The multi-disciplinary artist channels fearless creativity and New York dance floor energy into her new EP Kite.
Lumia Nocito, a fast-rising artist and DJ based in New York City, embraces new challenges with fearless creativity. While studying Fine Art, she was encouraged to experiment without limits. Beginning her artistic journey in photography, she later discovered sculpture, and today, music has become her newest medium of expression. With a fascinatingly eclectic background, including working with Petra Collins in her teens, she recently released an EP titled ‘Kite’: a collection of three tracks which transports listeners straight to the city’s dance floors, with a contagious beat that encourages listeners everywhere to let loose. Driven by a visionary mind and a unique bass-heavy sound, Lumia shares the inspiration behind her latest projects, speaking of rituals, identity, and the ambition that defines her.
Your career spans photography, fashion, and now music. I read that you’re constantly pursuing beauty in the world. What other motivators guide you when exploring something new?
I really love learning new things! I believe it is one of life’s gifts that at any point in time, we can decide to try or learn something new. I am constantly seeking new skills – the medium doesn’t matter. The worst possible outcome of trying something new is not enjoying it, but that is the only way to discover one’s taste and instincts. Trying new things will always lead to something valuable.
In your newly released EP, I was struck by the nostalgic references. How do you stay inspired?
I grew up listening to oldies with my dad – he would always play Elvis in the car, and it has had a major influence on my music taste today. Inspiration ebbs and flows, and that is its nature. On the rare occasion when I don’t feel inspired to make music, there’s usually some other creative area of my life that sparks it: feeling excited to put together a DJ set, creating an album cover… Inspiration is always there, but it isn’t something you can chase – it feels more like something you uncover, in yourself or externally. I’m constantly digging for new tracks, and finding a really good one feels like finding gold.
Which musicians do you admire, and why?
At the moment, I really admire Lady Gaga as an artist – her Coachella performance was one of the best performances we’ve seen in history… seeing someone execute a production of that calibre left me speechless. The mental resilience and belief in herself that she must possess to reach this point in her career are very inspiring. Oftentimes, the mental health component is the missing piece of the puzzle for artists. I believe you can only go so far on talent alone, which I feel isn’t talked about often enough.
I really enjoyed your Instagram ‘Day in the life’ video as a DJ. How do you stay focused and productive as a multi-disciplinary artist? Are there any non-negotiable routines or rituals you stick to?
My to-do list is always long, so productivity feels natural. Because I have always been very career-driven, achieving my goals brings me deep fulfilment. In terms of routines, exercise and taking care of your body are essential when you play late hours. Breathwork keeps me from getting sick during prolonged busy periods. I swear by it. My manager and I worked nonstop for about two years, and by the end, we had to release six songs over six consecutive months. I don’t think I would have been able to sustain that period without breathwork and exercise.
Artists often create to express or explore, rarely to impress. What do you want your listeners to feel when they hear your work? Do you consider this while writing?
I approach writing from a conceptual place – I have the idea for the song before it gets made. After I have the bones of the track, I consider the ideal context for the song to be played. For example, with “My Boy”, I knew I wanted to make a song about how my boyfriend at the time really loved to party, and I had this diary entry about him from the year prior. I knew I wanted to use that for the lyrics. Once the track was made, I always envisioned that it should be played while driving down the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Drive at midnight. I’m always creating from the context of my life, rather than a fantasy, and hopefully others can relate to that.
With Lumia’s debut EP Kite now released, her creative momentum is undeniable. From recently opening for Bedouin at a Teksupport show to her upcoming performance at John Summit’s Experts Only festival this September, her musical journey reflects both deep passion and tireless dedication. With a new remix set to drop in August and a thriving fashion career already underway, Lumia stands as an inspiration for multidisciplinary artists, proving that experimentation and fluidity of identity are strengths, not limitations.
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