Interviews

Nina Hynes Interview
Copyright: wheresthecraic.com

Background Info:
"Dublin born NINA HYNES started out her career by dropping out of Trinity College & opting out of society to move to a weather-torn remote part of Northern Ireland for two years. It was there where she learned to play guitar and developed her angelic voice. She then moved to France where she tested out her new-found talents by busking on the streets of Paris. After being offered several recording opportunities and management, she decided to move back to home for a reality check and to further perfect her passion."

"She found a perfect outlet in the form of the singer/songwriter night at the 'International' in Dublin. She ended up playing alongside the likes of Christy Moore, Luka Bloom, Glen Hansard of The Frames (ZZT/Universal). Epic recording artist, Mundy and Sony artist Paddy Casey were also recently discovered there. After gaining a sizeable fan base and crafting some of the amazing songs that would eventually end up on her debut album, she was picked up by local independent record label Reverb Records."

"Reverb immediately put NINA and her band into the studio to record the mini-album 'CREATION.' Once released, it garnered amazing reviews in both Ireland and Europe and earned complimentary comparisons to Mazzy Star, The Sundays, Massive Attack and Björk. "It has been very organic," says HYNES. "Our music has really spread through word of mouth. The critics have been very kind too, so that has really helped. It feels a little like a domino effect... every single gig, every single radio and T.V. performance, etc. makes a difference, even if it's only a few people who get introduced to our stuff."

"Up until now, the release has only been available in America through Amazon.com, who voted it Number 44 in their TOP 100 RELEASES OF 1999. It beat out releases by Sparklehorse, Pavement, Stereolab, Underworld and Tindersticks. 'CREATION' finally gets the full American release it deserves in November 00. In the run-up to this U.S. launch, NINA Company has been touring N. America extensively with her enchanting electro-alternative sound in tow. Their most recent trip in May 2000, saw them engineer a full East Coast tour with their five-night stopover in NYC proving to be the highlight as crowds turned out in increasingly large numbers."

"NINA HYNES is currently putting the finishing touches to her new album in  France at Steve Albini's favourite Black Box Studio. The album is reported to have over 11 musicians as guests and there are also reports of some very interesting and well-known collaborators participating in a re-mix of the album. The album is due for release in May. More info at Reverbs website."

Musician.ie - Nina Hynes

Interview by Gareth Maher

Indie-pop enchantress Nina Hynes has always kept people guessing about what move she is going to make next. From her off kilter ‘Creation’ EP to her synonymous live performances and through to her excellent ‘Staros’ album, she has rarely stayed with the same formula. That element of surprise is what makes her an intriguing artist to follow. She would probably be a damn fine chess player.

Read the interview

IMRO - Nina Hynes, A Rising Star

We are not alone. There is a parallel universe alongside us of which we are not aware in our daily existence. Making up this universe are a number of planets consisting of higher beings who communicate with us in dreams. Infiltrating our dormant reveries dressed in magnificent orange gowns, they impart their message without the need for speech. They impress upon us solely by enlivening our senses and delivering messages of strength and courage.

Nina Hynes, ladies and gentlemen, is explaining to me the reasoning's behind the title of her first album proper, Staros 'It was so intense and I woke up feeling incredible and the whole thing has just developed into the idea of Staros being one of the planets of this parallel universe', she recounts. Albeit a little withdrawn following the celebrations of the previous night's album launch, she speaks with a total and genuine earnestness which makes for an interesting twist, comparatively speaking.

So as Superman is to Krypton, so our own Nina Hynes is to Staros, a superheroine propelled in a lunar pod down to planet Earth communicating the messages of her kin through music so breathtaking as can only be considered to be otherworldly. The themes of love, loss and longing are presented in Staros with a deft finesse by an artist gifted with the understanding of and the sensitivity towards the importance of detail in the execution of musical expression. Given this, Staros can never become a closed affair. Each listen yields something new both lyrically and musically. As an album to grace all moods and occasions, Staros is a certified precious little wonder.

From whence did all this come? In the beginning, Nina Hynes landed and grew up in Dublin. Not much is known about her youth except that she was the youngest in a family of ten and because of this she was besieged by a range of musical influences (she quotes people as diverse as Gilbert O Sullivan, Cornelius, Kate Bush, Back etc.). After a brief flirtation with academia, the joy of learning was exchanged with the real lessons that can be gained from the joy of living. Nina decided to move from Dublin to Donegal. 'I knew I was going to go somewhere but I didn't know where it was but I had an idea and feeling of the place so Donegal made total sense'.

