Nessa Barrett

Biography

Janesa Jaida "Nessa" Barrett (born August 6, 2002) is an American singer-songwriter and social media personality. She rose to prominence on TikTok and began uploading song covers as a teenager, which led her to sign a recording contract with Warner Records. She released her debut single, "Pain", in 2020. In 2021, she released her debut EP, Pretty Poison×pretty poison10 September 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1pretty poison2:172keep me afraid2:443i hope ur miserable until ur dead2:574grave2:275scare myself3:136i wanna die2:467sincerely1:08, which combined elements of alternative pop and pop-rock. She then released her debut album, Young Forever×young forever14 October 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1tired of california3:112gaslight3:163talk to myself2:464fuckmarrykill3:335dear god2:126forgive the world2:297too hot to cry3:088madhouse2:069unnecessary violence3:1510lovebomb3:0911decay2:2912die first2:5713lucky star1:23, the following year. In 2023, she released another EP, Hell Is a Teenage Girl×hell is a teenage girl14 July 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1hell is a teenage girl3:152the one that should’ve got away3:343lie3:344plane to paris3:545heartbreak in the hamptons2:356american jesus2:497motel whore3:338BANG BANG!2:16, and in 2024, she released her second studio album, Aftercare×AFTERCARE15 November 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1AFTERCARE1:342P*RNSTAR2:293HEARTBEAT3:094DISCO3:185PASSENGER PRINCESS2:366MUSTANG BABY3:127RUSSIAN ROULETTE2:408S.L.U.T.2:289BABYDOLL3:3910GIVEN ENOUGH3:2411EDWARD SCISSORHANDS3:3112GLITTER AND VIOLENCE3:0513PINS AND NEEDLES3:2214STAY ALIVE3:1115DIRTY LITTLE SECRET3:35, which incorporated electropop and synthpop. In 2026, Barrett released her EP, Jesus Loves a Primadonna×Jesus loves a primadonna19 March 2026 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1West Coast Prayer3:312Moulin Rouge3:113Black Haired Madonna3:334Venom3:045Buffalo 664:276High On Heaven3:197Special To You2:428Stay With Me3:47. In July of that same year, she announced her third studio album Tough Love×Tough Love25 September 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tough Love3:162Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die3:213Dracula2:594Fetish2:505Only for You3:236Glamorous3:177Coming Home Again2:508Bunny3:059Candy2:4810God Gave Me Expensive Taste3:3511Bad Girls Never Die2:47, which released on September 25, 2026.

Early life

Barrett is of Puerto Rican descent. She was born and raised in Galloway Township, New Jersey. During adolescence, Barrett felt alienated due to being the only Puerto Rican and one of the few children being raised by a single mother, following the divorce of her parents. Barrett said she has been writing songs "since [she] could walk and talk".

2019–2021: Career beginnings and Pretty Poison

In 2019, Barrett began posting videos on TikTok, which led to a recording contract with Warner Records. In July 2020, she released her piano‑based ballad debut single, "Pain".
In October 2020, she released her second single, "If U Love Me×if u love me9 October 2020 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1if u love me4:14". In December 2020, Barrett released a dark interpretation of "Santa Baby". In February 2021, she released the track "La Di Die×la di die19 February 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1la di die3:15", which explores the downfalls of fame with Jxdn and was produced by Travis Barker. Barrett, Jxdn, and Barker performed the single live for the first time on the April 7, 2021 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and again on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 12, 2021.
On June 25, 2021, Barrett released "Counting Crimes×counting crimes25 June 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1counting crimes3:03", a song she described as "about moving on from something toxic". In August 2021, her song "I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead×i hope ur miserable until ur dead6 August 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1i hope ur miserable until ur dead2:57" debuted at number 88 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking her first entry on the chart. Her debut EP, Pretty Poison×pretty poison10 September 2021 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1pretty poison2:172keep me afraid2:443i hope ur miserable until ur dead2:574grave2:275scare myself3:136i wanna die2:467sincerely1:08, containing seven new tracks, was released on September 10, 2021, coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day.

2022–2023: Young Forever and Hell Is a Teenage Girl

Barrett released the single "Dying on the Inside×dying on the inside25 February 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1dying on the inside3:24" in February 2022.
In June 2022, she released "Die First×die first24 June 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1die first2:57" as the lead single from her debut studio album. The song is dedicated to her friend Cooper Noriega, who had recently died from an accidental drug overdose. In the track, Barrett sings about hoping to never experience the pain of losing her mother, expressing a desire to be the first to pass between the two of them.
On September 9, 2022, she released "Madhouse×madhouse9 September 2022 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1madhouse2:062die first2:57", the album’s second single. The song addresses mental health struggles, slut-shaming, and bullying. In October 2022, she released "Tired of California×tired of california7 October 2022 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1tired of california3:112madhouse2:063die first2:57", the album’s third single, followed by the full release of Young Forever×young forever14 October 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1tired of california3:112gaslight3:163talk to myself2:464fuckmarrykill3:335dear god2:126forgive the world2:297too hot to cry3:088madhouse2:069unnecessary violence3:1510lovebomb3:0911decay2:2912die first2:5713lucky star1:23. In December 2022, she announced her Young Forever Tour featuring Isabel LaRosa, performing twenty shows beginning in February 2023.
In February 2023, she released the single "Bang Bang!×BANG BANG!17 February 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1BANG BANG!2:16" followed by "American Jesus×american jesus28 April 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1american jesus2:49" (previously performed acoustically on the Young Forever Tour) in April 2023 and "lie" in June 2023. All three singles were later included on her EP Hell Is a Teenage Girl×hell is a teenage girl14 July 2023 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1hell is a teenage girl3:152the one that should’ve got away3:343lie3:344plane to paris3:545heartbreak in the hamptons2:356american jesus2:497motel whore3:338BANG BANG!2:16, released on July 14, 2023. On September 8, 2023, she released the single "Sick of Myself×sick of myself8 September 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1sick of myself2:222sick of myself (sped up)2:00" featuring Whethan. On October 6, 2023, she released another single dedicated to Cooper Noriega, titled "Club Heaven×club heaven6 October 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1club heaven2:12", accompanied by a music video. On December 8, 2023, she released the single "Girl in New York×girl in new york8 December 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1girl in new york2:57", which she had previously performed.

