Niia Bertino (born July 11, 1988), known professionally as Niia, is an American singer, pianist, and songwriter.
Early life Niia was born in Needham, Massachusetts, and was trained by her mother in classical piano and began singing and performing at the age of 13. Bertino's mother hails from Italy and is the daughter of an opera singer, while her extended family boasts many vocalists trained at the Juilliard School. She was invited to attend the Berklee College of Music summer program at age fourteen. After high school, which she attended at Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Newton, MA, Niia moved to New York City where she briefly attended the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music as a Jazz vocal major. She later settled in Los Angeles.
Career While living in New York, Niia met singer, songwriter and producer Wyclef Jean. After working with Wyclef and producer Jerry Wonda, Niia was a featured artist on 2007 single, "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)", which also featured Lil' Wayne and Akon. The song peaked at number twelve on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 after fifteen weeks on the chart and was RIAA certified Platinum.
Niia has toured around the world and performed on programs such as VH1 Soul Stage, the Late Show with David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, the BET Awards and MTV New Year's Eve in Times Square.
In 2011, Niia began performing The Best of 007 in New York. Backed by a 14-piece orchestra, Niia paid homage to the soundtrack of James Bond films including classics "Goldfinger", "Thunderball", and "The Spy Who Loved Me". She has also released covers of the classic track Mad World by Tears for Fears, Jai Paul's viral hit BTSTU, and Cher's Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).
In February 2013, Niia self-released her single "Made For You" and premiered the video, directed by American History X director Tony Kaye, on The Fader. In October 2013, Bertino was the presenter of a TED Talk titled Beauty Overcomes Fear at the annual TEDxOrangeCoast event.
She teamed up with Robin Hannibal on music in preparation for her debut EP Generation Blue, released on October 28, 2014. In 2015, Bertino, alongside Josef Salvat, was featured on Tourist's single "Holding On".
In June 2016, she released a new single "Bored To Death" which was premiered by Zane Lowe on his Beats 1 radio show.
Niia's second album, II: La Bella Vita, was released in 2020. Matt Moen, writing for Paper, reported, "Feelings of anger, betrayal, resentment and doubt pop up as common themes across the album as Niia funnels heartbreak into her jazzy vocals."
If I Should Die, an EP released in 2021, featured the single "Not Up for Discussion." The track was an "anti-anthem, declaring that however one wants to use their time is fine by her," as reported by American Songwriter.
The label OFFAIR released Niia's Mouthful of Salt in 2022.
Niia's fourth album, Bobby Deerfield, was released in 2023. Lauren Hicks, writing for Atwood Magazine, compared the album's first single, "Alfa Romeo," to "Interstellar Overdrive" by Pink Floyd.
Her fifth album, V, appeared on the jazz label Candid Records in 2025. The cover art featured Niia strapped to a heretic's fork.
Niia co-hosts a podcast about The Sopranos.
Awards In 2005, Niia was selected by the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts as one of the top 100 singers in the country, and the national winner in the jazz voice category National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Recognition and Talent Search.
Discography
Albums Year Album details Peak chart positionsUSUK 2017 I Release date: May 5, 2017 Label: Atlantic—— 2020II: La Bella Vita Release date: February 14, 2020 Label: NIIAROCCO LLC—— 2021If I Should Die Release date: June 4, 2021 Label: NIIAROCCO LLC—— 2022OFFAIR: Mouthful of Salt Release date: April 8, 2022 Label: NIIAROCCO LLC——2023Bobby Deerfield Release date: June 23, 2023 Label: NIIAROCCO LLC——
Extended plays Year Album details Peak chart positionsUSUK 2014 Generation Blue Release date: October 28, 2014 Label: Something Local——
Singles Year Title Peak chart positions AlbumUSUK 2013Made for You—— non-album single 2015David's House—— 2016Bored To Death——Last Night In Los Feliz —— I 2017Hurt You First—— Sideline—— Nobody—— 2019Face—— II: La Bella VitaIf I Cared—— Whatever You Got—— 2020Obsession—— La Bella Vita—— 2021Not Up For Discussion—— If I Should DieWe Were Never Friends—— If I Should Die—— Macaroni Salad——
Featured singles YearTitleChart positionsAlbumU.S. Hot 100U.S.Pop 100UK Singles ChartCAN Hot 1002007"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" (Wyclef Jean featuring Akon, Lil Wayne and Niia)12106614Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant2015"Holding On" (Tourist featuring Josef Salvat and Niia)––––
Music videos As lead artist YearAlbumTitleDirector2013"Made For You"Tony KayeVIDEO: Niia "Made For You" TheFADER.com. February 12, 2013.Generation Blue"Generation Blue"Dan MonickCheck Out Niia's Smoldering "Generation Blue" Video Complex.com. December 10, 2013.Exclusive: Listen to Premiere of Niia's 'David's House' Billboard. September 18, 2014.2014"David's House"
As featured artist YearAlbumTitleDirector2007Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant"Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)"(Wyclef Jean featuring Akon, Lil Wayne and Niia)Chris RobinsonWyclef Jean – "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" MTV. October 2, 2007.2015"Holding On"(Tourist featuring Josef Salvat and Niia)Holly BlakeyTourist – Holding On ft. Josef Salvat, Niia" YouTube.com. June 8, 2015.
References