Drawn to both glossy radio hits and off-kilter sounds, Nana Lourdes makes leftfield electronic pop that feels both eccentric and familiar. As an only child living in the middle of nowhere, Portugal, the 27-year-old artist assuaged a lifetime of boredom by teaching herself how to write, produce, and mix while shuffling between her parents’ living room and late great-grandma’s bedroom. In 2020, she began releasing her first singles, which immediately received attention for their effortlessly catchy melodies, psychedelic synths, and sparkly 2000s pop-inspired production. Touching on themes of belonging, isolation, and heartbreak, her whimsical lyrics immerse listeners into imagined scenarios that pull from her experience as a film school grad. Though she’s inspired by Britney, Currents by Tame Impala, Enya, and that one LeAnn Rimes song, Nana wants to push the boundaries of pop. “I’ve always felt like I was in the middle of two worlds: commercial pop and alternative music,” she says. “I want to be a bridge between those worlds. I want to be known as a curator, but make songs that the masses can enjoy.”