The clash between Nina's talents and the rugged beauty of Donegal's landscape proved to be suitably inspirational allowing her to develop both her guitar playing and singing talents. 'It just made me go outside of all my surrounding influences of urban behaviour and just made me go beyond who I was and what I already know', she says delightedly.

From Donegal to France and back to Dublin, Nina was ready to present herself and her music to unsuspecting gig-goers. Using the platform that was the singer-songwriter night at the International Bar in Dublin, Nina in a short space of time managed to gather together a fan base, a band and a record label in the form of Dublin independent, Reverb Records. The combination of patience and good judgment had finally paid off for Nina and she and the band were soon in the studio to record the debut E.P., Creation. It was America which awoke to embrace Nina's new recorded output. The E.P. made it into the CMJ Radio Charts and soon Nina and her crew were heading Stateside to build upon this new popularity.

'I don't know', she reasons when asked about Creation's appeal to the notoriously difficult American market, 'I think anyone could have success over there, it's such an open market!'. 'American college radio is so powerful, everyone listens to it, I'd arrive in a town on the morning of the gig, I'd do a half hour set on the radio and have a chat and the gig is full merely from the radio but as to why they like it? no idea, it's like why do you like strawberries?!'.

And so fast forward down the Hynes timeline and to the present day and Staros. Electro folk pop magnificence in abundance, Staros is a one way ticket into Sensational Central where Ms. Hynes, the ring mistress, thrills all with her sparkling musical elegance.

Staros was recorded in Black Box studios in the idyllic French countryside ('a place with a big analogue desk, custom made effects units, huge collection of microphones, loads of chickens and cats') and was produced by David Odlum ('we never fought once y'know?!). Despite recording the album in just ten days it took nearly a year for it to be finished and mixed in its entirety.

'I'm big into details, she reveals, 'tiny details, every single second on that album was listened to, every single sonic detail is important to me, nothing went by my ears'. Therein lies the attraction to Staros. Like boyhood adventure books, each with a different ending, so Staros equally reveals something new about itself every time either lyrically, atmospherically or sonically.

It is equally refreshing to see its creator living happily for the times, on a piece of work of which she should be proud and for which many accolades are deserving. 

'I've had no big push at all, it's all very small baby steps from touring and word of mouth'. 'I'm on a shoestring budget on a great label who've given me all the freedom I want so who knows where this will all go?!'.

Nina has certainly made a lot of leaps and bounds thus far with her music and one suspects more of the same as critical acclaim continues to accumulate.

From Dublin to Donegal, to France, to parallel universes, to planets of higher beings, to America and beyond, as the girl herself says, 'it's a topsy turvy, upside down, corners curving kinda crazy world'.

Justin Dowling

cluas.com - Nina Hynes

Caroline chats with Nina about tunes & things...

Dublin based Nina Hynes gets compared to a lot of different people - Bjork, PJ Harvey, Mazzy Star, even on one memorable occasion in New York to Dolly Parton! But although her debut mini-album, Creation, is somewhat derivative in places, she's working towards a sound that is uniquely hers. Nina refuses to follow the clichéd girl-with-acoustic-guitar path and this is immediately obvious from the opening moments of Creation's first track, 'William Tell'. The most successful song on the album has been 'This Magic Stuff', a perfect pop moment where Nina captures the altered state of perception that affects those in love: 'you make me feel so beautiful/you take me somewhere so beautiful'.

Early on she reveals that she enjoys working within the 'discipline of a pop song' and finds it challenging to 'try and capture something magical in three minutes with something that's as structured as verse, chorus, bridge'. Talking to Nina about her music you get the feeling that she would like to seduce people into entering her world using an accessible song like 'This Magic Stuff' and then get them to listen to music they wouldn't normally pay attention to.

At the time of our recent meeting Nina had just finished a tour around Ireland, had recently played a few gigs in New York and was rehearsing and playing with two bands - her own Nina Hynes band and K-Dek (previously known as 'Reno Five', containing members of Dublin and Derry bands Tension, Mexican Pets and Schtum). She can't wait to get back to the studio again and plans to record a new album in the summer, finishing it by August, and book-ending the recording time with tours in May and October.