2024–present: Aftercare, Jesus Loves a Primadonna and Tough Love

On January 18, 2024, she released "Club Heaven×club heaven6 October 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1club heaven2:12" (Live from Spotify Green Screen). Barrett’s second album, Aftercare×AFTERCARE15 November 2024 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1AFTERCARE1:342P*RNSTAR2:293HEARTBEAT3:094DISCO3:185PASSENGER PRINCESS2:366MUSTANG BABY3:127RUSSIAN ROULETTE2:408S.L.U.T.2:289BABYDOLL3:3910GIVEN ENOUGH3:2411EDWARD SCISSORHANDS3:3112GLITTER AND VIOLENCE3:0513PINS AND NEEDLES3:2214STAY ALIVE3:1115DIRTY LITTLE SECRET3:35, was released in November 2024. It was preceded by the lead single "Passenger Princess×PASSENGER PRINCESS26 July 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1PASSENGER PRINCESS2:35", released in July 2024. The album also included the singles "Disco×DISCO18 October 2024 · OtherSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1DISCO3:20" featuring Tommy Genesis and "Dirty Little Secret×DIRTY LITTLE SECRET20 September 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1DIRTY LITTLE SECRET3:35". A deluxe edition of Aftercare, containing six new tracks, was released on February 7, 2025.
On January 16, 2026, she released the single "High on Heaven×High On Heaven16 January 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1High On Heaven3:19", which she performed on Triple J on January 15, 2026. On February 27, 2026, she released "Stay with Me×Stay With Me27 February 2026 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Stay With Me3:47" and announced her next EP, Jesus Loves a Primadonna×Jesus loves a primadonna19 March 2026 · EPSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1West Coast Prayer3:312Moulin Rouge3:113Black Haired Madonna3:334Venom3:045Buffalo 664:276High On Heaven3:197Special To You2:428Stay With Me3:47, which was released on March 20, 2026.
In 2026, it was announced that Barrett would be an opener for The Neighbourhood’s upcoming tour. The band has been cited as a major influence on her decision to pursue music.
In July 2026, Barrett announced her third studio album Tough Love×Tough Love25 September 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tough Love3:162Too Fast to Live, Too Young to Die3:213Dracula2:594Fetish2:505Only for You3:236Glamorous3:177Coming Home Again2:508Bunny3:059Candy2:4810God Gave Me Expensive Taste3:3511Bad Girls Never Die2:47, which released on September 25.

Artistry

Barrett cites Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, Melanie Martinez, and The Neighbourhood as influences on both her sound and her aesthetic as a musician.

Personal life

Barrett has been open about her mental health issues, including depression, borderline personality disorder (BPD), suicidal thoughts, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. She began therapy at the age of six and has spoken publicly about experiencing her first suicide attempt at fourteen, after which she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. At seventeen, after initial objections from her parents, she moved to Los Angeles to pursue career opportunities. She was diagnosed with BPD at eighteen.
She has also discussed the emotional impact of the 2022 death of her best friend Cooper Noriega, a fellow TikTok creator who died of an accidental drug overdose. Following his passing, Barrett was hospitalized again, and she later dedicated her singles “Die First×die first24 June 2022 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1die first2:57” and “Club Heaven×club heaven6 October 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1club heaven2:12” to him. She has said that "Die First" was originally written about her mother but was rededicated to Noriega after his death.
In an interview with Zach Sang, Barrett stated that her Christian faith played an important role in helping her cope with her mental health challenges and with Noriega’s death.
Barrett is bisexual. She began dating fellow social media star Josh Richards in November 2019; the two broke up in March 2021. She then dated Jaden Hossler (also known as Jxdn) and later addressed engagement rumors following their breakup in May 2022.
After her breakup with Hossler, Barrett was linked to model Harley Solomon, who is reported to be the nephew of the owners of the fashion brand Chrome Hearts. The two were photographed together, leading to public speculation about their relationship, though neither confirmed it publicly.

Headlining

Young Forever Tour (2023)
Church Club for the Lonely Tour (2023)
Aftercare World Tour (2025)
Jesus Loves a Primadonna: An Intimate Evening with Nessa Barrett (2026)
Tough Love Tour (2027)