In Episode 33 of The Encore Club Podcast, Will continues the Countdown to Christmas with singer-songwriter nep for a festive, funny, and deeply music-obsessed conversation that balances emotional honesty with full festive chaos. As part of the Christmas run, nep brings huge energy, warmth, and openness to an episode that moves seamlessly between hometown identity, creative growth, and the songs and live moments that shape you for life.

Across the episode, nep opens up about growing up in Daytona, Florida, falling in love with music at a young age, and learning how to tell stories through songwriting that blend humour, vulnerability, and self-awareness. She reflects on navigating college at the University of Miami while her music career began to take off online, discussing the strange reality of touring, going viral on TikTok, and trying to balance creative momentum with finishing her degree. There is honest reflection on knowing when it is time to leave home, how those feelings fed directly into her debut album Noel, and why embracing sadness can sometimes be a sign of gratitude rather than defeat.

The conversation dives deep into nep’s love of emo, alternative, and pop punk, with passionate discussions about My Chemical Romance, Twenty One Pilots, Pierce the Veil, crying at gigs, and the specific emotional moments in songs that hit harder than anything else. She shares unforgettable live music experiences, pinch-me career moments, and the joy of seeing fans connect with her music in real life. Alongside this, nep gives a heartfelt shoutout to independent venues and reflects on why community and live music spaces matter more than ever.

Festive chaos runs throughout the episode, with Christmas movie talk, eggnog debates, guilty pleasure holiday songs, fictional Christmas movie soundtracks, and even helping Santa DJ a set at the North Pole. The episode builds towards nep’s dream concert, where she designs the perfect venue, curates an emo-heavy lineup, and places herself right in the pit for the ultimate live music experience.

It’s a warm, emotional, and genuinely funny festive episode, and a perfect listen for anyone who loves emo and alternative music, discovering artists through TikTok, live gig culture, or simply hearing passionate people talk about music the way it’s meant to be talked about.