Nija Aisha-Alayja Charles (born October 20, 1997), also known by her stage names Nija or Amnija, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Charles began her career in 2017, and has since been a credited songwriter for The Carters ("Heard About Us" and "LoveHappy"), Lady Gaga ("Rain on Me"), Cardi B ("I Do" and "Ring"), and Chris Brown ("No Guidance"). She is signed to Capitol Records and Universal Music Publishing Group.
She was nominated for the first ever Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for her work on releases by Beyoncé, Summer Walker, City Girls, Lil Durk, Anitta, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion and Kehlani.
Biography
Charles gained interest in music as a child, observing her uncle and aunt experiment on the production software Fruity Loops. Raised in Union, New Jersey, Charles graduated in 2015 from Union High School.
In 2016, she enrolled in the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University where she practiced her production and songwriting skills. During the second semester of her sophomore year, Charles met her current manager, Christian McCurdy. He introduced her to RCA Records A&R J Grand, and he flew her to Los Angeles to work with producers and other artists and repertoires in the recording industry. Charles continued traveling between Los Angeles and New York City for short bi-weekly trips, allowing her to work on music in Los Angeles while still attending classes in New York City. Charles left Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2017 after signing a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group. As a songwriter and producer, Charles' songs have reached platinum status, having written and produced for Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Cardi B, SZA, Kehlani, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Jason Derulo. Charles was placed on BET's 2020 "Future 40" list, which is a list of "40 of the most inspiring and innovative vanguards who are redefining what it means to be unapologetically young, gifted & black". She was named to Rolling Stone's "Future 25" in October, 2020.
Discography
Extended Plays
Don’t Say I Didn’t Warn You (2022)
Songwriting discography
References
External links
http://www.svgemagazine.com/music-posts/nija-charles-interview
https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47312/title.jay-z-beyonces-everything-is-love-credits-feature-quavo-offset-nav# http://www.vulture.com/2018/06/beyonce-and-jay-z-everything-is-love-guide.html https://genius.com/a/llmind-details-co-producing-heard-about-us-on-jay-z-and-beyonce-s-everything-is-love-album https://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/beyonce-jay-z-new-album-everything-is-love/362106 http://www.svgemagazine.com/music-posts/nija-charles-interview https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nija-charles-mn0003685018