Southeast Asian music is finally getting its moment in the sun, and Indonesian girl group no na are at the forefront of the oncoming wave. Composed of members Christy, Esther, Baila and Shaz, the quartet were formed under 88rising, best known for catapulting Asian artists like NIKI, Rich Brian and MILLI to international success.

The group burst onto the scene in May 2025, when one of their early releases, “Shoot” became an instant hit among K-pop fans after it caught the attention of heavyweights like IVE and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo, especially when posted about it. With the release of their latest single “Work”, the group are enjoying another moment of virality for its back-breaking choreography and addictive energy.

Despite launching under an American label, no na have made it a point to showcase the beauty of their country. The music video for “Work”, features Balinese member Christy performing with a ceng-ceng, a traditional cymbal that fits right in with the sharp rhythmic clashes of the track. So far, much of the spotlight has been cast on Bali, with the visuals for “Shoot” and “Superstitious” being filmed there, and the choreography for “Falling In Love” incorporating elements of traditional Balinese dance. But the group have been vocal about representing the diversity within Indonesia, and fans are eager to catch a glimpse of the rest of no na’s backgrounds in future releases.

While they were in town, ELLE Singapore met up with no na for a chat, where they opened up about everything from their group dynamic and first impressions to what they are manifesting in 2026.

How would you describe no na’s sound and message?

Esther: "The no na sound comprises a mix of genres—we can be very versatile in the studio. With '80s retro pop songs that are already out, we'd like to dive deeper into our R&B side. Recently, we released "Work", with something else coming out soon that has a more dance-based pop sound. In other words: The no na sound is a little bit of everything. That said, we stick to our island girl concept through and through."

What were your first impressions of each other?

Christy: I just remember having the impression that they were very loud. I’m very quiet, so…

Baila: My first impression of Christy is just that she's very quiet. Esther and Shaz were very nice, and pretty! I was just surprised that they were really pretty.

Esther: That was mine too. I met Baila and Christy for the first time, and I was like, these girls are really pretty. And then I met Shaz, and she was very hardworking. We were like, calm down! I got scared the first time she came in.

Shaz: The members were really pretty and fun. I feel like we clicked right away.

Who is an artist that shapes who you are as singers?

Esther: As a group, we pay homage to a lot of artists from the ‘80s and ‘90s, like Janet Jackson. Whitney Houston has been at the top of our playlist lately. But we also look up to a lot of modern R&B artists. I personally really like FLO right now.

Shaz: Britney Spears, Beyoncé. All the baddie girls.

Baila: All time, I think it’s still Ariana Grande.

Christy: I love Britney Spears. Some people have told me that my voice sounds a bit like Britney’s. I love and am inspired by Britney Spears.

How do you hype each other up before a performance?

Esther: Our chant. It goes, “no na on three!”

All: Satu, dua, tiga, no na!

Christy: And then we walk on stage, hand in hand.

Baila: Even if we have to separate after!

Esther: We always ask our manager to give us 10 to 15 minutes alone before we go on stage. Just the four of us to ourselves.

Baila: Just to listen to music, and breathe.

What do you envision for no na in 2026?

Baila: Definitely new music. Tour, album, everything. A tour is number one on our list right now.

Esther: Manifestation!

Baila: We want to see different cities, we want to see all our Orchids—international, Indonesian, everything. So we hope we can go on tour soon. 

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.