Nessa Barrett

Nessa Barrett is an American singer-songwriter from Atlantic County, United States. She is signed to Warner Records and works in alternative pop, emo and singer-songwriter styles, with pop and electropop also associated with her early output. She is known for “i hope ur miserable until ur dead”.

Background

Born in 2002, Janesa Jaida Barrett grows up in Galloway Township, New Jersey. She is of Puerto Rican descent and says she struggles with being the only Puerto Rican in her area. Her parents divorce when she is very young. Her father, Drew Barrett, is a rapper, actor and motivational speaker, and she has a younger brother, Julian.

Early career

Barrett begins on TikTok, where she posts lip syncs, dances and other relatable content, quickly building a following. Music becomes a recurring part of her posts, and she starts uploading covers before deciding to make her own songs. She says she has always wanted to be a singer and has been writing songs since she could walk and talk.

Recorded music

Her debut single, “Pain”, is a ballad released in 2020. She then issues a series of stand-alone singles in 2020 and 2021, including “if u love me”, “la di die” and “counting crimes”. In August 2021 she releases “i hope ur miserable until ur dead” as the lead single from her debut EP, pretty poison, which arrives the following month.

She later releases “dying on the inside”, a rock song about her eating disorder and about people not believing her. Her debut album, young forever, follows the single “die first”, an alternative rock song about not wanting to lose a loved one. She chooses that song because it is Cooper Noriega’s favourite and he dies shortly before its release. Additional singles from the album include “madhouse” and “tired of california”. A deluxe edition, young forever (extended), then adds five new songs.

In 2023 she releases “BANG BANG!”, “american jesus” and “lie” for her second EP, hell is a teenage girl. She also issues the standalone singles “sick of myself”, “club heaven” and “girl in new york”.

Later work

In 2024 Barrett begins teasing a new album with song snippets and studio clips. Three songs are identified during this period: “PASSENGER PRINCESS”, “BABYDOLL” and “P*RNSTAR”. “PASSENGER PRINCESS” is released as the lead single from her second album, AFTERCARE, which is announced at the same time. Another teased track, “DIRTY LITTLE SECRET”, is performed at Bludfest 2024.