Thursday, January 30, 2014 11:54am ET by  
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Nina Nesbitt chats to Pressparty about her debut album, boybands, and dream collaborations

Earlier this week, blonde bombshell Nina Nesbitt was at the Amazon Summer Wish List event in London for a special showcase and she spent time chatting with Pressparty about the upcoming release of her debut album, bumping into a member of The Vamps on holiday, and wanting to collaborate with co-founding member of Chic, Nile Rodgers.

1. Your debut album ‘Peroxide’ is out on February 17, but you’ve already had a lot of success in the industry and have built up such a strong fan base! Tell us about the record.

The record is the first album I’ve ever done. It took about 3 years on and off to write. It was produced by Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran, One Direction), who’s a friend as well. I think it’s different to the EPs that have been out before as it’s a lot more edgy and it's more rocky in places. There are some pop songs on there as well, though... there are a variation of styles and genres.

2. There’s a song on the album called ‘Hold You’, that you wrote and then collaborated with Kodaline on. What was it like to work with them?

It was amazing. I wrote that song in my kitchen when I had just turned 17 and I’m 20 this summer, so it was quite a while ago! The song’s been around for a while. I put it on The Apple Tree EP before, as just me and a piano, but this time around I wanted to do something completely different. Kodaline are one of my favourite bands to come out of last year. They asked me to collaborate on their brand new EP and that went really well so I did the same and we worked together on ‘Hold You’ for my debut album.

3. Are there any other artists you’d love to get either into the studio with or onto the stage with? Any dream collaborations on your wish list?

I had a funny experience in Hong Kong recently! I played a festival there and Nile Rodgers was playing with Chic and I discovered how many songs he’s actually done! He got everyone standing side-stage on with him to dance at the end, so me and my manager got up and danced with him. I think it’d be really, really cool to write with him, but that would probably never happen! He’s a real hitmaker.

 

 

4. Your place in the spotlight really seemed to cement itself after meeting Ed Sheeran and singing a song to him, which resulted in him inviting you to support him on tour. How do you think that experience has shaped your career to date?

I don’t know, I think it definitely helped and gave me exposure. I’m grateful for that experience. Example too, he took me on tour... I was playing arenas every night; just me and a guitar… that was incredible.

(When asked if she’s still in touch with Ed Sheeran) He’s really busy in America; we don’t really talk to each other, but he’s doing really well. 

5. You used to post cover versions of popular songs to YouTube, do you have a favourite?

I really enjoyed covering ‘Chocolate’ (by The 1975) in the Radio 1 Live Lounge. I’m trying to think of a festival cover at the moment, for a summer festival, maybe a Madonna cover… or ‘You’re So Vain’ by Carly Simon. I love that song, I think it’s hilarious... I’d love to cover that song. I’m thinking about ‘Into The Groove’ by Madonna.

(When asked which festivals she will play this summer) I’m not allowed to say anything, but I just got one of my dream festivals to play confirmed!

 

 

6. Social media and being accessible online has played a huge part in your rise to fame so far. You have a huge following on Twitter, millions of hits on YouTube and a growing Facebook page. Do you think it’s something that’s really important for music in this day and age? Are there any downsides to it?

I think social media is great for getting your music out there. It can also go badly for some people... James Arthur had a tough time with social media recently. So I think you’ve just got to be careful how you use it. I use it to stay in touch with my fans, but a lot of things can be misconstrued easily because you can’t hear intonation in people’s voices. It’s mostly good!

7. Do you think it’s important to have creative freedom as an artist? You’ve had quite a DIY approach to your work so far, but would you ever give up some control to a label and allow yourself to be changed?

I’d already had minor success on iTunes, so for me it was easier to be like, “look, this is what I want to do”. The label I ended up going with understood that and let me get on with it. There have been times where it’s like, “oh god, I’ve got to write a single”, and there can be some pressure, but I think they’ve always just let me do my own thing. They know it wouldn’t work any other way. I’m a strong character and I like to do my own thing. There’s no point in trying to be someone else.

8. Have any artists or bands influenced your debut record?

Anything I’ve heard and liked has influenced me. I love old music like the Rolling Stones, Blondie, and David Bowie. A lot of that stuff influences me – but it doesn’t come across in the sound of the album. I think on my next album I’d like to do a bit more in that vein; a bit more folky and more old fashioned maybe?

This album I wanted to create a story and not a sound, if that makes sense. I wanted it to be really true to who I am and it’s more of a personality record for me. People obviously don’t know me so I want it to be something that comes across and shows people what I’m about. The lyrics are really personal to me. On other EPs I’ve written about other people’s situations before, but every song hits home with me – it’s about my own personal situations. It’s important for a debut album because you’ve got to establish who you are.

 

 

9. What do you think about the rise of the boyband? You’ve got acts like The Vamps and One Direction dominating the scene at the moment and it’s a great time for pop music.

The Vamps are really cool guys, I met them recently. I randomly bumped into one of them on holiday, which was really strange (laughs), they are so nice. The One Direction lads are lovely as well; they’re really nice… they’re doing so well. Obviously they’re really different to what I’m doing, but we’re all pop artists. I’m a pop artist and I like pop songs. 

 

To discover Nina Nesbitt and other great new and emerging artists, and to download exclusive free tracks, be sure to visit Amazon’s MP3 Store. Nesbitt will perform a headlining set at London’s Shepherd’s Bush Empire on March 25 in addition to two other concerts in Manchester and Edinburgh, and you can watch her music video for 'Selfies' here: