Scottish singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt has been killing the music game ever since she stepped onto the scene in 2011, but it’s looking like 2018 might be the year where she finds commercial success.While she’s had success with her single “Best You Had”, and her newest single “Somebody Special” is racking up streams on Spotify, most people probably still don’t know about her so let me preface this with some background information.
Nesbitt, a 23-year-old songwriter from a small town in Scotland, started off her career like many aspiring musicians these days by posting covers and originals on YouTube. Nesbitt’s big break came from being invited onto Ed Sheeran’s European tour as a supporting act, after being discovered by him at one of his radio gigs in 2011. From there Nesbitt went on to release her second EP called The Apple Tree and signed onto Island Records. Before being eventually dropped by the label she released her third and fourth EPs, Stay Out and Way in the World, as well as a full-length album in 2014 called Peroxide. after being dropped by the label, Nesbitt took a hiatus and dabbled in songwriting for other artists until 2016 when she released her fifth EP Modern Love, which debuted a darker edgier sound. This all brings us to current day where Nesbitt has released four new singles, “The Moments I’m Missing” – a reflective melancholy ode to growing up, “The Best You Had” – a deceptively spiteful breakup anthem, “Somebody Special” – a low-key sexy tune about the feelings brought on by having a special someone, and most recently “Psychopath” – the first Spotify singles collaboration between two other up and coming female singer songwriters Charlotte Lawrence and Sasha Sloan.
As an avid Nina Nesbitt fan, who has been here since day one, it has been fun to see and listen to her develop. She’s come far sound wise from starting off as an acoustic folk-based artist to developing a more alternative pop sound. While it may seem she has changed her sound completely the core of her artistry remains the same. Nesbitt’s earlier acoustic folk-based works could be compared to the sounds of Ed Sheeran and Gabrielle Aplin while her most recent works could be compared to the moody pop sounds of Astrid S and Kiiara. Regardless of what music genre you prefer Nesbitt’s knack for writing clever and honest lyrics paired with her ability to produce unique and catchy melodies makes her an artist you should watch.
Interested in learning more about Nina Nesbitt? You’re in luck because she’ll be touring the U.S. the whole month of April with two stops in Ohio. The first Ohio date is Friday April 14 at the Cleveland House of Blues and the second date is Monday April 16 at Bogart’s. Can’t make one of the dates? You can still learn more about Nesbitt on her website.