Q&A: UNA MIA Soars New Heights and Becomes Her Own Hero in “AIRBORNE” EP
FINDING HER WINGS — Alt-R&B and pop singer UNA MIA may have only made her music debut less than a year ago, but her impact is undeniable. She has released her debut EP AIRBORNE is a seven-track body of work describing a narrative of self-discovery and liberation, charting a coming of age journey that melds the turbulence of the past with the anticipation of the future.
At its core, the project is a testament to healing and reclaiming personal freedom. Each song delves into UNA MIA’s personal odyssey from the throes of adolescence to the precipice of adulthood, encapsulating the intricate evolution of a young woman carving out her identity in her 20s.
Embarking on her new journey, UNA MIA has devoted herself to creating her most honest and vulnerable songs yet. UNA MIA explains the project serves as a personal reflection – written in the style of diary entries – and tells an emotionally beautiful story.
“It’s all about taking flight,” she says. “I felt really lost and it was very much in the form of diary entries. I wanted to write these big songs, but I couldn't come from a place that wasn't from truth and I had to draw on everything – all the hardship, all the new experiences and new people in my life. It's really about having faith in the journey and it's that symbolism of finally empowering yourself to go up.”
The opening track, “Promised Land,” sets the tone for the EP with its ethereal production and introspective lyrics. UNA MIA’s soulful vocals draw listeners into her world, where she navigates the complexities of finding her place in the world. The song serves as a declaration of self-awareness, marking the beginning of her journey toward personal freedom.
For UNA MIA, AIRBORNE represents taking flight and launching herself into the world as she discovers her freedom and inner healing. Moody and sensitive, yet assertive and honest, the project is a coming of age tale centered around personal growth, fighting for one's autonomy, navigating womanhood and coming to terms with an unknown future.
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, what inspires your artistic style and sound?
UNA: I have so many different influences, but I'd say the first and foremost is the blues. My mom would play a lot of Aretha, Etta James and Muddy Waters. There was always R&B music playing in my house and my parents are also from the Balkan area, and there's a lot of Balkan folk music playing growing up. Then growing up, I really loved modern R&B and I loved taking in all its different phases as a teenager and I was very much hit with everything new coming out. I also look up to the huge pop stars as well like Beyonce and Lady Gaga, and people who are more alternative R&B like SZA and Brent Faiyaz, so a wide assortment of the different eras of R&B for sure. I do listen to so many different genres of music and try to keep my palette refreshed all the time. I'd say alternative R&B and pop genres when put together are definitely influencing my sound.
LUNA: What kind of atmosphere or emotional space do you aim to create for your listeners?
UNA: The general theme of AIRBORNE is taking flight and being your own hero, so just inspiring people to go after what they've always wanted to do and shedding any limiting beliefs or toxic influences that holds them back from pursuing that. I went through this journey of hiding my love for music for years and even though I took and studied classical voice for a while and participated in musical events growing up, I feel like my actual love for R&B shines on its own. I was so scared to do that. I went to school and I took a different route because my parents were highly encouraging an academic route. I tried that out, but most of the time of me being in school was trying to create my own music and uploading covers. I wanted to connect with other creatives. During my third year, I couldn’t do it anymore and had to listen to my heart and take a risk. I feel like the atmosphere that this EP creates is that you take a risk on what you love and you'll never know if you don't try. It comes directly from personal experience.
LUNA: You just released your debut EP AIRBORNE and a huge congratulations is in order. Can you walk me through the inspiration behind the project?
UNA: It’s all about taking flight. I feel like it was me navigating my early 20s as a woman. I felt really lost and it was very much in the form of diary entries. I wanted to write these big songs, but I couldn't come from a place that wasn't from truth and I had to draw on everything – all the hardship, all the new experiences and new people in my life. I'm really grateful to have had a small yet strong team, which has helped me express my vulnerable side. It's really about having faith in the journey and it's that symbolism of finally empowering yourself to go up
LUNA: What was your favorite part of the process or a favorite memory from bringing AIRBORNE to fruition that you would like to share?
UNA: All the late nights with my music team and really digging to develop as an artist, but there's so many touch points in this journey that I've loved performing on COLORS X STUDIO, which was a huge milestone because I literally had it in the center of my vision board. I was manifesting it and working on visualizing that in my mind for so long. When I heard about the opportunity, I was like, ‘oh my god, this is so crazy.’ You can really manifest whatever you desire. I think for me, it was the general growth arc as an artist. I'm not the same person I was when I started this. I was just very new and I had some growing up I had to do. I'm really proud of myself and my team. I feel like it's all those late nights working that are my favorite.
LUNA: What is your favorite song from AIRBORNE and why do you love it? Is there a certain lyric or message that stands out to you the most?
UNA: I really like them all for their own reasons. I'd say “Promised Land” because we decided to make it the intro because it directly outlines those themes I was talking about. It's all about like, ‘I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going. I feel so lost right now. I trust and have faith in God that I'm going to get to this promised land and have this outcome that I dream of.’ I love the melody, it's so simple, but it's really powerful with the lyrics. I'm taking myself back from this toxic relationship, and finally having the courage to get it out. I just really connected with the lyrics of that one.
LUNA: What was the hardest song for you to write, either lyrically, emotionally or sonically?
UNA: “Sorry 4 U” because it's about a family member, and it's about accepting them as they are right and realizing you can't change somebody. It's up to them to change. It came from a really vulnerable place, and I had to give it a few tries when I was writing it, but I felt very brave just releasing that and adding it to my project because it's something you wish you could say to somebody who's not willing to hear it, but they hear it. It just touches me.
LUNA: Was there any intention in the way you structured the songs in the way you did with “Promised Land” being the opener and “Sorry 4 U” being the closing track?
UNA: “Promise Land,” I feel like it sets the tone for the project and what I was personally going through. All the other songs in between are the waves of emotion and growth and different experiences that you can have as a young woman. “Sorry 4 U” was letting go of that person. I feel like it was fitting to make it the last one because it had this sense of closure to it.
LUNA: What messages, emotions or story do you hope your listeners can take away from the EP?
UNA: Simply to just be your own hero, and don't let anyone hold you back or diminish your dreams, or tell you that they just discourage you. Don't let anyone discourage you and be airborne. Believe in yourself and that you can make it off the ground on your own and by trusting that, you will attract the right people at all the right circumstances. So, just having a really strong sense of belief in yourself.
LUNA: Since this is your debut EP release, how has the support been from your friends, family and listeners?
UNA: It's been so good. Honestly, it warms my heart to see everybody's support come through and it took some time honestly from some close ones, but they came around. It's been overwhelmingly positive. I'm really grateful and the fans have been so amazing and more people are learning about my music every day, so it makes me really happy as well. Everything's been really good.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the rest of the year look like that you would like to share with Luna?
UNA: I feel like I have an exciting rest of the year. I have some shows lined up. I just announced my first headlining show in Toronto. And it's going to be at the Drake Underground and it feels full circle for me because I opened for other artists from Toronto. I'm excited for that show. I also am in the Corona Capital lineup in Mexico, so that's just really exciting and just to see my name next to certain artists. It makes me really happy. We're lining up some other shows as well, and we'll see what happens with that.
