Brian Nadir Owens: In His Own Light

Seeing What Isn’t There Yet

INTERVIEW BY: EMILY ARAUZA

NOVEMBER 5th, 2025

Nadir is part of a newer wave of artists who treat faith less like a category and more like a perspective. His music moves in a space that usually isn’t associated with God at all, which is exactly why people pay attention. He grew up without much religious structure, moved from Atlanta to Houston during a chaotic stretch of his life, and started creating because it was the only thing that felt steady.

What stands out about him isn’t just the sound he’s building, but the way he talks about it. He doesn’t try to present himself as a leader or a prophet. He operates more like someone who’s still learning but refuses to stay silent about the things that shifted him. 

His upcoming album, #AfterDeath, isn’t positioned as a sermon or a statement piece. It’s him exploring the questions that pushed him toward belief in the first place. The work is cinematic and shaped by years spent blending visual art, production, & the kind of late-night experimenting that accidentally becomes a calling.

This interview looks at how he arrived at this moment, why he creates the way he does, & what he sees when he talks about faith, art, & the space in between.

Brian Nadir Owens: “My name is Brian Nadir Owens, but I go by “Nadir!” I’m an artist and producer who creates music to challenge what it looks and sounds like to believe in God. Many of my friends and collaborators come from communities that traditional religious circles often overlook (goth, scene, etc). So far, my collaborations include removeface, keltiey, and Dxrkknght. My mission is to demonstrate that living a holy and fulfilling life doesn’t need to look one way. In fact, it usually never does. The world is not black and white. I intend for my upcoming first album, “#AfterDeath” to make people question their place in life, and what comes after. I want people to walk away knowing that there is more. More to faith. More to art. More than life.”

Emily Arauza: “Hi Nadir, I love how you’re making music that serves God and breaks the mold. I’ve never talked to someone who does faith and art like you. I’m really curious about your story. How old are you and how did you get to this point?”

BNO: “I’m 24 and I didn’t grow up religious. My parents were both impartial to religion. I felt the same for a long time until high school, when I moved to Houston (from Atlanta) and lost everything. Lost friends, lost family, and lost our home to a hurricane. It was rough, but it really made me question why I was here. I had no one else to turn to, so I turned to God. And he gave me purpose. It was art. Every night I would spend hours making art pieces, making beats, just creating. Without art, I don’t think I would be here. Now I use that gift to bring others closer. It’s not about where you come from, what you wear, etc. It’s about faith, something only God can judge.”

EA: “I completely get what you mean about finding purpose through pain. I actually wrote a book about that, so I really relate to what you’re saying. I love how you turned everything you went through into something meaningful. Do you feel like moving from Atlanta to Houston changed how you see life? And when you started creating, did it feel like something you were meant to do, or was it more just a way to cope at first?”

BNO: “That’s the perfect way to put it. If your book’s out already, I want to check it out for sure. But, if there’s anything that Houston taught me, it’s that you can do whatever you set your mind to. The wild west mentality. The city is full of visionaries and entrepreneurs. Everybody’s on a mission out here. Not to say Atlanta doesn’t have that, but it’s on a different level out here. Back when I first started creating, I was just doing what felt natural. But looking back, I don’t think that was a coincidence. God is a creator, so by nature we are also creators. The medium changes from person to person, but I think everyone is a creator. Developers create software. Doctors recreate what was lost. Firefighters prevent destruction. Demolition teams destroy in order to create. Humans are meant to be creators.”

EA: “I love that. The way you see creation feels so true. I’ve never heard someone explain it like that before, but it makes perfect sense. We’re all just creating in different ways. And yes, my book is out. It’s crazy how much of what you said reminds me of what I wrote about how pain and purpose kind of meet in the middle. I’ve heard that about Houston too. There’s this energy that pushes people to build something of their own. Do you feel like that environment pushed you to take your art more seriously?”

BNO: “Sorry for getting back so late, it's been a busy day. But, to answer your question, definitely. So many people that I've met out here continue to do incredible things and it inspires me. But, more than anything, the people I've met online who really connect with my work are the driving force behind it all. That's what made it real for me. I have a lot more to accomplish, but seeing the way we're starting to build a community from the ground up gives me so much hope for the future. It's not just me either. My manager, engineer, discord moderators, listeners, all of us have a part to play in this.  And, I truly believe we will have a huge positive impact on the music industry.”

EA: “I love how you see it as something bigger than yourself, like everyone around you has a purpose in it too. It’s rare to hear an artist talk about community like that. It’s cool that you’ve built something real from the ground up. That kind of connection online is powerful, especially when it’s rooted in something meaningful. What kind of impact do you hope to have on the music industry? Like, what do you want people to feel or take away from your work long term?”

