NECTA Talks All Things GIRLHOOD

The eccentric electronic artist breaks down her new album and describes how making it “shaped a vision for the next few years.”

Photo courtesy of NECTA

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “NECTA is ___” or “NECTA’s music is ___”?
“NECTA’s music is catharsis.” I’ve always found comfort in the sense of release that comes from explosive sounds, and I wanted my album to offer that kind of emotional relief.

Who or what first inspired you to pursue a music career?
I had ADHD growing up, so I was kind of seen as a weird kid at school. That made me pretty introverted. But whenever I sang, I could feel that people responded to me differently, that I was being recognized. I think that really stayed with me. I’ve always had a strong desire to be seen and understood, and music became the one place where that felt natural. Over time, it just became the most familiar way to express myself, and that’s when I realized I wanted to be a singer-songwriter.

What three words or phrases best describe your new album, GIRLHOOD?
“Girl,” “Rebel,” [and] “Underground.”

How much did the overall creative vision for GIRLHOOD change while you worked on it? 
It actually turned out better than I first imagined. I think I let go of trying to package myself too much, and that led to something more honest and a bit tougher in the end. The producers really brought a lot into the arrangements, and the engineers’ mixing and mastering was honestly incredible. Also, I realized that I’m more responsible than I expected when it comes to leading a project. Working on a full-length album made me think more seriously about my direction. It feels like I shaped a vision for the next few years through this process.

How is GIRLHOOD similar and different compared to your previous releases?
If Seoul Bizarre was about the chaos and confusion that the city of Seoul threw at me, then GIRLHOOD feels like a shift inward. In this album, NECTA is no longer reacting to external stimuli. Instead, I’m designing my own desires and the ways I express them. You could think of it as the inner world of the narrator from “Seoul Trash Girl.”

Did you get any feedback or advice while making GIRLHOOD? 
I was really hard on myself throughout the process. It’s not that I lacked confidence, but I kept thinking about how to make the best possible version of the album. I asked for a lot of advice from fellow artists and producers who really understood my potential. Through that, I realized it’s okay to push beyond my comfort zone, and I leaned into that [mindset] a lot while making this record.

Photo courtesy of NECTA

Please talk about each song on GIRLHOOD!

“THAT GIRL” [NECTA & Lemac]: Built on a rough, hard-groove rhythm, with provocative vocal samples layered on top and NECTA’s laid-back vocals, we wanted to present a new kind of soundscape that both of us are exploring. The lyrics may sound like they’re talking about anxiety, but at the same time, they also feel like a declaration, setting up the album’s theme in a very direct way.

“THE BOY IS MINE” [NECTA & Lemac]: This was the first pre-release single from the album. You’ll hear NECTA almost like she’s casting a spell, repeating “That boy is mine” over relentless, ear-catching synth textures and heavy drums.

“LOVEY DOVEY” 
NECTA: I kind of disguised it as humor, but it’s really me saying everything I wanted to say to my ex without holding back.
Lemac: I think this track carries the most catchy and stylish moment on the album. By combining addictive vocal loops with a fluid, rolling bassline, I wanted it to feel like a dense party track where you can just move your body without overthinking.

“TONGUES ON FIRE” (ft. YOUHA)
NECTA: This is about rock bottom, but from an observer’s point of view.
Lemac: We deconstructed the grammar of house and techno, then reassembled those fragments into an experimental soundscape. With rhythmic variations and digital glitch elements, we wanted to break the typical structure of club music and create a sense of sonic release.

“MAKE IT UP” [NECTA & 030]: We wanted to fully lean into that exaggerated, almost over-the-top confidence, like really enjoying how good you are. The rising synths and NECTA’s playful, slightly cheeky vocals come together here, marking the bold transition into producer 030’s section of the album.

“MATERIAL” [030]: Since we used Latin percussion, the track naturally ended up having that kind of loose, cheeky energy. True to the title,  it feels like saying, “This is me, what are you gonna do about it?” I think it’s a track that pretty much anyone can enjoy.

“NEW YEAR’S EVE” 
NECTA: This is probably the most personal track on the album. It’s also the only one where I’m actually singing in a more traditional sense. I wanted to show someone completely overwhelmed by love, inside this almost tearing, explosive sound.
030: We tried to express thick, internal emotions through screaming-like vocals and synths. The arrangement is minimal but made up of very assertive sounds. It’s a track both of us are really attached to.

“YOU’RE SO WRONG” (ft. GIRIBOY) [NECTA]: This is the emotional core of GIRLHOOD. It carries a wild, almost aggressive energy, saying, “Don’t mess with me.” I remember wanting to make something that peaks both sonically and narratively, almost like a dopamine rush. It’s basically my serenade to everyone who’s ever told me I was wrong!

“PUT THEM IN SHOYU” [NECTA]: This track fully captures the raw, internal emotions between producer 030 and me. With 808 drums and explosive synths, it’s basically us going all the way, no holding back.

Out of all of the songs on GIRLHOOD, which one…

… was the most fun to make, and why?
“TONGUES ON FIRE” with YOUHA. During the recording, she suddenly suggested adding moaning sounds to the track, and I loved it. It really amplified the provocative side of the album. It made me feel like this was a project where I could fully embrace freedom and experimentation.

… took the longest to finish, and why?
Honestly, none of the tracks took that long. Everything came together really smoothly. I think I just had a lot I wanted to say built up at that point. It took me a little over a month to sketch out all the tracks, but the process overall felt very natural.

… are you the most excited for people to hear, and why?
“LOVEY DOVEY.” It’s a new direction for me, but it’s also really stimulating and has a strong pull. Even though it leans into a more niche genre, I think it still has the energy to really draw people in, so I’m excited to see how people respond to it.

Photo courtesy of NECTA

What are your goals, both for the new album and for 2026 overall?
I want to focus on building my discography. I feel like I have so much more to show. At the same time, I want to present NECTA’s own formula to the world, something that really defines my sound and identity.

What are your long-term career goals?
I want to release a trip-hop album and produce it myself - a very long-term goal for me. At some point, I started picturing a version of myself in my late thirties, making and singing trip-hop. That image has stayed in my head ever since.

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?
There’s a lot of exciting music and collaborations coming this year, so I hope you look forward to them. And once my music is out, it belongs to you, the people who listen to it.

Check out GIRLHOOD here!

View the Substack version of this piece here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.