Southeast LA is the second home of artist and musician Neyva. She says the first is Saturn.

“That’s my home planet,” Neyva says. “That’s the planet in the solar system that resonated with me the most.”

You can often find Neyva online under the username @neyvathealien. And their music does have an otherworldly vibe.

Neyva’s latest single “Barbarella” is inspired by their love of the 1968 sci-fi movie Barbarella featuring Jane Fonda, aliens and “desire for a cosmic queer love,” according to the artist.

For Neyva, aliens aren’t just the little green creatures with oval heads and eyes. They’re a feeling and a spiritual connection.

“It’s an emotion of not really feeling like I belong in a certain place, planet or community,” Neyva explains.

And that feeling shows up in how Neyva creates music.

“I’m here to let people know that you can carve your own path and create your own universe amidst these adversities and feelings that you experience,” she says.

“Para Siempre” is one of Neyva’s songs that exist as two different versions: Traditional and Alien.

The first is reminiscent of traditional Spanish love songs. While the second is “more ethereal, with abrasive synth textures.” For Neyva, the split represents the duality of the end of a long-term relationship that recently ended.

“The beauty and love that did exist in it. But the sadness and grief that did transpire in the ending,” they say. “It’s just all encapsulated in that song.”

Neyva’s music explores an array of different genres like pop, cumbia, techno, bolero and more. They describe their experimental music as eclectic and sometimes abrasive.

“I’m really inspired by artists who trail blaze and carve their own path,” they say. “This is me carving my own path and not limiting myself to one thing.”

Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons sat down with Southeast LA artist and musician Neyva ahead of their show at the Empty Bottle on March 17.

You can listen to the full conversation above.