Soundtrack to the Soul: An Interview with POLI NIKA

Don't Mean to Hurt You Cover final Credit Sveta Spekos — Photo Credit: Sveta Spekos

With a sound that floats between soul, indie-pop, jazz, and folk, POLI NIKA’s music feels like the soundtrack to a powerful film; intimate, raw, and full of emotional nuance. Her newest single, “Don’t Mean to Hurt You,” is a vulnerable confession that explores the spaces between fear, love, and the things we struggle to say out loud. We sat down with the Lisbon-based artist to talk about the spark behind the song, the process of finding her voice, and more.

Hi POLI NIKA, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us! Your music has been described as introspective indie-pop infused with elements of soul, jazz, and folk. Tell us a little about how you got into music and, specifically, the music you make today.

Music has been woven through my life in many ways – music school where I studied classical piano, vocal lessons, solo performances at various competitions. I loved being on stage, and performing and becoming a singer was really a dream of mine from childhood.

But when it came time to make adult life decisions, despite my love for music, I didn’t have the courage or clarity at that moment. I chose a different path – something more analytical and measurable, where I could apply more intellect and logic because I was good at that too.

It was only 5 years ago that I finally found the courage to return to my childhood dream and started writing my own songs. That’s when POLI NIKA was born.

When I began creating, I realized what truly moves me: I love interesting harmonies, sometimes even complex ones. Lyrics and concepts are crucial to me. I’m drawn to quality instrument sounds, often with jazz or neo-soul textures.

But here’s what’s important – I don’t try to force all my songs into one genre. Instead, I think about how each individual song will sound its best. Will this song shine with a folk approach and acoustic guitar? Or does it need a jazz section with brass? Maybe it wants a funky groove? Each song requires a different approach, so you end up with this variety rather than one single genre you can pin down. The songs themselves guide me to what they need to become.

Congrats on the release of “Don’t Mean to Hurt You.” This song feels incredibly vulnerable and layered. Can you take us into the moment or experience that sparked the song?

Yes, actually I can take you into that moment. Shortly before writing this song, I was in this really vulnerable place with my partner where I had all these dark thoughts and fears swirling in my head, but I was terrified to voice them.

These weren’t really terrible thoughts – they were all kinds of fears and feelings that we’re taught to think of as ‘negative.’ Things like ‘Do you really want to be with me?’ ‘Do you accept me as I am?’ Jealousy, insecurity, neediness, fear of abandonment – all those messy human emotions that feel too vulnerable to share

And there I was, standing with all these consuming fantasies and fears, completely frozen – I couldn’t say a word. I wanted to say ‘I don’t want to hurt you,’ but the irony was that my silence was already hurting him. It felt like I wasn’t trusting him.

So I went to my piano and everything just poured out. The song became my message to him – what I couldn’t say out loud. What surprised me was how simple the chorus ended up being, just ‘I don’t mean to hurt you, sorry if I do.’ Nothing more was needed

Your music has also been described as “the soundtrack to your favorite film.” What kind of film or scene do you picture when you hear “Don’t Mean to Hurt You”?

I imagine the scene would be very quiet and slow – no rush, no external noise. Just two people finally having this conversation they’ve been avoiding, where all the pretenses fall away. Very intimate, very human, with this sense that makes everything feel both small and infinite at the same time.

I was going through different films in my mind and I remembered this scene in The Idea of You when Hayes shows up at Solène’s doorstep after their breakup. Throughout the whole film, they’re constantly faced with this impossibility of being together, yet they’re incredibly drawn to each other, and every separation causes pain even though they don’t actually want to hurt each other. Two people are caught between wanting to protect each other and needing to be honest about what they’re feeling.

There’s a vulnerability in the lyrics that is contrasted by the pain within them. How do you balance vulnerability with hope in your songwriting, especially in this track, and especially with it coming from such a personal place?

I think that balance just happens naturally for me because of how I see life. When I’m writing – in the creative process itself – I find so much light and inspiration that pulls me out of even my darkest moments. It’s like the song itself helps me discover that hope.

