Hello Rockstars! Today’s AOTW is Singer-Songwriter NITA!
Here’s her story in her own words, enjoy! 🙂
Meet NITA: The Rising Star Bringing Positivity Through Music.
At just 12 years old, Crystal Santos, known as NITA, is making waves in the Las Vegas music scene with her powerful voice and inspiring lyrics.
From performing at local events to releasing her own music, NITA is proving that age is just a number when it comes to chasing your dreams.
VMS:
“When did you start writing and performing music.
What’s your backstory.”
NITA:
“The name Nita that comes from my brother he called me that when he was 2 years old because it was a way of shortening the word sister (Hermanita) in Spanish. I embraced the name and my whole family calls me that, it’s my fun nickname for being a sister.
I started performing when I was 8 at family events, and one of my first big opportunities was singing for the launch of KidNation, a show by Ludacris. That moment was extra special because I also got featured on The Ellen Show!
I performed in school events, and after moving to Las Vegas five years ago, I joined the Musicology vocal group and Manifest Academy’s Uprising events. Performing live—whether solo or with a band—became a big part of my life.
I started writing my own music last year, and with the support of Notes for Notes, Sean Christensen a multi talented musician-who put the music together, and producer Rob Lacy from Manifest Academy, I was able to produce and release my first song – “My Mirror”, this year!
I’m super thankful for my friends that helped contribute to the song, XMan the best drummer and band mates: Dex Christensen (Guitarist), Joanna Rodriguez (Bassist.)”
VMS:
“Which artists or bands inspire your sound.”
NITA:
“I’m inspired by P!nk, Sia, Senses (the band), Whitney Houston, and Imagine Dragons. Their music has such a strong energy, and I love how they tell their stories through their songs.”
VMS:
“What’s your writing process, and what inspires your lyrics.”
NITA:
“A lot of my lyrics come from everyday life as a kid—dealing with school, peer pressure, and staying focused on my goals. I write about my struggles with confidence and finding my way, both as a student and as someone passionate about music.
It can be tough to balance everything, but I want my songs to reflect that journey and help others going through the same thing.”
VMS:
“I love your song “My Mirror”! What’s the story behind it.”
NITA:
“Thank you! “My Mirror” comes from my own insecurities and the challenge of building confidence—both in school and in music. Every morning, I would look in my mirror and give myself a pep talk, reminding myself to ignore negativity and focus on what I can achieve. That routine inspired the lyrics of the song.
My dad, who’s a musician, helped come up with the melody, and my mom helped me find the right words. I also had an amazing team of people who believed in me, which made the song even more special!”
Listen to “My Mirror” on Spotify:
VMS:
“Which local artists would you love to work with and why.”
NITA:
“I’d love to collaborate with Cam Elise or Holly Reichert. I really like their music and the way they tell stories through their songs—they’re super cool! I’d love to collaborate with all local artists. Right now I’m looking for contributions and connections.”
VMS:
“What’s the overall message of your music.”
NITA:
“Positive vibes and building each other up! I want my songs to inspire confidence and remind people that they’re not alone in what they’re going through.”
VMS:
“Do you have a favorite song to perform.”
NITA:
“Yes! Right now I love performing “My Mirror” and a favorite one is “Sleep Walking” by Senses. It’s such a great song, and I really connect with it.”
VMS:
“Any interesting or crazy stories from working in the music scene.”
NITA:
“So far, I’ve been really lucky with the opportunities I’ve had. Nothing too crazy yet! But one of the coolest experiences was working with Sean Christensen, a former local Vegas rocker who is super talented.”
VMS:
“What does the future hold for NITA.”
NITA:
“More music! I’m also excited to work with a band and maybe explore different genres. I just want to keep growing as an artist and see where music takes me!”
VMS:
“What do you want your audience to feel at your live shows.”
NITA:
“I want them to feel excited, forget about any stress from their day, and just feel free! Music has a way of bringing people together, and I hope my performances can do that.”
VMS:
“What are the personal pros and cons of being a young artist in Las Vegas. How do you balance music, school, and personal life.”
NITA:
“It’s definitely a challenge to balance everything! School is important, and I always make sure to focus on my studies while still making time for music. The best part about being a young artist is getting to do what I love and meeting amazing people along the way. The hardest part is balancing it all, but I have a great support system that helps me stay on track!”
NITA Final Thoughts:
“I want to use my passion for music and dedication to spread positivity and collaboration, NITA is definitely an artist to watch. I can’t wait to share my other upcoming projects.”
Vegas Music Scene Thoughts:
What I find very interesting is how at just 12 years old, NITA sounds so wise beyond her years musically, lyrically and vocally. You can tell she truly has a passion and love for music, which is very apparent not only in her incredibly catchy song “My Mirror”, but also her live performances as well. I can attest from first hand experience how incredibly nerve wracking it is to go up in front of complete strangers and sing your heart out, all while trying to make it look like your not nervous as heck (lol), and NITA does it so effortlessly, it honestly makes me a tad jealous. (lmao)
Musically, I love the upbeat infectious rock vibe of her song, and that she is not trying to be anybody else but herself. I appreciate that her music has a wonderful balance of sounding like a diary entry but also having a little bit more of an edge to it. NITA has found a great balance in this mix, and I hope in whatever new music we hear down the road, she keeps that earnest quality to her sound. It will be interesting to see the evolution of this young but incredibly talented artist. I am so proud to call NITA my Artist of the Week, I know her future is as bright as the sun.
For More information about NITA, please visit her website. 🙂
—-VMS