Gia Woods Explained

Gia Woods
Birth Name:Natali Nassiri
Birth Date:May 22, 1996
Origin:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre:Electropop
Years Active:2015–present

Gia Woods (born May 22, 1996) is a Los Angeles–based pop musician.[1]

Early life

Woods grew up in a traditional Persian household in Los Angeles.[2] Her father owned a popular Persian restaurant, and her mother was a stay-at-home mom who also handled the business side of the restaurant.[3] [4] Woods became interested in music in part because she "was pretty shy and didn't have a lot of people to open up to." Her older sister encouraged her to join choir in high school, which led to her pursuit of music as a career.[5]

Career

Woods was scouted by her first manager in her senior year of high school from a choir performance. As a result, she pursued music full time immediately after graduating, rather than going into dentistry as she had planned.[3] [4]

Woods debuted in 2015 with the song "Only A Girl," which describes her first same-sex relationship. Woods came out as a lesbian to her family through the song.[1] The accompanying music video has over 10 million hits on YouTube.[6]

Woods released her debut EP Cut Season on October 9, 2020.[3] The EP was influenced by the lack of support Woods received from friends after her experience leaving a four-year relationship and her father's passing.[4] [7]

In 2021, Woods released the first part of her two-volume EP, Heartbreak County, which reflects on life in Los Angeles.[8] [9] It was preceded by the singles "Enough of You",[8] "Oh My God" and "Next Girlfriend".[10] She announced the second part with the release of its lead single, "Hello", in May 2022.[11] The full EP was released in October 2022; while the first part covers more of the surface-level glamor of Los Angeles life, the second part explores its "deeper, more raw side."[12] Woods described the writing process for Heartbreak County as a form of escapism following a breakup. The breakup, in which her ex-girlfriend left her to date Woods's other ex-girlfriend, was the subject of the final song from the EP.[13]

During 2023 she dropped the singles "Gia Would", "Elevation", "Heartbreak Radio" and "Somebody Else's Baby" which will ultimately lead to her fourth EP Your Engine, released on November 1, 2023.[14] [15]

Involvement in the LGBT Community

Woods has performed at several LGBT events, such as Nashville's OutLoud Music Festival in 2019, North Jersey Pride Festival in 2019, the Thrive with Pride concert in 2021, and Jersey Pride in 2022.[16] [17] [18] [19] She has also been featured in Calvin Klein's LGBTQ Pride campaign, and has been a Savage X Fenty ambassador.[5] [20] [21] [22]

Influences

Woods is inspired by Radiohead, Green Day and Madonna.[4]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleEP details
Cut Season
Heartbreak County, Vol 1.
  • Release: October 8, 2021
  • Label: Snafu
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Heartbreak County, Vol. 2
  • Release: October 27, 2022
  • Label: Elle Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Your Engine
  • Release: November 1, 2023
  • Label: Elle Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Only a Girl" 2015rowspan="8"
"Heart Won't Forget"
2016
"What I Like" 2017
"Jump the Fence"2019
"New Girlfriend"
"Keep on Coming"
"One Big Party"
"Feel It"
"Hungry"2020Cut Season
"Ego"
"Naive"
"Into It"
"Chaos"
"All I Know"
"Enough of You"2021Heartbreak County, Vol. 1
"Oh My God"
"Next Girlfriend"
"Hello"2022Heartbreak County, Vol. 2
"Hello"
"Lesbionic"
"Spend It"
"Cover Girl"
"PCH (Pretty Cold Heart)"
"Gia Would"2023Your Engine
"Elevation"
"Heartbreak Radio"
"Somebody Else's Baby"

Notes and References

  1. Billboard. Meet Gia, The 21-Year-Old Pop Goddess Who Came Out Through A Music Video. Tatiana Cirisano. 2017-08-01.
  2. Web site: V. Gia Woods Reflects on Past Relationships On Her New EP. Laura Sanchez. 2020-03-13.
  3. Billboard. 20 Questions with Gia Woods: How Expelling Toxic Patterns & People Led to Her Debut EP. Stephen Daw. 2020-10-09.
  4. Web site: Schön! Magazine. interview - gia woods. Henry Lifshits. 2020-03-16.
  5. Web site: Hypebae. Gia Woods Shows Her Vulnerable Side on New EP, 'CUT SEASON'. Pauline De Leon. 2020-10-09.
  6. Billboard. Gia Woods Shares Her Favorite 'Sexy Empowering' Songs for Summer of Pride Mix. Nick Williams. 2019-09-13.
  7. Web site: Forbes. Gia Woods' Cut Season - Talking Community, Music And Britney Spears. Eric Fuller. 2020-11-30.
  8. Web site: Gia Woods toys with the push-pull appeal of LA on new pop-bop "Enough Of You". The Line of Best Fit. Charlotte Russell. June 18, 2021.
  9. News: Paper Magazine. Gia Woods Announces 'Heartbreak County, Vol. 2'. Justin Moran. 2022-05-26.
  10. Billboard. First Out: New Music From Elton John, Daya, Wrabel & More. Stephen Daw. 2021-09-24.
  11. News: 2022-05-26 . Gia Woods Announces 'Heartbreak County, Vol. 2' . 2022-11-13 . PAPER . en.
  12. Web site: Major . Michael . Gia Woods Delivers 'Heartbreak County Vol. 2' EP . 2022-11-13 . BroadwayWorld.com . en.
  13. Mier . Tomás . 2023-02-14 . Gia Woods Wants to Take You to 'Heartbreak County' . 2023-03-13 . Rolling Stone . en-US.
  14. Web site: Gia Woods. Metal. Barragán Vert. Helena.
  15. Web site: Pop star Gia Woods on break-ups, 'sapphic revenge' tracks and fighting for queer Iranians. PinkNews. Wratten. Marcus. November 2, 2024.
  16. Web site: Kim Petras, Gia Woods & Greyson Chance to Headline OUTLOUD Music Festival. Neill Frazer. 2019-08-24. OutLoud Culture. en-US.
  17. Web site: NJ Next. Ninth Annual North Jersey Pride Festival in Maplewood June 9.
  18. Web site: LA Pride. Thrive With Pride Concert.
  19. Web site: NJ. Jersey Pride is back for its 30th celebration. Here's what to expect.. Sarah Dolgin. 2022-06-03.
  20. Web site: Insider. Pride looks different in 2020, but these 50+ brands are still supporting the LGBTQ community with Pride collections. 2020-06-05.
  21. Web site: Refinery29. Gen Z's Queer Icons Talk About Pride. Eliza Huber. 2020-06-18.
  22. Web site: CNN. Black trans model Jari Jones fronts Calvin Klein's Pride campaign. Jacqui Palumbo. 2020-06-26.