Navigating closure: néomí’s honest new era.
Dutch/Surinamese singer-songwriter néomí returns with “Do You Want To Be Honest?”, her first release on Nettwerk, and a compelling glimpse into a new creative chapter. Sitting at the crossroads of indie-folk and contemporary pop, the track is steeped in emotional clarity and quiet intensity, blending confessional lyricism with a sense of stillness that hits like a deep breath after a storm.
Photo by Liz van den Akker
Written in the aftermath of a fractured connection, “Do You Want To Be Honest?” explores the tension between searching for closure and accepting unresolved endings. “It feels difficult sometimes when things don’t end the way you thought they should,” néomí shares. “We were making excuses, trying not to be friends, and stopping me from finding a solid base from which to rebuild.” These sentiments ripple throughout the song, her voice delivering each line with an intimate weight that feels like it’s being whispered directly to the listener.
The production is sparse yet atmospheric—fingerpicked guitar and subtle textures wrap around néomí’s vocals without ever overpowering them. It’s the kind of sonic space that lets silence speak just as loudly as sound. Comparisons to Phoebe Bridgers and Julia Jacklin are well earned, but néomí’s songwriting carves a distinct path of its own, rooted in vulnerability without ever veering into sentimentality.
With “Do You Want To Be Honest?”, néomí steps into a more expansive musical space while retaining the introspective core that defined her breakout EPs before (2022) and after (2023). Her recent Edison Pop Award win for Best Alternative Album only cements her growing stature, and this track signals a fearless move forward, balancing folk intimacy with a maturing sonic confidence.