Nxdia explores destructive desire on latest EP ‘Lovemesick’
The Egyptian-Sudanese artist leans into hedonism to tremendous effect.
Photo: Lauren Cremer
Egyptian-Sudanese pop artist Nxdia has just released their newest EP, Lovemesick, cataloguing the all-encompassing and hedonistic demise of a relationship.
The story starts with title track Lovemesick, echoing Feel Anything, the opening track of Nxdia’s 2025 mixtape I Promise No One’s Watching. Both songs start with a deceivingly intimate stripped-back intro before launching into an energetic dance beat. While Lovemesick is a solid track and serves as an effective thesis for this project, this parallel does cause it to feel a bit like retreading ground. It’s a highly danceable and catchy track that would feel right at home in a club setting, but it does pale a bit in comparison to previous efforts.
We then transition to Balance Beam, a deliciously angsty track exploring themes of self-esteem and perfectionism. The song opens with a dreamlike verse dripping in reverb before another whiplash-inducing transition into its crunchy rock-infused chorus. This anarchic energy is Nxdia at their best. The contrast here, however, feels incredibly effective with the listener riding on the same emotional rollercoaster Nxdia appears to be experiencing. These instrumental choices feel intentionally reflective of the discrepancy between the perfectionistic image Nxdia holds themselves to versus the hedonistic tendencies they give in to.
“Balance beam, I slip and fall so easily. I think being my best self is destroying all my self-esteem”. Here, they use a balance beam as a clever metaphor for the expectations placed on them by themselves in this precarious relationship.
Anchor is a sweeping rock ballad with a dramatic opening reminiscent of an Evanescence track before transitioning into an emotive acoustic section. The track explores Nxdia’s deepest insecurities as they realise this obsessive relationship isn’t all it’s cut out to be. Nxdia’s frankness and unapologetic vulnerability has always been a highlight of their writing, and Anchor is no different as they doll out verse after verse of hard truths. The lyrics are written bilingually in English and Arabic, now a trademark of Nxdia’s writing.
The EP closes with Fuck Me Up, seeing Nxdia fully embrace hedonism. Nxdia asserts a sense of brazen sexuality over top of an electro-rock fusion, perfectly capturing the debaucherous energy at play here as police sirens ring out in the background. There’s endless fun to be found amidst the chaos. Boldly uninhabited, it’s a strong and infectious closer that seems almost designed to be heard live.
Despite an underwhelming kick off, Lovemesick builds up incredible momentum through its tracklist, culminating in a beautifully debaucherous climax. Lovemesick is messy in all the right ways and deftly navigates the intense emotions at play through Nxdia’s brilliant storytelling. It’s at its best when it leans into the drama of it all, delivering a project that embodies the idea of dancing through the debris.
Lovemesick is out now via Bxdger Records.