Today, at the microphones of italiani.it, we have one of the most famous artists Asmr in Italy. Her name is Erica, aka Ninfea. ASMR is a form of mental and physical relaxation, the acronym means Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, which literally means autonomous sensory response, i.e. a sensation of absolute and total relaxation that starts from the scalp and then spreads throughout the body. In recent years this "movement" has grown a lot and this is demonstrated not only by the number of artists who are rapidly proliferating on YouTube, but also by the social media numbers of those who have been doing it for a few years, just like Ninfea. His audience on YouTube is growing rapidly and has reached 43.600 followers, just as his Instagram profile is growing.
We present Ninfea: the exclusive interview with italiani.it
How did your passion for ASMR begin?
My passion for ASMR was born almost ten years ago, in 2014. The spark came when I discovered the channel of an American ASMRtist, GentleWhispering, who is still active today. Her videos had a very relaxing effect on me and helped me sleep better, so I started looking for other similar channels, almost all foreign. After about a year, during which I simply enjoyed this content as a simple spectator, I thought of getting involved myself, opening my Ninfea ASMR channel, when the Italian panorama still had very few creators.
Why did you choose not to show your face at the beginning of your ASMR journey?
When I started, in July 2015, ASMR in Italy was still a new and often misunderstood phenomenon. The whispered voice, a peculiar characteristic of ASMR, was often misinterpreted and it was not uncommon, at the time, to receive unpleasant comments. This initial climate of incomprehension, which didn't seem to exist abroad, had led me to the decision not to show my face. Basically out of fear of being judged, even by those I knew in real life. Fortunately, over time, prejudices about ASMR have decreased and the phenomenon has also become widespread in our country, which led me to show myself with much more serenity three years later.
How did you choose the name of the channel?
The water lily is the flower that most reminds me of a feeling of relaxation. For its delicate color, for its perfect shape, for its being an aquatic flower. This “symbolism” seemed perfect to me for a channel that focuses on well-being and relaxation, so I decided that Ninfea was the ideal name and I think it also sounds quite good, pronounced in whispering!
What relationship do you have with other ASMRtists?
I'm very lucky because the community of ASMR creators is very close-knit. It often happens that collaborations are organized or that we support each other. Naturally, as in any human relationship, a closer bond develops with some colleagues than with others, but personally, I don't feel any feeling of competition. Indeed, I find it very stimulating to discover new sounds or original ideas brought by other ASMRtists. We are lucky because, with a little passion and creativity, we can offer so many different contents: the world of roleplays is practically infinite!
What is your relationship with your channel's audience?
I have a very special bond with my subscribers, who I affectionately call “Ninfetti”. Although the term may have seemed a little unusual at first, it has now become an integral part of all my videos. My community is splendid and varied, with a prevalence of very young people, but also people my age and some older. Many of my subscribers have been following me for some time, and I can say that I have established a closer relationship with them: I have even met some in person, while I maintain regular contact with others via email or on Instagram. I'm really lucky: I never imagined, at the beginning, that I could receive so much affection and be followed by such an involved audience.
Do you also receive negative comments on your channel?
Of course, even if in a very low percentage. I think it's normal: you can't be appreciated by everyone, especially when you expose yourself on a public platform. By now I have understood that the Internet is a place where it is quite easy to vent one's hatred. Perhaps thanks to the anonymity or distance created by typing behind a screen rather than meeting face to face. I usually don't delete criticism, but I try to respond politely. It seems crazy, but it happened that with a couple of haters, after a brief exchange of answers, I almost became "friends"!
Ninfea, a singer as well as an Asmr artist
In addition to producing ASMR content you are also a singer. Do you want to talk about your work?
Singing was my first great passion, and I put a lot of effort into turning it into a profession. It was not always an easy road, full of significant moments, but with two experiences that played a fundamental role. The first is with the Capolinea 24 project, an acoustic duo that I formed with my partner, the guitarist Angelo Mazzeo. Together, we created an album of unreleased songs, "Lost in Tales", published in 2018. The other important project is that of iPop, a leading cover band in the live music scene. With them I had the opportunity to travel around Italy starting in 2019, doing many evenings especially in northern and central Italy. During concerts, I sometimes met some of my Nymphets, who recognized me. It's always a slightly surreal feeling, this intersection between my real life and my online life!
Besides ASMR and singing, do you have any other passions?
Yes, I have several other passions. I often feel like I don't have enough time to follow them all! One of these is writing: in June 2020, I published my first novel, “In the same network”, and now I am working on my second book. Unfortunately I can't dedicate as much time to writing as I would like, but when I manage to carve out a few hours, time flies as my characters come to life on paper. I also love cooking, I like trying new recipes and flavours. And finally I love travelling! If it were possible, I would live in constant movement, even if this aspiration clashes with the needs of my work. In the future, who knows…
