says Nakia.

In the video, Nakia has also decided to give a proper nod to his appreciation and respect for larger bodies and the importance of body positivity by depicting moments inspired by his life using actors of larger body types to portray characters.

“There were many concepts discussed for the video,” says Nakia. “But the one that writer, director and actor, Joshua R. Pangborn, and I kept coming back to was me portraying a photographer, running a photo shoot where moments from this song were depicted by actors in dramatic recreations.”

“Catalin Stelian did an amazing job capturing the entire thing on camera and editing the video, and I am so proud to share it with the world.”

Check out “Dream Big” on Bandcamp.

Watch the video below on YouTube, and look closely — you may just see someone (me)!

If you’re in the Austin area next Thursday, September 2nd, Nakia will be playing a free, socially distanced outdoor show with his brand new band at the Long Center.