Even when the feeling or story comes from such a personal place, at some point during writing I notice my pain isn’t so overwhelming anymore – it’s not taking up all of me. There’s suddenly space for creativity, and that means there’s room for playfulness, hope, and light

Your previous release, “Rains in Lisbon,” also felt like it came from a deeply reflective space. How do the two songs speak to each other thematically or emotionally?

At first glance, these are two completely different songs that were born from different feelings and different emotional states. But when I thought about your question, I found something they have in common.

In both songs, the characters struggle with honest communication.

In ‘Rains in Lisbon,’ the characters are physically apart – they’re no longer together but have all these shared memories, and they can’t reach out to say what they’re really feeling.

In ‘Don’t Mean to Hurt You,’ they’re close – but there’s still this paradox where they can’t tell each other about their true feelings.

That’s probably the thread that connects these songs – this theme about the difficulty of authentic communication, even when there’s love. Whether you’re apart or together, sometimes the most important things are the hardest to say.

Many artists shy away from showing too much of themselves. How has embracing your own imperfections, especially in this song, changed the way you see intimacy or connection, in art and in life?

Honestly, creating music helps me see parts of myself I’m afraid to look at. However it’s not a magic fix where I write a song and suddenly understand everything about myself. This is an ongoing journey, and I still bump up against my own fears and limitations.

But I see so much beauty in vulnerability, and other people’s openness really inspires me. Creating this song actually taught me a lot about speaking up when something doesn’t feel right.

When I first heard the arrangement, I was completely crushed because it felt like the producer totally missed what the song was about. My instinct was to just bail on the whole thing – not say how I really felt. I wanted to just say ‘thanks’ and take it to someone else. That way I could stay nice and pleasant without having to show my disappointment.

But I took a chance and told him I didn’t like it – that it wasn’t capturing what the song meant to me. So we tried again. And again. It took three or four attempts before we found the sound that made me go ‘yes, that’s it.’

The song taught me that speaking your truth isn’t as scary as I thought. He didn’t dismiss me – he actually listened, put in the work, and created what you hear now. None of that would’ve happened if I’d been too afraid to be honest

You seem to work from a very DIY, deeply intentional place. I find a lot of inspiration in that. What does your creative process look like from initial idea to final release, especially for a song as personal as this one?

Thank you for saying that. My songs usually start with something that hits me emotionally – whether it’s an intense feeling I’m going through, a sudden realization that shifts my perspective, a phrase from a book that hooks me, or just noticing how different pieces of my life connect into one story. With ‘Don’t Mean to Hurt You,’ it was definitely raw emotion.

After I write the song, finding the right producer is crucial – someone who can envision the sound even better than I can. It’s not just about sounding good – it’s about making sure every element serves what the song is really trying to say.

What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

I hope my music gives them space to slow down and be present, to feel that they’re the authors of their own reality, and maybe rediscover that spark that makes life feel beautiful and alive.

Whether you’re falling in love, facing fears, or chasing dreams, I want my songs to whisper ‘trust yourself, follow what lights you up.’ The world pulls us in so many directions, but I hope my music brings people back to what truly matters – their heart, their vision, their ability to create something meaningful with this one precious life

What’s one thing you want to say to anyone reading, who might be discovering you and your music for the first time?

Thank you for reading this and for being here – I love that curiosity brought you to discover my music.

I’d be thrilled if you listen to my songs and they become part of your life’s soundtrack.

I’d especially love to hear which song resonates with you most, and if you have any questions, feel free to reach out on social media – I’m always open to connecting.

Thank you for chatting with us! Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Thanks for having me!

POLI NIKA creates dreamy, introspective indie-pop infused with elements of soul, jazz, and folk. Think: music that feels like the soundtrack to your favorite film. With gentle vocals, thoughtful lyrics, and a deep emotional breadth to all that she does, her songs explore themes of love, loss, and vulnerability.

Influenced by artists like Lizzy McAlpine, Yebba, and Lianne La Havas, POLI NIKA’s music invites listeners to slow down and reconnect with themselves. Even when exploring deep emotions, her songs remain hopeful and bright. In her words: ‘Music is how I share my pain, joy, passion, and aspirations.

And that’s exactly what her songs offer: an open-hearted invitation to feel deeply, dream freely, and find beauty in the shared human experience.

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