Nija Charles

Nija Aisha-Alayja Charles (born October 20, 1997), also known by her stage name Amnija, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Charles began her career in 2017, and has since written songs for The Carters ("Heard About Us" and "LoveHappy"), Lady Gaga ("Rain on Me"), Cardi B ("I Do" and "Ring"), and Chris Brown ("No Guidance"). She is signed to Capitol Records and Universal Music Publishing Group.

She was nominated for the inaugural Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards for her work on releases by Beyoncé, Summer Walker, City Girls, Lil Durk, Anitta, Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion and Kehlani.

Biography Charles gained interest in music as a child, observing her uncle and aunt experiment on the production software Fruity Loops. Raised in Union, New Jersey, Charles graduated in 2015 from Union High School.

In 2016, she enrolled in the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University where she practiced her production and songwriting skills. During the second semester of her sophomore year, Charles met her current manager, Christian McCurdy. He introduced her to RCA Records A&R J Grand, and he flew her to Los Angeles to work with producers and other artists and repertoires in the recording industry. Charles continued traveling between Los Angeles and New York City for short bi-weekly trips, allowing her to work on music in Los Angeles while still attending classes in New York City. Charles left Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music in 2017 after signing a publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group.

As a songwriter and producer, Charles' songwriting credits include Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Chris Brown, Cardi B, SZA, Kehlani, Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and Jason Derulo. Charles was placed on BET's 2020 "Future 40" list, which is a list of "40 of the most inspiring and innovative vanguards who are redefining what it means to be unapologetically young, gifted & black". She was named to Rolling Stone "Future 25" in October 2020.

Artistry

Influences Charles has described growing up listening to R&B all around her. She claims The-Dream, Usher, Ryan Leslie, Chris Brown, Amerie, NSYNC, Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and Paramore as influences, describing herself as "a melting pot of everyone that I've ever listened to." In reference to her 2022 EP Don't Say I Didn't Warn You, Charles cited Pop Smoke as a direct influence.

Songwriting Charles has described her songwriting process as empathetic, stating that "When I write for other people I have to kind of imagine how I would sing a song if I were them or tailor it to how they would sing it." She has drawn comparisons between acting and collaborative songwriting, describing how writing with other artists requires her to "dig deep" and "imagine how you would feel if you were in this scenario." Charles maintains a solo career alongside her songwriting, and has urged listeners to "keep in mind [...] that I am not the other records that you've heard me pen on, they were meant for other people."

"Ring (featuring Kehlani)"

"I Do (featuring SZA)" Tone Stith "Light Flex (featuring 2 Chainz)" Uncle Drew (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

"Heard About Us"

"LoveHappy" Christian Lalama "Tic Toc" Kid Ink "Cana (featuring 24 Hrs)"

"Blue Bank"

"Vibes On Me (featuring Kodak Black)" "Drown In My Cup" Kodie Shane "Hiatus" Young aa

"Uptown Vibes (featuring Fabolous & Anuel AA)"

"On Me (featuring Cardi B)" "24/7 (featuring Ella Mai)" 21 Savage "A&T (featuring City Girls)" I Am > I Was

Sean Paul "Shot & Wine (featuring Stefflon Don)"

Megan Thee Stallion "Sweetest Pie (featuring Dua Lipa)" Traumazine Kehlani "Tangerine" Blue Water Road Lil Durk "IYKYK (featuring Ella Mai & A Boogie wit da Hoodie)" 7220 City Girls "Good Love (featuring Usher)" Beyoncé "Cozy" Renaissance Calvin Harris "Ready or Not (featuring Busta Rhymes) Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2

Shenseea "Call Now" — songwriter Shenseea "Running Away" — songwriter

Usher "Good Good" Coming Home — songwriter Sexyy Red "I Might" — songwriter Coco Jones "Most Beautiful Design" — songwriter Toosii featuring Muni Long "I Do" — songwriter Megan Thee Stallion featuring TWICE "Mamushi (Remix)" Shenseea "Dolla" — songwriter Shenseea "Keep a Place" — songwriter

Lisa "Fxck Up the World" (featuring Future) Alter Ego songwriter Lil Nas X "Light Again" — songwriter J-Hope "Mona Lisa" — songwriter Saweetie "I Need Some Inspo" — songwriter Cardi B "Shower Tears" — songwriter Honey Dijon featuring Chlöe "The Nightlife" — songwriter Summer Walker and Mariah the Scientist "Robbed You" — songwriter Kiana Ledé and Chlöe "Weakness" — songwriter

Jordan Adetunji "Who Is It" — songwriter John Summit "Mess With Me" — songwriter Lisa and Anyma "Bad Angel" — songwriter Rosalía "Focu 'Ranni" Lux songwriter Le Sserafim "Irony" Pureflow Pt. 1 songwriter