Neffy

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Mecca Russell, known professionally as Neffy, is a singer-songwriter from Arlington, Virginia.

Contents

In 2021, she won the NPR Tiny Desk Contest. [1]

Career

Neffy was a musical child who sang frequently. [2] She has described her father as the “epitome of a music encyclopedia" who taught her about R&B and soul. At age 12, Neffy's mother gave her her first guitar, which she taught herself to play. [3] At age 13, she wrote her first song. [2] She sang in a choir in high school which was called, "Magicals". [4]

From 2015 to 2020, she attended the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School. [4] [3]

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Neffy performed over 100 concerts on the East Coast. [4]

In 2020, she won a grant from Emergent Seed, a DC arts organization, to support her music. [5]

NPR Tiny Desk Contest

In 2021, Neffy submitted a video of her playing her original song "Wait Up," to the NPR Tiny Desk Contest. [6] Tiny Desk creator, Bob Boilen, said, “Neffy’s song stood out amongst the thousands of 2021 Tiny Desk Contest entries as a universal cry to break free of constraints and celebrate nature's beauty. With an acoustic guitar and that uplifting voice, Neffy wowed our judges.” [7] The judging panel consisted of Boilen, Tobe Nwigwe, Phoebe Bridgers, and four other judges. [7] Neffy previously entered the Tiny Desk Contest in 2018 and 2020. [4]

Neffy faced unique challenges winning the contest during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. She was able to film an NPR Tiny Desk set, but with only the All Songs Considered production team present as an audience. [8] She has shared that the pandemic has been difficult for independent artists. In 2022, she released the song, “I Lost My Nerve” about these struggles. [9]

Discography

Albums
TitleYearSource
I Don't Miss You2020 [10]
Singles
TitleYearSource
“Wait Up”2021 [11]
“I Lost My Nerve”2022 [9]

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References

  1. ↑ "Singer-Songwriter Neffy, Arlington Native, Wins NPR's Tiny Desk Contest". DCist. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  2. 1 2 Blitz, Matt. "Green Valley Native Neffy Wins NPR's Tiny Desk Contest". Arlington Now.
  3. 1 2 Eim, Don (2016-09-22). "Free Press Live: Neffy, Episode 5". The New School Free Press. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "2021 Tiny Desk Contest Winner Neffy's Journey to the Top". District Fray. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  5. ↑ "Meet the Winners of Micro-Grants for DC-Area Writers and Musicians Affected by the Pandemic". Washingtonian. 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  6. ↑ Louise Kelly, Mary (2021). "Meet Neffy, The Winner Of The 2021 Tiny Desk Contest". NPR.
  7. 1 2 "Neffy Wins 2021 NPR Tiny Desk Contest". Music Connection Magazine. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  8. ↑ Boilen, Bob. "Neffy: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR.
  9. 1 2 Severs, Sophie (2022-11-18). "Interview: With Head Held High, Neffy Confidently Loses Her Nerve". Atwood Magazine. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  10. ↑ "Neffy Wins NPR Music 2021 Tiny Desk Contest". NPR.
  11. ↑ "Neffy, 'Wait Up'". NPR.
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