The UK is on fire with amazing talent such as Emeli Sande, Adele, Daley, Marsha Ambrosius, Estelle and countless other up and coming acts. Their sound is drenched in soul, taking inspiration from the R&B/Soul musical traditions of the US.
Nina Smith is a new addition to the movement that has been taking the world by storm. We had a chance to chop it up with her about everything from what she would call herself if she was a rapper, her musical influences, how she feels about race and soul music, her sound and more.
I am … Easy going but strong willed. I am also hard working and soulful. I am determined to be successful in all I choose to do.
Music … My sound tastes like a dark rum after a nap on a summer's evening; it feels as though I’m just singing just to you about how you feel. The color of my music is a deep red.
The Color of Soul … In recent works, I've approached an emotion which is widely spread in music and felt by all races – which is love. Love is from the soul. I do tend to find though that there's a key difference in the way that white people play soul music to the way black people do; it's a little different. I think black people have that little added something when it comes to this genre. We can't touch that.
The U.K. Massive … Because we have ears … we recognize good music.
Listening to … A lot of Lianne La Havas, Emily King, Kimbra, Sam Smith and Alicia Keys.
Thug & B Alias … My rap name would be called 'Massive Message' and I'd come on stage and rap one line of about 5 words and then drop the mic dramatically and walk off stage…Proving that I can deliver irony in my rap by delivering a small message to the masses. My album would be called 'Essay Attack,' and it wouldn't have any content on it.
Hip Hop Music Crush … I love Nas’ “Get Down”. I love his timing and phrasing in that song. Also, the sample does something to my face, like I just screw every part of it up.
Good Love … Like nothing in the world matters.
Bad Love … Like everything in the world matters.
Music Love Child … Justin Timberlake & his wife! I wanna be the filling in that sandwich and then have the baby the day after.
Guilty pleasures … Justin Bieber’s twitter feed. Looking at other women's bums and watching dogs that get rescued on Youtube.
Makes Me Smile …The sound of a child laughing.
Musical Influences … When I was a kid my mum (mom) played a lot of Tina Turner, Boyz II Men and George Michael. I don't really listen to a lot of new music now; I'm still stuck on albums like Usher’s ‘Confessions’ or Destiny’s Child ‘Writings on the Wall’.
Neighborhood Slang … 'Piff' means something good. Predominantly good weed. (Yo bare gally in ere is piff bled). 'Nuff' means a lot of. (Nuff gal want da ting init)
Carol King & Alicia Keys Influences … I guess it has a lot to do with the chord progressions and their melodies. I love a strong melody. Obviously, lyrics are what resonates with people, but when you hear that melody that makes your stomach go ahhhhhh, that’s what I fiend for.
R&B Top Ten
1. Angie Stone – ‘Wish I Didn't Miss You’
2. Lauren Hill – ‘Everything is Everything’
3. Alicia Keys – ‘You Don't Know My Name’
4. Beyonce – ‘Disappear’
5. Al Green – ‘Let’s Stay Together’
6. Michael Jackson (I just can’t choose one song; it changes all the time!)
7. Lauren Hill – Doo Wop (That Thing)
8. Mary J and George Michael – I’ll Be Loving You
9. Charles and Eddie – ‘Would I Lie To You’
10. Norah Jones – ‘I Don't Know Why’
Something people don’t know … I can play soccer like a G.
