Hi NINA! Thanks for joining us! What’ve you got to recommend to us today?

Recently I’ve rediscovered Kill for Love by Chromatics. I think the album is so underrated. It’s such an amazing piece of music. Every song is unique and dreamy. Chromatics’ visuals have this 70s’ horror vibe, which I really love. I’m also a big fan of Italo disco.

My second pick is something most people will know, even though it’s not Synthwave. It’s something I grew up listening to. It’s a timeless album. The album is The Bends by Radiohead. I’ve seen them live in Berlin many years ago and I fell in love with them. It was at this open-air festival, the sun was setting and everything felt magical. I just get lost in Thom’s voice. He closes his eyes and is simply one with everyone. It’s one of those awe-inspiring moments. From then on, I became a big fan. There are so many great songs on this album. I feel like every song on an album should work as a great standalone single. It should have a statement that actually reaches to you. The album has a lot to say, and I feel like audiences connect to that.

My third album pick is Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It’s such a classic. My former music manager in Germany was really into Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and the Doors. The Doors’ self-titled album was one of my favorite albums when I was a teenager and still is. He was the one that introduced me to Pink Floyd back when we were working on music and trying to find my musical roots.

Is there any corner of retro pop-culture that resonates with you on an intimate level?

As a young girl, I was really into horror. For me, John Carpenter was a huge inspiration. My favorite movies were The Fog and The Thing. I was also really into fantasy films like E.T., Labyrinth and The Neverending Story. These are the references that speak to me the most. They’re very influential films in the scene, especially when you start looking towards the darker Synthwave sounds. I’m thinking of artists like Waveshaper and Nightcrawler.

Would you be open to writing darker tracks or collaborating with this horror aesthetic?

Absolutely! I’ve always been into Darkwave music, actually. I’ve watched Carpenter Brut live and went crazy! I enjoyed it so much. Hopefully, I’ll get to collaborate with some of these artists in the future. I really look up to their artistry. It’s all really authentic. My lyrical background is quite melancholic and dark like Depeche Mode and Joy Division… This is where I really blossom. I can definitely see myself go in that direction more. My new album Synthian has a few poppier numbers, but it also delves into a more serious, darker atmosphere, especially on tracks like ‘The Wire’. I’m really excited for people to hear it.

So, of course, I’m up for collaborating with other artists. Carpenter Brut and Gunship would be my first picks for collaborations. We’ll see what happens! I’m definitely feeling the horror film score vibes at the moment.

Is there any news or updates you’d like to share with your fans?

The new album Synthian will be out soon within the next month or two.

I’m so grateful having had Lau (LAU) by my side to create this album. We’re a great team! Our long-time collaborator Oscillian produced most of the tracks and I’m also excited to have worked with Richard X again. New to the bill is legendary producer, songwriter and musician Ricky Wilde, who we wrote 2 songs with for the album: ‘Runaway’ and ‘Gave Up On Us’. We also wrote ‘Love Is Blind’ with Till Wild, who is a very talented Synthwave producer based in Germany.

I see the album as Sleepwalking’s big sister. It’s more mature, a little more out there. Essentially it’s a love note to my fans. The title-track ‘Synthian’ expresses my gratitude to my fans for supporting me and my music. The Album is a touch more ‘Cyber’ than my previous work, but it’s still very colourful and dreamy. We’ve got two ballads in there, and the last song ‘The Distance’ is going to be a surprise for most fans. I don’t want to give away too much. It definitely ends with a big bang, that’s all I’m going to say.

Following the first album is always a bit harder, in my opinion. You need to keep it up and bring it up a notch because you really don’t want to disappoint your fans. This is a decisive stage where people determine whether you’re here to stay or not [Laughs].

We also have a big European tour planned. It got postponed, so we might be able to reschedule it for September. Everything is up in the air right now, so it’s hard to tell. I’ve also started to collaborate with Radio Wolf, who’s a very talented producer, songwriter and musician. I think people are really going to like what we’re creating.

Thumbnail photo credit: Say Goodnight Films

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10. Junks – Everybody’s Movin’

9. GUNSHIP – Dark All Day (feat. Tim Cappello and Indiana)

8. Stilz – Midnight Dancer

7. NINA – Sleepwalking

6. Deadlife – Hard Bitch

5. Robert Parker – End of the Night (feat. DoubleBoy)

4. Futurecop! – Edge of the Universe (feat. Parallels)

3. Ollie Wride – The Driver (feat. The Night Hour)

2. Indradevi – Idols

1. DJ Ten – Viral Lust (feat. Trevor Something)

NINA’s beautiful and breathy vocals perfectly compliment the punching bassline and some sick, endlessly catchy arpeggiations in “Sleepwalking,” which was powerfully produced by Oscillian. The video itself is also crisp and wonderfully produced – and not one to miss! Check out the debut of the video below!

As her first firm step into the spotlight with an eleven track full-length, NINA plays to her strengths. In other words, Sleepwalking amounts to pretty much what you were first led to expect from the One of Us EP: a concise, catchy pop record driven by the sounds of eighties synths and beats. Just about every aspect of the record radiates with references to the eighties aesthetic, supercharged with modern techniques to sound and look bigger, brighter and more glossy. Of course, this certainly isn’t new to the Synthwave aesthetic. As a matter of fact, some might argue that this approach is intrinsic to the genre. What does stand out Sleepwalking, however, is the skill and rigour with which these tracks are crafted to sound this way. NINA’s Sleepwalking is to eighties music what K-pop is to American pop music. Stylistic conventions are picked apart and techniques are internalised and down to a science to filter every single element down to its most potent form.

Synthwave fans will have a hard time finding a release in the genre that comes close to Sleepwalking’s impeccably clean, punchy production. The thumping beats, the colorful synth layers and the vocals all blend together organically to create a vivid, cinematic ‘neo-retro’ atmosphere and experience. NINA’s voice is radiant, her melodies irresistibly catchy and her performance spot-on throughout the entirety of the record. Every single track on the record feels like a lead single: from the opener right down to the last song, the album stays geared towards maximum efficiency and does a great job at maintaining the energy throughout its eleven numbers.

As though the album covers and the clear nod to Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive didn’t make it obvious enough, Sleepwalking is a driving record, steadily paced so that you can jam to it on a lonesome nighttime cruise across asphalt jungles and starlit highways without having to ever skip a track. Alas, the album’s ‘driving’ pace does narrow the records’ sound down a little too much, as the steady the side-chained kick pulse ends up being a little too constant. Rhythm and tempos fluctuate smoothly but timidly, which may leave some yearning for a sudden gear shift to pump up the adrenaline.

A few louder, cathartic moments on the album could have helped spice things up, though that is not to say that what Sleepwalking does is not done brilliantly. Overall, NINA’s first full-length effort amounts to a very solid set of instantly likeable pop songs that spares nuance yet delivers a deeply immersive experience. Turn it up but drive responsibly.

Packed full of punchy pop vibes, expertly arranged arpeggiations and breathy, timeless vocals, NINA’s “Sleepwalking” is slated to be a triple-A release. This should come as no surprise, since the London based singer-songwriter NINA is a classically trained vocalist and has received acclaim for her three previous fantastic EP’s.

The title track “Sleepwalking” is instantly catchy and memorable – a delicious retro romp that lovers of synthwave are sure to fall for. Produced by Oscillian, the single is out now on NewRetroWave, and not one to be missed!

The album is set to release on March 16th, and each pre-order comes complete with an autographed CD. Supplies are running out fast, so make sure you get one while you can!

Pre-order here or by clicking the image below.