Nessa Barrett: From TikTok Sensation to Electro-Pop Trailblazer
Nessa Barrett’s voice stands out in the constantly changing world of Gen Z art. The Puerto Rican-American singer-songwriter has turned her own pain into chart-topping songs at the age of 23. She has more than 2 billion streams around the world and a very loyal fan base. Janesa Jaida Barrett was born on August 6, 2002, in Galloway Township, New Jersey. She went from being a “alienated” kid posting TikTok covers to headlining arenas all over the world. Her story is a perfect example of the chaotic beauty of modern fame. Barrett is at the top of the alternative pop scene with her new live album and her Aftercare World Tour. Her songs have confessional lyrics and pulsing synths that make you want to cry and dance at the same time.
Early Life: Where Resilience Comes From
Barrett’s childhood was full of change and loneliness. She was raised by a single mother after her parents divorced, and she was often the only Puerto Rican child in her neighborhood. This made her feel different from the other kids. Music became her safe place. She told interviewers later that she had been writing songs “since [she] could walk and talk.” When she was six, she started going to therapy, which was the beginning of the mental health problems that would shape much of her work. Barrett tried to kill herself by taking too many painkillers when she was 14, which put her in a psychiatric hospital. At 17, she ran away to Los Angeles against her parents’ wishes, leaving behind the quiet life in suburban New Jersey for the hard work of the music business. It was a risky move that worked out, but it left scars.
Get famous on TikTok and sign with Warner
Barrett’s big break came in 2019 on TikTok, where millions loved her raw covers and lip-syncs. By 2020, her viral popularity got the attention of Warner Records, which led to a recording contract that everyone wanted. Her first single, “Pain,” a haunting piano ballad, made her famous in the music world. It reached No. 21 on New Zealand’s Hot Singles chart. Follow-ups like “If U Love Me” (October 2020) and a twisted holiday cover of “Santa Baby” (December 2020) showed off her ability to mix vulnerability with edge. But it was “La Di Die,” a song she made with Jxdn and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker, that really made her famous. The song, which came out in February 2021 and is a stark meditation on the downsides of fame, got live spots on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Barrett’s rise was meteoric: “I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead” made it to No. 88 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 2021, her first time on the chart.
Poison to Aftercare: A Discography
Barrett’s music is like a diary of heartbreak, healing, and hedonism. Her first EP, Pretty Poison, came out on September 10, 2021, which was also World Suicide Prevention Day. It mixed alt-pop with rock edges. “Counting Crimes,” which is about getting rid of toxic people, and the EP’s title track both hit home for her, putting her on Billboard’s “21 Under 21” list. Her first full-length album, Young Forever, came out in October 2022 and reached No. 80 on the Billboard 200. It was about grief, especially the overdose death of her friend Cooper Noriega, who was a TikTok star. He wrote the lead single “Die First” in his memory, and “Madhouse” talked about slut-shaming and bullying.
The EP Hell Is a Teenage Girl came out on July 14, 2023. It was a raw turn toward darker themes with the singles “American Jesus” and “Lie.” “Club Heaven,” which was dedicated to Noriega, and “Girl in New York,” which were not on the album, kept the momentum going. Then, on November 15, 2024, came Aftercare, her second album and a new take on electro-pop. Cosmopolitan called it a “movie” where Barrett is both “filmmaker” and “starlet.” It has synth-driven hits like “Passenger Princess” (July 2024), “Disco” (ft. Tommy Genesis), and “Dirty Little Secret.” The deluxe edition came out on February 7, 2025, and it had six new songs, including “Mustang Baby” (ft. Artemas), which was a collaboration. “Pornstar,” “Does God Cry?,” and “Love Looks Pretty on You” (which peaked at No. 11 in New Zealand) are three singles from 2025 that show how she is always growing.
Tours and Awards: Live Fire and Industry Recognition
Barrett’s live skills got people’s attention right away. The Young Forever Tour (2023) sold out venues, and then the Church Girl for the Lonely Tour went to Australia. Her Aftercare World Tour, which started after her album came out, already has 36 dates in North America and Europe. In December 2025, she will also perform in Australian arenas, making it her biggest headline run in Australia so far. She will be performing at the Spilt Milk Festival with Kendrick Lamar and Doechii. Thomas Day, a special guest, will be there for the Australian dates and promises a night of “poignant ballads” and “high-energy anthems.” In June 2025, she played at the AB Concert Hall in Brussels, Europe, with sombr as her opening act.
There have been awards, like winning BreakTudo’s International Best New Artist award in 2022, getting nominated for MTV VMA and EMA awards, and being on Ones to Watch and Uproxx’s “25 New Faces” lists. This October, her first live album, Aftercare Tour (Live in Los Angeles), came out. It has eight tracks from a sold-out Wiltern show and shows off her “raw and real” stage presence.
People are talking about a Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance with Ringo Starr and Noah Centineo in January 2025, as well as a music video with Rob Rausch from Love Island. Barrett (@nessabarrett) teases tour reels on Instagram, gushing over fan moments from her European leg: “love u guys sm <3.”
Personal Issues: Faith, Love, and Mental Health Advocacy
Her honesty is Barrett’s greatest strength. She was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder when she was 18. Since then, she’s struggled with depression, eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), and multiple suicide attempts, including one in 2022 after Noriega’s death that sent her back to the hospital. In a Zach Sang interview, she said that her Christian faith was a lifeline: “It helped me through the darkest parts.” She is bisexual and doesn’t care who knows it. Her famous relationships include TikToker Josh Richards (2019–2021) and Jxdn (2021–2022), whose engagement rumors turned into a messy breakup.
Barrett strongly supports mental health through it all, turning the “madhouse” chaos into a community catharsis. In August 2025, she told fans on X, “we miss tour,” and her “nessa nation” agreed.
A World on Her Terms in the Future
Barrett’s path is going up as 2025 goes on. Aftercare’s electro-pop sound is getting a lot of praise, and her tour is going to Australia. She’s not just a TikTok kid anymore; she’s a global force. New singles and possible collaborations (keep an eye out for that Rausch video) suggest that they will try bolder things. In a genre full of polish, Barrett’s grit stands out. It reminds us that real pop stars don’t just act out pain; they turn it into power. For fans, it’s not just music; it’s a way to stay alive.