Down at the Apple Tree with Nina Nesbitt

Ahead of her King Tuts gig on the 17^th May, I was lucky enough to go backstage to catch up with one of my favourite musicians of the moment, singer/songwriter, Nina Nesbitt. On entering the young star’s dressing room I noticed a small fridge containing a pint glass of milk, bizarrely, lit up like the Crown Jewels. Nina had no more clues than I did as to why it was there.

On the 23^rd of April Nina released her EP ‘The Apple Tree’ with five original tracks which fans went mad for. She reached number 6 in the album chart on iTunes and is still, one month later, number 5 in the Singer/Songwriter chart. I asked how she reacted to it’s success, “I thought it was quite funny to be honest, I didn’t really expect it to do that well, I was just putting it out there for fans to hear the music. Then, it charted. It’s just weird, but I’m really grateful that loads of people have bought it, it’s cool.”

The talented 17 year old now has over 16,000 twitter followers and Sold Out her own headline mini-UK tour. “It’s a bit crazy,” she smiles, “a year ago I played my first gig in Manchester. Since then it’s escalated really fast but it’s great, I’m really grateful that I’ve got loads of followers and people coming to see the gigs.”

Along with the positive, there is also the negative. There’s lots of internet ‘trolls’ out there, sending hate for no apparent reason. After supporting Ed Sheeran on tour a rumour spread that they were an item, promting abuse from many of his young fans. Nina tells me, “I think I’ve been quite fortunate with the number of people that send me abuse, I get about 1 or 2 every month but it can be pretty deep, they don’t know me at all. If they knew me, I don’t mind them not liking me but I find it quite odd when people say ‘I hate you’ or make up things like ‘you’ve stolen my boyfriend’ because I’m not dating Ed Sheeran. I don’t know why anyone would hate me if they don’t know me, it’s weird.  Fair enough not liking my music but when they send me stuff I do get quite angry and have to laugh at them, my fans are really supportive as well.” Her fans don’t let the trolls off lightly and as Nina says herself, it’s better just to ignore it.

I asked Nina her highlight gig to date, “I had a really good gig in Denmark supporting Ed Sheeran and usually as a support act you get about 50% listening and then the rest coming in and chatting away, in Denmark it was like pin drop silence. For The Apple Tree they were all singing along and I loved that gig, it was nice to know that there are actually people that don’t know you that do listen because most people aren't bothered if they don't know your name. Or in September last year I had my tenth gig at the Glasgow SECC, it was Jim Gellatly from Clyde1 that had asked me to play and it was just two songs at this arena, just me and my guitar. It was crazy, but the crowd were really good there.” Although, after her sold out gig in King Tuts, Glasgow, that night, she posted on her Facebook, “That was my favourite gig I've played, thank you GLASGOW! It was crazy to hear you all singing back the songs word for word that I wrote in my room a few months back.”  

I first met Nina at the Young Scot Awards last month when I was reporting and she won an award in the Entertainment category. She told me how much it meant to win as other stories were so inspirational. “I’m so grateful to have won an award like that. It’s so important that I’ve got support from Scotland and it’s great I think because that’s where I’m from.”

For her tour she plays an acoustic set with either piano or guitar, “I’ve brought in a trigger pedal which triggers beats off behind me and I think when my album comes out I would think about getting a band, I’m not really wanting to get the standard four piece band though, I’d like something a bit different.”

“I think quite a lot of people’s parents would hope they’d go to uni but I’ve always been quite a strong willed child “, she laughs, “and my parents know that once my mind made up about something, it’s what I’m going to do. They’re great and really supportive, it’s good that they understand music is a career because some people don’t think it is.”

“I’m writing with Elliot aka Example, over the summer. We need to find a date that we’re both free but I’m really looking forward to writing with him. At the moment I have a lot of tracks for the album but I’d like some cool co-writes on it. I think our song-writing style is quite similar even though our music is quite different.”

A couple of times I asked Nina about designers or coveted items but she seems to have little interest in the latest designer must have but much prefers to mooch about in vintage shops.

“A mansion and a swimming pool,” she chooses as something she’d love to buy but couldn’t justify spending the money on, “but I couldn’t afford that anyway!” she laughs. (Although she will be able to soon as her success continues!)

