DR. MARTENS SPEAKS TO NINA NESBITT
Nina Nesbitt burst into the public consciousness in 2011 after being discovered by superstar Ed Sheeran, and has since established herself as one of the country’s best young songwriters – earning herself a legion of fans along the way. Nina’s latest single ‘The Moments I’m Missing’ showcases her new DIY approach to pop, with the track being self-produced.
This year, the #WORNDIFFERENT campaign will be bringing three entirely different artists with one uniting factor – a unique spirit of individuality – to three of the UK’s biggest cities for some incredible, disruptive secret shows. Nina Nesbitt will be performing a special pop-up show on Saturday 7th October in Glasgow. We caught up with Ms Nesbitt ahead of her performance for our Stand For Something Tour…
For those who don’t know Nina Nesbitt, how would you sum yourself up in a sentence?
I call my music ‘suburban pop’. Little but large. And as for me I’m quite shy, overly ambitious and stressed.
Talk us through being discovered by Ed Sheeran at just 17 years old:
Yeah, I mean, to go from singing songs on YouTube to playing big shows was a great experience. Very grateful for that opportunity. It was kind of a crash course in the music industry.
How has your sound evolved since you first broke on to the scene?
I think I’ve grown up and my music has grown with me. I was 17/18 when I wrote most of my first album. It’s still lyrically driven and fairly stripped back but it’s about my life as a 23-year-old living in a big city and all the things that come with that.
Can you talk us through the inspiration behind your new single ‘The Best You Had’:
I was chatting with a friend about her break up and she told me she’d found out that he’d found someone new. It wasn’t that he’d moved on that was bothering her most, instead she was obsessing over the new girl, comparing herself and worrying that she was better. I thought wow, this is such a common feeling!
Tell us about your first Dr. Martens:
They were a pair of the smaller boots with soft leather and I literally wore them every day. So comfortable and great for [the] stage. I can’t walk in heels so they’re pretty ideal for that.
You’re headlining our Stand For Something Tour on home turf. That’s pretty exciting – what else can we expect to see from you this year?
I can’t wait! I’m playing some UK headline shows in November and also some shows in America which I’m really excited for, I love travelling. There’ll be another single and then probably album time. Lots of exciting things planned.
Three tracks you’re listening to right now:
Post Malone – Rockstar
SZA – Love Galore
Banks – Weaker Girl
What’s your favourite thing about the city you live in?
It’s so big and you never bump in to anybody you know. It’s always new sights every day. I still haven’t been everywhere in London. Also, I love the freedom that a big city gives people. There’s a lot of self-expression.
As a female producer, what advice would you give someone trying to break into your industry?
I’d say practice as much you can. I’m still learning things every day. Try and find your own unique thing, because there are so many people releasing music now. Do what you’re good at. Have fun.
And finally, what do you stand for?
I stand for the people from small towns that have big dreams, being my honest self and creating not just music, but a world around it where people can feel like they belong.
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Can’t make it to our final STAND FOR SOMETHING show in Glasgow? Catch playing her Nina Nesbitt UK and US shows:
23rd October – The Peppermint Club, Los Angeles
30th October – Mercury Lounge, New York
20th November – The Garage, London
21st November – Sound Control, Manchester
23rd November – The Art School, Glasgow
Tickets available on www.ninanesbittmusic.com
Find out more about Nina Nesbitt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
