Nicole Huff has been a multihyphenate performer since the age of six. From landing a role on Degrassi early in her career to later playing opposite Mila Kunis in Netflix’s Luckiest Girl Alive, Huff is better known for her onscreen efforts. Yet aside from her acting credentials, she’s mastered instruments, become a black belt in karate, trained in multiple dance variations, and learned how to figure skate. Beyond her aforementioned merits, she’s also found her footing as a budding pop star, now taking her music career to the next level with the release of Who We Are (Deluxe).

“I feel like I’m very authentic about who I am with my music. It feels very raw and real. I’m bringing out different parts of me depending on the song,” she says. Although Huff draws from herself to a certain extent when getting into character, her music is where she is most vulnerable and free. Her debut EP, Who We Are, blends bubblegum pop with empowering lyricism. The title track is a prime example, exuding confidence without missing a beat.  

Huff wanted to craft her own self-acceptance pop anthem when she wrote “Who We Are” alongside Jonah Cappa and producer Roy Hamilton III. Taking Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” and Ariana Grande’s “Break Free” as inspiration, the single lifts listeners up and encourages them to be unapologetically themselves. In her EP’s deluxe version, she releases a remix of the song, raising the energy levels with Afrobeats production. 

“The remix makes it a very dancey song, rather than an emotional song. Even though there’s still emotional layers in the lyrics, it’s fun to listen to and definitely brings out positivity,” she says.

Aside from “Who We Are II”, Huff has other new songs to share before moving on from this era. The deluxe EP also features “Obsession”, a tune with an edgy appeal that sets the tone for her latest music video. In it, the artist is haunted by her ex-boyfriend (played by Conor Freeborn), sensing his presence at every corner despite wanting to move on. Huff shares that Cappa (her co-writer) was originally planning on presenting “Obsession” to Selena Gomez, but the song eventually came to her.

This isn’t the first time that Huff has the chance to record a track intended for another prominent artist. In her latest EP, the singer puts her own spin on an underrated Britney Spears pop/rap collaboration.“(I Got That) Boom Boom” ft. Ying Yang Twins was part of Spears’ 2003 album, In The Zone, and featured in the White Chicks soundtrack. Although Spears performed it on an infamous ABC special, the song didn’t become a hit single like “Toxic”. Huff is giving the track a new lease on life. 

“Roy actually reached out to me asking if I wanted to do a remix for it, and I’m the only person that he has ever wanted to do that for,” she says. “That’s his creation for Britney, so it was very cool and an honour to get that opportunity. I definitely felt like I had to respect her work, without imitating it. Still feeling inspired by it, but also making it my own.”

Who We Are (Deluxe) is rooted in female empowerment and women taking ownership of their own narrative. Having written it during a time where she was at both a personal and creative crossroads, Huff wants the EP to make listeners feel understood and less alone. “We need more messages that come out of people talking about dark places that they’ve been in and how they were able to come out of them,” she says. 

Although Huff’s focus lately has been her music career, she’s eager to get back on screen in a project that can combine her passions. Her dream role would be something where she could incorporate her skills in figure skating, dancing, and singing. As for dream collaborations, she has a few hitmakers in mind. 

“I’ve always wanted to work with J-Lo. There’s also lots of directors that I admire and producers. There’s legends like Max Martin… and other people that I respect in the industry that I would love the chance to meet or work with,” she says.

Nicole Huff’s Who We Are (Deluxe) is now available to stream on all digital platforms.