Nina Nesbitt
Nina Nesbitt (born 11 July 1994) is a Scottish singer and songwriter. She has two top 40 singles, and is known for her single "Stay Out", which peaked at No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart in April 2013, and No. 11 on the Scottish Singles Chart.[5]
Nina Nesbitt
Nesbitt’s first extended play (EP) in 2011 was called Live Take and didn’t garner much attention, but after a chance meeting with Ed Sheeran at a radio gig, her second EP, The Apple Tree, was released in April 2012 and peaked at No. 6 on the iTunes download charts after receiving airplay on BBC Radio 1,[6] and also peaked at the top of the iTunes singer/songwriter chart.[7] The Way in the World EP and single were released on 23 July 2013, as a follow-up to "Stay Out". In August 2013, she recorded a cover version of Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop", for a new John Lewis advertising campaign, subsequently charting at number 61. Nesbitt released her debut studio album, Peroxide, on 17 February 2014 which debuted at No. 1 in her native Scotland[8]
As a songwriter, she has written for other artists including Jessie Ware, Olivia Holt, Don Diablo and the Shires. In February 2019, Nesbitt released her second studio album, The Sun Will Come Up, the Seasons Will Change. In September 2022, she released her third studio album Älskar.
Early life[edit]
Nesbitt was born on 11 July 1994[9] in Livingston,[10] and attended the small village school in Bellsquarry, Livingston. At 12, she moved to Balerno, a suburb of Edinburgh, and attended Balerno Community High School. Nina admitted being a bully in high school, and has since apologised for how her then actions may have affected those she bullied. Neither of her parents are musical - her father, Mike, worked in the electronics industry and her mother Caty, who is originally from Sweden, was a childcare worker. Mike and Caty divorced in 2023, and Nesbitt wrote a song confirming it, titled Pages, which is due to be released on the 8th March 2024.
Nesbitt plays the guitar, piano and flute. She began playing the guitar at the age of fifteen. After hearing Taylor Swift's album Fearless (2008), she uploaded her first cover to YouTube. The site's positive feedback inspired her to continue writing and recording songs in her bedroom, and uploading the videos to her YouTube channel.[11][12] As a child, she competed in regional and national gymnastic competitions for both Pentland Rhythmic Gymnastics Club and Scotland. She was also part of the Scottish Team training for the Commonwealth Games.[13]
Nina has a pet Pomeranian Dog called Timmy. She used to have a Cat named Bob Marley, but passed him into her Mum when she realised she no longer was able to look after him.
Career[edit]
2011–2012: Early career[edit]
Nesbitt met musician Ed Sheeran before a radio gig he was scheduled to perform in Edinburgh. After asking him for advice for aspiring singer-songwriters, and playing him a song on his guitar, she was invited to support him on his European tour. She was also invited to support Example after he heard her cover of his song "Stay Awake".[1][7] She also appeared in the music video for Sheeran's single "Drunk".[14]
Philanthropy[edit]
Nesbitt was part of the mothers2mothers fund raising dinner, raising half a million pounds for the charity. She also attended the Women in the World Summit, discussing the impact of body image in the Internet era.[37]
She has worked with brands such as Calvin Klein and American Eagle and was chosen to attend the Women in the World Summit alongside Nicole Kidman and Cara Delevingne.[38]
Personal life[edit]
Nesbitt was in a relationship with singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and she appeared in his music video for "Drunk" in 2012.[39] She wrote most of her album, Peroxide (2014), about Sheeran, while she was the subject of Sheeran's songs "Nina" and "Photograph".[39]
In 2016, Nesbitt said that two people were stalking her.[40]
