Lingering in the transitional phase of change and the roll-out of her debut album ‘Basis Of A Pinky Promise,’ the talented Nina Cobham approaches the reality of acceptance and letting the album find its new place in society outside her and her writing safe space.
Music and songwriting are deeply personal and vulnerable art forms, turning your thought processes into a sonic token of your experiences. “These songs are my best yet, and I owe it to myself to look after them,” Nina Cobham opens up for Noctis Magazine about last year’s light bulb moment of self-realisation “I’m doing this for me.”
Disregarding other people’s expectations, Nina Cobham returns to looking inward and prioritising having fun with the process over anything. Her playful attitude is reflected in the entirety of the project and the recent single, ‘Pinky Promise,’ which navigates the purity of love and the idea of giving it your all. Cobham sets up a playful intersection of wholehearted devotion and nagging trust issues.
‘Basis Of A Pinky Promise’ will mark Cobham’s debut studio album, bound to push her signature blend of alternative pop and Spanish bossa nova to a new level. For Noctis, she shares how she turned a hobby into a full-time dream job, trusting herself and last year’s ‘click’ moment.
Could you share with our readers what are some main themes in your life right now?
Change is a main theme, I’m definitely in a transitional period. I think another is acceptance – releasing the things you create is a never ending process of accepting you can only do what you can, and give the project creation process everything it deserves, but when it’s out, it’s out of your control and so that acceptance of whatever may happen (which is exciting in itself!).
How does your day-today look like these days, as we are few months away from the release of your debut album?
Busy! I’m doing almost everything myself, all the creative direction and logistical stuff behind the scenes… very busy, but I’m more proud of this project than I have eeeeeever been about anything – so it’s so so worth it.
Since your debut release in 2019, you released three EPs, ‘what colour does this feel like’, ‘Middle Of Nowhere,’ and ‘Antes.’ Was the creative process any different when you were compiling songs for your debut album?
In some ways very different, in some ways exactly the same. A lot more of the songs on my debut album were started or fully made in person with my co-producers, in NYC and LA – however it always ends up coming back to my usual process of making at home, in my safe space, sending stems back and forth and doing our sessions on Facetime.
What is the inspiration behind the album title ‘Basis Of A Pinky Promise’?
It comes from a lyric in the second single from the album, ‘Pinky Promise’; ‘I’d do it all on the basis of a pinky promise’ – this idea of being willing to do anything and trust this person on a ‘small’ symbol of their willingness to not break your trust or hurt you, a fragile, flimsy demonstration, but that itself that being more than enough.
It felt right, the album is about being in love and trust and just having fun, I think the name encapsulates it perfectly.
‘Mejor Contigo (Homesick)’ was the first single, what made this the perfect introduction for this next chapter?
It’s lighthearted, it’s fun, the music video was shot in my home of 3 years – as a lot of my music has been made at home, it felt like such a great starting point and invited my listeners into that space.
‘Basis Of A Pinky Promise’ was written in Los Angeles, New York and Manchester, were you able to capture each of the city’s charm in any shape or form?
I don’t think that really played a part, but! the weather affects me a lot (more so than locations), and thus influences the music! Most of these new songs were made in summer, the songs made in LA and upstate New York are more light and summer sounding – but I think that reflects more of the fact it was sunny and warm, definitely.
Did you experience any moments during the writing process when you felt things ‘click’ in terms of your creative identity or any specific lessons you discovered about yourself?
I got a bit lost last year, maybe lost is the wrong word, but I think I needed that time to remember I’m doing this for me, and when I start taking other people’s opinions of who I am or what I should make, it doesn’t do me any good. The music comes from me and my brain, I then make it a reality with my friends, and ultimately we make it for the fun of it (and because inherently as creatives we have to get it out and create it)! I want that to be what life is about, and not take it all so seriously. But yeah, the ‘click’ moment was; this means nothing if I’m not doing it for myself and not prioritising what I love and what I want for this, and running with that because these songs are my best yet and I owe it to myself to look after them.
The current focus single is ‘Pinky Promise,’ could you share what experience inspired you to write the track?
I love pinky promises, I think they’re so fun and I loooove people who take them seriously. It’s a song about my trust issues, and that idea that you have to throw yourself into love completely, and trust regardless of any fears about what may happen, or not bother at all. I use pinky promises a lot, even at 23. We loved that it ended up being this really playful and lighthearted sounding song but then themes around trust issues, there’s kind of a duality going on but they meet with this playful intersection.
The concept was this idea of being willing to risk it all / give everything to a relationship on the basis of something so ‘childish’ as a pinky promise, but choosing to trust on the basis of some flimsy/small demonstration and taking it seriously, because this person made me feel so safe.
How did you find your way to music and songwriting in the first place?
I remember writing my first ‘song’ at like 7 years old, I just grew up liking writing and reading I think. My dad always played guitar so I ended up picking up a guitar at 11 and putting words to chords and that became a hobby, which eventually turned into my full time job (which is a dream in itself!).
Is there any artist currently who you constantly take notes from and their career?
I think I’m more interested in authenticity and who I am/what I like to do. I was quite insular last year, and spent a lot of time thinking of the way I wanted to do this. I think it’s too easy to lose yourself / your own vision if you’re looking at other people and taking notes on what’s working for them and trying to apply it to yourself – it’s a discredit to yourself, my biggest progress has always come from trusting myself over anyone else… if that makes sense
With the album being released on July 10th, how will your Summer look like?
Me + summer dresses + the sea + wine + sunshine + dancing around to my own songs !!!
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Words: Karolina Kramplova