Abby Nissenbaum writes where genuine yearning meets dramatic absurdity. On the five-song Want To Be Wrong EP, the Nashville-based LGBTQ+ indie-rock artist lets loneliness, romantic doubt and dark humor occupy the same room. The title itself comes from “Why Does No One Want Me,” a song that began as a confidence anthem for another artist before Nissenbaum turned its question inward and made it unmistakably her own.
That ability to laugh without dismissing the hurt gives Nissenbaum’s writing its particular pull. Exposed Vocals caught up with Abby Nissenbaum about finding connection inside isolation, making queer art during Pride, moving toward country and Americana storytelling, and why even a painful encounter can become fair game when the person on the other side is a songwriter.
“Why Does No One Want Me” is a bold, vulnerable title. Where did that song come from?
I originally wrote the song to pitch to a friend whose music is more on the R&B side. It started out as a coquettish confidence anthem more in the vein of, “Look at me, why wouldn’t anyone want me?” However, as I workshopped the song more and decided I wanted to keep it for myself, I flipped the narrative to fit more with the style of music I’m known for. Thus was born “Why Does No One Want Me.” And the EP itself is titled Want To Be Wrong, which is a line from the song.
You explore depression and isolation but anchor it in hope and community. How do you hold both of those truths at once in your songwriting?
The EP kind of oscillates between genuine yearning and dramatic absurdity. It’s OK to feel your feelings, but it’s also OK to laugh at how ridiculous you sound sometimes.
Nashville has a very specific musical identity — how do you carve out your own lane as an LGBTQ+ indie-rock artist in that city?
Still figuring that out! I’m just being authentic and putting myself out there as best I can.
The EP is timed around Pride — was that intentional from the start, or did the music lead you there?
I love creating and celebrating queer art, so June just felt like an apt time to release this EP!
Who in the LGBTQ+ community or beyond has most inspired your approach to making music?
Brandi Carlile. She is the ultimate storyteller and I love that she’s kind of a jack of all trades. She inspires me to get out and live life, and I love how she’s never pigeonholed into just one thing even though she’s primarily known as a singer-songwriter.
What do you want listeners who are struggling with isolation or heartbreak to take away from your music?
There is always connection or a lifeline to be found somewhere, even if it’s not in person. And, importantly, other people are going through the same things as you, even if it feels like you’re the only one in the world experiencing them. Others are also lonely, struggling with mental health, feeling like they’re behind in life, and we’re all just out here doing our best.
How has your sound evolved since you started making music?
My voice has always leaned country, and my music is starting to reflect that genre more and more. I used to think that country music was strictly for Southerners, but with the rise of fellow New Englanders like Noah Kahan in the indie country/Americana space, I’m seeing more and more how my Northern vibe lends itself to that style of music. Country music is for storytellers, and I’m enjoying arranging my narrative style in this space.
What’s the most personal song on the upcoming EP and why?
“Growth Story,” for sure. It was based on an experience where someone told me they had only been talking with me romantically because it was something they had “never done before,” essentially using me as a diversion or self-discovery project. I’m proud of myself for how calmly I reacted toward that person and how chill I was… but when you treat a songwriter poorly, it’s always fair game for them to use it as songwriting material!
How important is the live-show experience to how you connect with your audience?
It’s an important piece of the puzzle for sure. As an independent and full self-funded artist, I don’t get to perform in person as much as I’d like to, but I’m hoping to do more of it in the future.
What does Pride month mean to you personally and as an artist?
It’s about celebrating who you are and elevating the community, but also honoring LGBTQ+ history and those who paved the way for us. Although young LGBTQ+ voices tend to be highlighted most during Pride month, I think it’s equally (if not more) important to celebrate and revere elders in the community who fought for the rights we enjoy today and who couldn’t live as freely as we can now.
Want To Be Wrong does not pretend loneliness disappears once it becomes a song. Nissenbaum’s sharper move is to make room for contradiction: hurt beside humor, isolation beside community, and uncertainty beside the decision to keep showing up authentically. The lifeline in these songs is not a perfect answer. It is the recognition that someone else has felt the same thing—and is still out there doing their best.
Featured photo: Hannah Kik · Used with permission
![Private: [ID: dK1pNpX1mGM] Youtube Automatic](https://exposedvocals.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/private-id-dk1pnpx1mgm-youtube-a-60x60.jpg)
