Nina Browwn – Are You Still Mine

By starrymag | July 3, 2019

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) Good question. [laughs] I would say I’m what I would call an R&B pop singer; however, my sound is pretty eclectic. It involves a lot of different sounds and the most recent song was more of a reggae dancehall sound. That came to be because I’ve been getting a lot of attention and traction in the Caribbean. So, that actually started with us doing a remix to another song of mine and then it kind of manifested from there. So, we’re kind of shifting gears a little bit, but there’s still the pop elements, for sure, in my music, but the tracks themselves are a little bit different now.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

a) For sure, R&B has always been a big influence. So, I would say singers like Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys were some of my favorites growing up. Even my parents listened to a lot of R&B and reggae funnily enough. Now, that’s kind of the music that is my favorite genre to sing in. So, that’s interesting how that happened.

Q) We’re loving your new song. Talk about message behind “Are you Still Mine.”

a) So, “Are You Still Mine” was actually written about a real experience. Most of my songs are actual experiences I’ve had, either myself personally or they are somehow related to me like a friend who told me about something they went through. “Are You Still Mine” is my own personal experience about a gentleman who I was in a relationship with and he was committed to me; however, he still had lingering things from an ex. That was because there was more to the story, in the sense he had kids with that person. So, it was never really going to be fully cutting the chord, but it was me basically questioning our relationship and whether I am important to him too. Then, Shatta Wale jumped on the track, who is a big artist from Ghana. He kind of blessed the track and did essentially a response to my questions in the song, trying to convince me that I am still his and he’s still mine and I matter to him.

Q) How did the two of you come to collaborate on the track?

A) I have a team that I work with down in Jamaica actually put that collaboration together. They were working with Shatta on some other projects. They wanted to put him on a project that was more tailored to the female market, so to speak, because a lot of his music is grittier. Not that females don’t like that, but they wanted to show a different side to Shatta and they thought that it would be a good collaboration with me. It seems to be doing what they intended it to do. So, I hope it continues to grow.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that has made it such a fan favorite?

A) Definitely I’d say the fans are a huge part of that because (especially in Ghana) even before the song was released a whole bunch of fans had already preordered the song and they had just heard little snippets of the song. They embraced me with open arms and for me that’s such a blessing because that market is huge and it’s so wonderful to see that people from all walks of life and all over the world are listening to the song. Again, like I said, I definitely already had a pretty significant market in the Caribbean from the previous songs that I had done and this was just another song for having Shatta on the song for sure helped bring up the momentum. But I think my fanbase is now getting used to my sound and that it’s not always the same. It’s a Nina Browwn sound, but it’s always something different for them to be exposed to. So, I think that they like the versatility as well.

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can add lyrics?

A) I wouldn’t say that it is necessary. For my album I’m finishing now, most of it has been where I’ve gone into the studio with my team and we’ve built a track from scratch based on some ideas that I’ve had and lyric ideas I’ve already come up with. Then, once we build the track around the sound, I’m going for the writing process is in full throttle. Typically, I already have a storyline in mind and then I actually go and piece it all together. I literally have lyrics coming into my head all the time and sometimes I take a Voice Note with the melody that I already have in mind just so I don’t forget it or I write a note quickly so I don’t forget it.

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I do. I definitely am involved from the grass roots part of it all the way to it being mixed and mastered. I like to sit into those as well because I like to have a few different sets of ears listening to the beat as well as the vocals and seeing what needs to be tweaked. Of course, I’m not a sound engineer or anything like that, but I also know how my voice sounds acappela and I try to make that as close to that on the track even when we are mixing and mastering because I don’t like to put too much autotune and that type of stuff on my voice. I like for it to come out more organic and real because I feel most people appreciate that, especially with the fact that we can do so much because of technology with our voice these days. So, I think it’s nice when you can hear what someone really sounds like. [laughs]

Q) What is the status of the album you mentioned you were working on?

A) We finished all of the recording on the album. It’s just in its final stages of mastering and mixing right now. It’s actually an 8-track extended EP really. It’s an 8-track album that we’re going to be releasing in January 2020.

Q) Who would you love to collaborate with some day?

A) That’s a really good question. There are a few. If I were to stay in this reggae type of space, I would probably say someone like a Busy Signal or if I was going to look at females, I would probably say Shenseea. She is another Jamaican artist. In the global/international market I would love to do some collabs with Ariana Grande (if I was going to collab with a female) because I just love her vocals. It’s really refreshing to see in someone who is fairly young. She has great vocal abilities. So, for me, it would kind of be a dream to collaborate with someone like that. Then, for males, it would probably be another R&B artist like Chris Brown. Again, I think his vocal ability is pretty amazing and all he has achieved in his career is pretty awesome.

Q) What is an album or musician you’re really into at the moment?

A) Oh gosh! I listen to so much different music on a regular basis. I would probably say one that I have in rotation a lot is Ella Mai’s new album. Actually, all of her music, but her new album for sure is in heavy rotation. Another Toronto artist that I’m a big fan of and that I know is Haley Smalls. I have her music in rotation. Then, probably any and everything R&B. R&B is always my go-to so I love my 90’s R&B as well.

Q) You are a part of social media. Do you enjoy the instant fan feedback you receive to your music?

A) Honestly, I’ve been really lucky and a big part of it has been because of social media that I’ve been able to touch base with my fans all over the world. I find that’s the easiest way to connect with them. I do other social platforms, but just having the ability to voice chat or send voicemails or post videos and all of that. Especially Instagram, it’s given me the ability to talk to any and every one. So, I have fans and followers sending me messages from Africa, Europe, Australia, South America and all over the place. It’s so humbling to feel like these people saw something in me and are telling me stories about how they can relate to the things that I’m singing about. All the time they ask if these are real experiences that I’ve been through and I say, “Yeah, they are.” For me, it’s humbling that they feel like I’m just another one of the girls – one of their friends that they can talk to. So, it’s definitely been beneficial for me and given me the opportunity to have a much broader and wider audience and reach to that audience.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share with our readers?

A) I will be having a video come out for “Are You Still Mine.” We’re just in the process of figuring out all the logistics because Shatta and I will be doing it together. We need to figure out on which continent and which country we’ll be doing that in. [laughs] But likely we’ll be shooting it in Jamaica. It should be coming out fairly soon, but it’s definitely something to look out for and I hope you guys like it.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your music?

A) Honestly, I just want to say thank you. It’s really been a blessing and an honor that you guys have embraced me as much as you have and given me the opportunity to share my views, opinions, talent, ambition and my passion (most of all). Thank you guys and if I can touch even a few people with the things that I’m saying and you feel like you’re not alone in whatever situation you’re going through then I feel like I’ve fulfilled my purpose and I hope to continue to fulfill that purpose.