Nastiya Kai’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Nastiya Kai. Check out our conversation below.

Nastiya, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I’m most proud of waking up every day in full self-doubt but still getting up and continuing to work towards achieving my dreams. I’ve lately become a lot more self-confident and proud of what I’ve achieved in the past few years.

Even if it’s not at a pace I wished it was, even imperfect, but I’ve come to realize that I’m a lot stronger than I though and don’t give myself enough credit.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I used to call myself a musician but I’ve become so much more that that. I still make music primarily and that’s what brings me most joy but I’ve grown into something more of a creative director. Ever since I started co-producing and co-directing my music videos I’ve become very fond of film and decided I wanted to get into it more

I figured I don’t want to limit myself to a single art form as I am definitely a creator and cannot live without art in every sense.

I do everything myself, which isn’t healthy at all but I really enjoy it.

I obviously have a team that I’ve worked with for years creatively. Artists, makeup artists, producers etc but I come up with all of my own ideas for everything. I started making my own music from start to finish as I became a lot more skilled.

I still collaborate with people of course, it’s not like I’m rejecting that, but again, I’ve just become a lot more confident in my ideas.

I recently also launched a podcast called “on a side note” where I speak on mental health and share my stories and how I feel. I want people to get to know me more as sometimes I feel like I hide behind this etherial image and don’t show my human which lead to me feeling very isolated

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
Every one of my friends I feel like. On my birthday this year a lot of people told me that I self-sabotage and am too hard of myself. They pointed out that when they look at me that don’t understand how I do all of this. Moving countries, turning my life upside down, creating, working on my mental health. They said they know it’s not but it looks effortless.

Hearing this coming from other people made me realize that I’m more than I knew and made me feel extremely grateful for the people that are in my life.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I was a very lonely kid. Very bullied, constantly compared to others that were better than me. Completely lost. I was so, so sad all the time and my thoughts were so dark. I would wanna tell her that she has the most beautiful soul and that it’s gonna get better.

That she’s gonna go through hell but it’s gonna make her a person that she wouldn’t believe is her.

I actually have a line about this in my song “anxiety.333” where I go “if I’d go back in time, I’d tell my mini me she’s gonna be alright”

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
It’s definitely a big part of me. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not trying to be somebody else.

But this year my therapist and I discovered that my identity is terribly fragmented and I sort of realized that my public self intimidates me.

There’s Nastiya, that always has her hood up and is hiding behind her sunglasses, loves being in the dark in her apartment in the night when the whole city is asleep, doesn’t like the attention, hard on herself, been through a lot of trauma etc etc

And there’s Kai. And she’s the one that makes it all seem effortless. Like she’s born with it. Loves the spotlight, wears bright makeup and is absolutely fearless.

They’re both me, they just show themselves when I need them most if that makes sense.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Everything. I already have most things I ever wanted but I’m horrible at noticing my achievements. I immediately wanna move onto the next thing

You can hear more about what I mean on my second podcast episode called “becoming good enough”

I’m working on this though. Because when I look back I go “wow this is wonderful” and I really don’t wanna miss on this feeling

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nastiyakai.komi.io
• Instagram: nastiyakai
• Youtube: nastiyakai
• Soundcloud: nastiyakai
• Other: spotify, apple music, tiktok: all @nastiyakai
  podcast “on a side note” available wherever you get your podcasts