Nina’s had an immense amount of airplay for an unsigned artist. Jim Gellatly plays her single ‘The Apple Tree’ every Sunday and Radio Scotland have added it to their playlist, in fact my granny was telling me the other day how she’d heard Nina’s “lovely voice” on the radio. She has also found herself a big fan in Fearne Cotton and is in fact her ‘Big Thing This Week’ which means she’ll be played on Radio1 everyday. “It’s definitely a really important part of music, radio play, it’s really weird to hear it on the radio. All of the Scottish stations have been really supportive as well, it’s amazing.”

When I ask how she came to song-writing she tells me she loved to write stories when she was 5, when she was 10 she picked up keyboard and started putting the stories to music. Two years ago she taught herself guitar and that’s when her songs developed.

I asked about her music video influences but she struggles to tell me one she wishes was hers. “To be honest I don’t watch a lot of music videos but most these days seem to be girls dancing around with no clothes on,” she sighs. Nina has spoken out before about her disapproval for people stripping off to sell records, The Guardian were supposed to be writing about the ‘Up and coming star Nina Nesbitt’ but instead decided a porn pop star was more important, proving her point perhaps.

Just like me Nina is not a fan of camping and mud, which would explain why she hasn’t been an avid festival goer. However, as a playing artist it’s a different story. “I’m excited to be doing some pretty big festivals this year.”

The interview concluded with Nina and I posing for photographs which took longer than anticipated as the camera was on video setting. Luckily, Nina isn’t the diva type and laughed about it.  

You can purchase both the 'Live Take EP' and 'The Apple Tree' from iTunes now!

Scotland's Future Looking Bright at Young Scot Awards

There I stood, my first time on a red carpet, in Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel. Lots of men in kilts and ladies looking glamorous in their evening wear. As all the guests walked through the revolving door, they were met with Little Eye (the winner of last years unsigned act)’s acoustic performance, completing the atmosphere. The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception to give everyone a chance to mingle. As I went upstairs to join the finalists for a better view from the balcony, Matt Cardle walked past with his guitar!  It was only when I looked at the table plan, I realised how big the event was. There were over 70 tables for over 700 guests all there to celebrate the young people of Scotland.

The Hilton Ballroom set for the guests

The guests were then called to the festival-themed ballroom. A music note, an electric guitar or a tepee were glowing in the middle of each table creating a lovely ambience. The meal began with a tasty cheese and tomato bruschetta, an Italian-style chicken Kiev was served for the main but I think the most talked about part of the meal interesting looking dessert. To the side of the lemon cheesecake was a line of popping candy, candyfloss ice-cream and hay-like spun sugar.  Twitter was full of pictures of the unique ‘golden ball of sugar’.  For me the best part was the delicious candyfloss ice-cream.

As soon as the plates were cleared host Romeo took to the stage to start the most important part of the evening, the award ceremony. 19 year old David Stewart from Dalmarnock took the first award for his impressive work within the community followed by Edward Johnstone, another 19 year old, from Cranhill for over 600 hours of volunteering. I was surprised to learn in a fortune cookie that over a third of young people in Scotland volunteer, yet teenagers are still labelled as lazy, useless and rude. Thankfully not the lasting impression anyone would have from the inspirational stories.

The award for Unsung Hero created a moment of sadness in the room, the winner Reamonn Gormley had lost his life through a violent act on such a kind and caring young man. Every person in the room was on their feet as his parents collected the award.

Twin Atlantic, Fiona and I

The Truth About Youth award went to Ullapool team Get To Know Your Techno who voluntarily teach older people in the community how to use modern technology. Maybe something we should all do with our older relatives, I know I’m guilty of rolling my eyes when my mum asks for some advice. I know it’s hard to imagine not growing up with mobiles and iPads, but even 10 years ago not everybody had a mobile.

Nina Nesbitt and I on the night

The guests were then entertained by Scottish rock band Twin Atlantic, who I was lucky enough to meet before their incredible performance. Described as “the best performers at the awards in the last three years” by one tweeter, they graciously received the first ever Sunday Mail Pathways to Music Award which was kept secret until the night.

Singer/Songwriter Nina Nesbitt received the Entertainment award, her independently released EP The Apple Tree got to number 6 on the iTunes chart soon after release and charted worldwide. In her acceptance speech she congratulated all the other winners and said she felt “truly inspired” by their work.

