Interview with Nina Vidal


Q: Please tell me a little bit about yourself. How you discovered your love for music, who has influenced you and why did you pursue a career in music.

Nina Vidal: My mother started me in piano lessons when I was about 7 years old. From an early age I became excited about making music. That feeling has stayed with me all these years. I was also really into poetry when I was younger. I wrote poems from an early age. I think a natural progression for me was to combine my love of writing music and writing poems into songwriting. Although I've always wanted to be a musician I feel like in a lot of ways having a career in music was not my decision. I'm not creating this life. It's being given to me. God pulls me along this path, and that is something I believe wholeheartedly. The more I resist the stronger the pull. And it makes no sense that I would resist because I'm doing what I love. I've learned to stop fighting it and go with the flow. Some artists that have moved and inspired me include Antonio Carlos Jobim, Anita Baker, Sade, Keith Jarrett, and Tracy Chapman. I'm influenced by a lot of things - Music, nature, love, life, and intangible things.

Q: How content are you with the reactions Do It Again gets?

Nina Vidal: Do It Again was just one of those songs that flowed out of me without much intervention from myself. Those are the best songs, the ones you don't ponder over while you're writing it, you just let it flow out of you without thinking. I'm very pleased that "Do It Again" touches people the way it does. It makes me happy to give people a warm feeling with music.

Q: Your single Do It Again was produced by Caté who also plays guitar, keys etc. Please tell me how you've met Caté and what musical vision do you share.

Nina Vidal: We met after a show at NYU that he was playing in. I was looking for someone to produce and play on my demo so I went up to him after the show and asked if he was interested. We've been working together ever since. Caté is an excellent musician and producer. He's worked with legends like Lee Scratch Perry, Maxi Priest, and Shirley Caesar. I'm blessed to be able to work with Caté, not only because he is great at what he does but mostly because he understands my music and takes it to places I never imagined.

Q: Where do you see your niche in today's music business and how do you describe your music to someone who hasn't heard of Nina Vidal so far.

Nina Vidal: My music is for anyone who can relate to it. It's for soul-lovers, folk-lovers, jazz-lovers, and plain old lovers! It's sensuous and warm. It's rich and velvety.

Q: Are you already working on a full length album? What will it sound like? With whom will you record it and when will it be released?

Nina Vidal: I am currently working on a new recording. Whether it will end up being a full length album or an EP has yet to be seen. A lot of people have let me know that they are waiting for a full length album, so I'm attempting to give them what they're waiting for! Look out for it soon. I'm working with Caté and I have a number of other special musicians in mind. I've got plenty of songs to choose from for my album or EP, and each one is special to me. I hope my listeners will feel the same about them. If you feel "Do It Again" then you'll love the rest. The collection will have that same intimate soulful vibe I'm becoming known for.

Q: You've also worked as a session vocalist. Please tell me more about it. In which way do you think recording as a session singer is a good training for a singer/songwriter?

Nina Vidal: Working as a session vocalist is really not about you or your vision. It's about the person who hired you to come in and sing the part the way they want it sung. And rightfully so. Occasionally they'll want you to put your flavor in it, but not too much. But it can be lot of fun to get away from what you usually do and step into someone else's musical world.

Q: How easy or difficult is it to release a record as independent artist? And how do you make sure people hear about Nina Vidal without having a large PR budget?

Nina Vidal: It's very difficult. I admire any independent artist who manages to do what they love and make a living at it. It's no easy task. Radio is a great free promotional tool, but unfortunately most stations are not interested in playing anything that isn't overtly mainstream. I'm relying on the notion that good music that touches people will carry itself without a large PR budget. So far the response has been amazing, and this is only the beginning.

Q: Would it be an option for you to sign with a major label?

Nina Vidal: If the right deal came along I would definitely sign to a major label. I would weigh the pros and cons of any deal that comes my way and ultimately decide what's best for me, my career and my art. A lot of artists get themselves in situations that are good in the short term, but don't benefit their careers. I want to be around for a long time and I won't sacrifice my long term goals for short term satisfaction.

For more infos visit ninavidal.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of Do It Again.