Nina de Vitry
Originally written in October 2022, this project included a long-form artist bio & history, along with a short version for use in a broader variety of placements.
Artist Bio
To listen to Nina de Vitry is to take a deep breath at the end of a hard day. Weaving together the strands of her stories with a dynamic alto voice and inventive yet memorable melodies, she manages to create a sound that is both soulful and refreshingly unique.
Her songs lounge on the fence between genres, transcending their bounds and honoring the sheer variety and depth of her musical training and inspirations. Dreamy piano fills shimmer between phrases as staccato drum snaps and bass lay a solid yet lively foundation, punctuated with bright emphatic horns. Each song paints with a full palette, providing glowing red warmth and buttery yellow comfort while refusing to shy away from the darkest shades of indigo and violet that give life its definition. Paired with the earthen smokiness of her voice, Nina de Vitry presents a microcosm of the universe in each song—and you won’t want to look away.
From her first memories of late-night old-time and bluegrass jams around campfires, listening to her dad play with his Django jazz band, and her years of training in classical violin and piano, Nina has always been surrounded by song and inspiration. While she knows these vibrant and varied experiences shaped her path, she also knows that she—like all people—has a voice and a message that are uniquely hers to share. “Your creative voice just is,” says de Vitry. “Once you start writing or making art, that voice shines through everything you create.”
Nina began pursuing songwriting and production professionally when she wrote, recorded, and produced her first EP at the age of 20 years old. Titled “Trust a Dream,” the EP is a love letter to intuition and its power to change your life for the better. Steeped in the legacy of songwriters like Norah Jones and Sara Bareilles, Nina’s early songs reflect her natural inclination to swirl between the worlds of roots and jazz. With her music, Nina lovingly delivers a message of optimism and trust, encouraging all who cross her path to look inward and align themselves with the paths they dream of taking.
With her debut full-length album, “What You Feel is Real”, her voice rings clear and true. It is her calm self-assurance, combined with a warm heart and empathy towards the pain of living, that gives her music its most magnetic qualities. The album is a lesson in holding dualities without conflict. It brings forward messages of hope, while also affirming that the darkness and hardships that face us are still challenging and painful. In expressing these ideas, Nina de Vitry provides both validation and catharsis. Listening to her makes you feel seen as you are, giving you the strength to let go of the burdens that hold you down. “I believe feelings are a gift, and that both the good and the bad are here to guide us,” she says. “The more I learn to acknowledge and learn from my feelings, the easier it seems to navigate the crazy experiences life hands me.”
Gifted with time and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nina chose to do just that: trust her feelings and focus on nurturing herself. Rather than prioritizing the output, she instead turned her gaze toward the process. She focused on exploring outlets for joy and self-expression outside of music, like experimenting in the kitchen, spending time in nature, and starting a Nashville musicians’ soccer team. She reconnected with her deep love of the piano and began investing in her own growth as an instrumentalist. “What we feel is real. What we love is real. And I think the more we all trust these inner voices, the closer we will get to both knowing ourselves and knowing a more loving and peaceful society.”
Nina de Vitry’s songwriting and musicianship have been recognized worldwide, having twice been named a finalist in the jazz category of the John Lennon International Songwriting Contest. She has performed everywhere from the smallest of private house concerts all the way to the stages of Philly Folk Fest and Lancaster Roots & Blues. Now—with a 6 song EP under her belt, international recognition and momentum as a songwriter, and her debut full length album on the way—it is safe to say that this is only the dawn of Nina de Vitry’s rising star.