We spoke with Amara Nova by phone from Atlanta, where she was in the early stages of writing her second album.

After Hours, Before Dawn has been called the best debut in neo-soul in years. How does it feel to hear that?

Terrifying, honestly. I made the album just trying to tell the truth. I was not thinking about genre or legacy or any of that. Now suddenly there is all this expectation and I have to figure out how to make the next record without trying to live up to the first one.

You grew up in London but moved to Atlanta at 20. What did Atlanta give you that London could not?

Space, mostly. In London everyone is very cool β€” no one admits to feeling things too deeply. Atlanta gave me permission to be emotional. The music culture there, the gospel tradition, the way people respond when you play live β€” it is physically warm in a way I had never experienced.

What do you want people to take away from the album?

I want someone to listen to it at 3am when they cannot sleep and feel less alone. That is the whole thing. That is why I made it.