Erin McNeill collecting
her award

The Sunday Mail Readers Award and indeed overall Young Scot of the Year award went to 21 year old Erin McNeill who was horrifically burned in a house fire just three years ago. She now volunteers with the Fire Service warning others about the dangers of fire. On the 10^th anniversary of 9/11 last year she took part in a 5K run in New York raising £5500. Erin’s tearful speech left the rest of the guests and I in awe.

Matt Cardle closed the evening with an acoustic performance of two tracks from his album, including Christmas 2010 number 1 ‘Many of Horror’ aka ‘When We Collide’.

As the guests began to slowly head towards the waiting “carriage”, there was a buzz about all the evenings events and I, as a ‘Young Scot, was left feeling proud to be represented by these amazing people.

Published in the Young Scot Magazine, Sunday Mail on the 13^th May 2012

The Man of the Moment

I write this review whilst singing along to ‘Bones’, one of the tracks on Lewis Watson’s EP ‘It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW’. I first heard about the 19 year old singer/songwriter via twitter, people were raving about him. I checked out his YouTube channel, which has over 34,000 subscribers and 3 million views, and fell in love with his raw voice. Being just him and his guitar, he’s often compared to Ed Sheeran but Lewis is completely different. It’s like comparing nutella and peanut butter, they’re just as good but in different ways.  After listening to a couple of his covers, I bought his single #3 on iTunes. 

Soon after that, on the 12^th April, his independently released EP was available on iTunes. Buying this turned out to be one of my better decisions of late and now I can’t seem to get enough of him. It’s not just his music everyone is going mad about, it’s his sweet, yet crazy, self too. I love how he tries to tweet back to as many fans on twitter as he can, constantly thanking them for their support or even just for buying his music. He’s currently selling physical copies of ‘It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW’ via his website, promising to customise every single one with a requested message/signature. According to his Instagram, the last one he signed was #619!

‘What About Today?’ is the first song on the EP and opens simply with the sound of a guitar. Throughout the song, Lewis’ backing vocal gives it a very fresh and pretty sound. The song is about being constantly confused as to why someone loves you one minute but not the next, with the main line in the song being ‘Well you loved me last night, but what about today?’

The next song is ‘Windows’, my personal favourite. I love the opening line of  "I'm not here to startle you, hell, I only came 'cause you asked me to". It just feels real and down to earth, I guess. The lyrics are beautiful and everybody can relate to missing somebody and no matter what you do, you still wish they could be there with you. I'm sure this one has lots of girls sobbing into their pillow.

Track number 3 is called ‘Bones’,  the first single from the EP. It’s one of those love songs you wish was about you and dream about someone singing it to you. It’s Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW closes with ‘Nothing’, the gorgeous song about doing anything for that one person you love because without them you are…nothing.

With so much talent at the age of only 19 we should expect big things from Mr.Watson. He’s already had plays on MTV, AKA and 1Xtra and had recognition from the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wiley and Charlie Simpson.

It's Got Four Sad Songs On It BTW is out now on iTunes!

A Tale of Fake Hair and Eyelashes

As I walked down the corridor the other day, I admired the year group photos on the wall dating back a good few years. Everyone looked so smart, their ties were pushed right up to their necks and they all looked almost the same. That’s when I thought ‘what are we actually wearing for school?’ Now our ties are so short and people wear all sorts of coloured hoodies, and that’s boys and girls, virtually no one is the same. Some of the girls at my school tend to a go a little overboard with the make-up too and their skirts are more thigh-skimming than knee length.

It made me wonder when we stopped looking smart for school. If you look at photos from five years ago, people stuck to the uniform and weren’t caked in make-up. I can remember being sent out a letter last year that stated “the length of some pupil’s school skirts” were “causing concern”.  Blaming the school would be unfair, after all they did send out a letter. I can’t believe their parents let them leave the house looking the way they do! If I was that orange my mum would leave me in a bath to soak for about a week. In the photos on Facebook of these girls out partying at the weekend their make-up is identical, down to the last fake eyelash and hair extension. I guess it’s only a matter of time before they’re wearing the same thing too.

I much prefer looking completely different in my out of school hours compared to what I consider appropriate as my uniform. Trying so hard to rebel, I guess they’ll all look the same, creating their own chavtastic brand of ‘uniform’.