BNO: “In the end, I hope to bridge the gap between secular and non-secular communities. The divide between the two keeps growing and I think that will only change if we’re more involved in those spaces. You can’t expect people see your perspective through judgement. You have to show up with love. I just hope people walk away wanting to understand both sides of the coin. There can’t be faith without choice.”

EA: “You’re right, all the way because real change only happens when people feel seen and loved, not judged. I love what you said about faith needing choice. That’s such a simple truth but so overlooked. Do you feel like people are starting to understand that message through your music or do you still face pushback from both sides?”

BNO: “I think no matter what you do in life, you’re always going to face pushback. You could make the most beautiful song ever and there’s still going to be one dude commenting “ts buns bro”. You just have to look at it from a third-person perspective, realize it doesn’t matter, and keep it pushing. So yes, I feel like some people don’t really understand what I’m doing yet. But, I think they will in time. I’m just grateful to have all these cool people around me that do support me; my manager Nick Shrly, my homie Dxrkknght, my engineer Dexter Payne. They all have different perspectives than me. But, they genuinely support what I do. That’s the energy I want to bring into the world.”

EA: “It’s amazing that you’ve built a circle like that too. Having people who understand your vision, even when they see the world differently is rare. What made you want to start creating from this place of faith in the first place? And who inspires you the most either musically or spiritually?”

BNO: “Before finding God, I would say my life was in a state of fear. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of death. Now, I only fear him. It’s like he gave me a birdseye view. He showed me that the things we stress about as humans, won’t matter in the bigger picture. The clarity I have now has taken me so much further in life. I just want to share that perspective with others. The world we live in is really so small. Humans just want to feel bigger I guess. So spiritually, my only influence is the Lord and his word. Artistically, Florence + The Machine, Porter Robinson, and Sam Gellaitry are my goats. They’re super cinematic, with incredible production, and a deep understanding of music theory.

There’s so much to unpack. I’m working to reach that level of musicality. It takes so much time, but I know I’ll get there.”

EA: “I really love how your influences all carry a sense of scale. Florence, Porter, & Sam because they make music that feels like motion. I appreciate the way it’s cinematic but still human. I want to understand more about where that comes from for you. What was life like before the music? What made you start creating?”

BNO: “Before music, I was a visual artist. As a kid, I would always draw on my mom’s furniture, which didn’t end well. She put me in elementary art classes to keep me busy. One day, when my art class was having a showcase, this teacher from an actual art school stole my art. He said it was phenomenal. I was so mad about it, but it served to demonstrate the power of creativity. In high school, I took AP art classes in Houston, whereI was surrounded by many other artists — artists who were more skilled than I, at the time. Although it was stressful, it did wonders for my creativity. But, music was always in my life. My dad was a music producer. He would always be on his laptop sampling old records, and I thought it was really cool. I asked him to teach me but he said “nah, figure it out on your own”. So, I did. One summer, I downloaded the demo for FL Studio and started making beats for fun. 7 years of beat making later, I started college and met my friend Ike. He was an incredible vocalist. We would make songs for fun all the time. Normally, I would make a beat and he would do vocals. But he randomly told me to hop on the mic one night. Surprisingly, people saw potential in it. That was when I realized I wanted to be recording artist as well. It allowed me to blend everything I love into one — visual art, music, and technology. This is why I love what I do.”

EA: “That’s such an inspiring story. I love how everything kind of came full circle for you, from drawing on furniture to creating entire worlds through music. It’s crazy how every part of your journey built into what you do now. I also think it’s really special how you blend visual art, music, and tech together. It feels like everything you’ve learned found its purpose. What’s the best advice someone’s ever given you that’s really stuck with you? Something that’s shaped the way you create or see life?”

BNO: “My mom always told me to “do what you love”, and I never believed her. I’ve heard many people say it, so I thought it was cliche, but it’s true. There’s just more to it than you think. “Doing what you love” isn’t about you, it’s not self-centered. It means using your passion to provide for others in the best way possible. This is the premise of entrepreneurship as well. You find an issue you’re passionate about and solve in the best way possible. If you provide, success will follow. We fail when we get selfish.”

EA: “That’s such a good perspective. I love how you redefined what “doing what you love” really means not just chasing passion, but using it to serve others. That’s such a self-aware way to look at success and purpose. If you could give one piece of advice to anyone trying to find their purpose or make an impact through what they love, what would it be?”

BNO: “I would say, don’t forget to take care of yourself and your loved ones. The world is very competitive, so it gets easy to lose sight of what matters sometimes. Constantly losing sleep and time with loved ones just isn’t worth it. Those are the few things in life you can’t get back. Your health, relationships, and experiences are the cornerstones of true joy/success.”