She never really thought about music as a career although she has always sung and 'fiddled with the piano' - she wrote her first song when she was eight. A passionate performer, Nina looks most at home on stage, lost in and absorbed by her music. She started off busking and playing at the songwriter nights in the International Bar, which she describes as 'a great training ground...like a little university'. Her first major support slot was with Kila at a time when she was 'terrified at the idea of playing somewhere with a roof'. It wasn't until Nina had a gig in Whelan's that she got around to putting a band together. The packed line-up included 'a cello player, a drummer, bass player, bodhrán player and Joe Chester [still the guitarist in the band] on electric guitar.' That night Nina realised what she really wanted to do, she says, 'being on stage surrounded by my favourite musicians gave me a real buzz, it was incredible! She borrowed some money to record with that original line up and, after many fits and starts, Creation was born.

The album belies its genesis, which Nina describes as 'a scattering of demos, recorded over about a year and a half.' She wrote most of the material herself: 'I would come in with songs and everybody would work around them.' Two of the songs - 'He Turned The Light Off' and 'Bring Me Alive' - developed more organically from the band jamming together. 'Bring Me Alive' stands out as a darker, more complex song and ends with Nina hypnotically whispering 'this music…brings me alive' over and over again. Nina enjoyed working in this spontaneous way and intends to do it much more in the future 'the plan in the next few months is to rehearse a lot and write as a unit, not just me coming in with songs.' She has already written a few 'shiny, happy songs' and hopes to create the album as a band and release it under a name other than Nina Hynes.

The work that she does with K-Dek is different again, and 'not so song orientated.' Nina puts vocals and keyboards around pieces of music that the band gives her on tape and then they all rework it together. She likes this different approach which she feels is 'more tongue in cheek'.

Nina has a sense of disbelief about what she's doing. Sometimes there's something of the little girl lost about her, especially when she describes standing on stage on front of an audience and thinking that she hasn't really come to terms with her life at all. She sometimes feels that what she does is 'crazy...the whole act of playing music is invisible, it doesn't exist'. At the same time she believes that 'music is powerful, there's a magic there that takes you away'. She often manages to transmit this to her audience - at one of her gigs in Whelan's last November you could have heard a pin drop as everybody was totally focused on the stage. Nina found this 'very odd, it's a weird feeling, looking at so many people looking at you'. Although it can be intimidating she gets a 'total buzz' out of it - 'people coming to be quiet'.

Other than working with her own band and with K-Dek, Nina has plans for many other things, like releasing a solo album and maybe doing some soundtracks. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long for whatever comes next.

Caroline Hennessy

almostfabulous.com - Nina Hynes

"We are not your typical Irish band. Listening to us you could not say 'That is an Irish band' ..."

March 2000

Fresh from a tour of the East Coast of America and appearances with Stereolab and David Gray, Nina Hynes and company are presently holed up in the studio recording the band's second release, their first proper album. The complete band joining Nina in studio consists of reunited guitarist and producer Joe Chester, former Cactus World News drummer Wayne Sheehy, programmer/sound wizard Nico from France and ex-Mundy bassist Shane Fitzsimons.

Nina & Co. hit Irish roads in January and February 2000 for an Irish tour and then return to the U.S. this month for their first full U.S. tour. The band's debut, Creation, not only received great reviews in Ireland, but America has warmly embraced it. Several of the songs off of it are getting strong airplay on the few radio stations it was leaked to. Guitars, bass, drums, technology & samples make up the core of what Nina sees as her permanent band and live act. However, she isn't completely interested in settling down into one musical marriage, which means that there will always be a string of accompanying artists and collaborators. Two of Nina's songs have recently been included on a new album by German cellist Wolfram Hushcke, released on BMG Classics. The album also features songs by Marianne Faithful and Mimi Goese. She recently collaborated on an album with French avant-garde producer Hector Zazou and toured Europe singing with the pianist/composer and former 4AD artist Harold Budd. Nina was also fortunate enough to be invited on stage to sing with the late Jeff Buckley during his very last visit to Belfast.

Her next collaboration comes in the form of re-mixes of two of her songs; Bass Odyssey (Quadraphonic) and Basic (Kitchen Records - U2's new dance imprint) have each re-mixed a song from Creation. Listen for the results on a dance floor near you.

Nina popped into WLRFM following her set at the Hogshead recently and joined me on the Irish Music Programme.


Nina was born in Dublin and has been singing for most of her life. It could be said that she is one of a new breed of singers who are using the Internet to sell her wares and, hopefully, land that elusive big recording contract. So far the Internet has served her well.

Nina Hynes:

Yes. So far there have been 10,000 downloads of This Magic Stuff [a song from her current CD Creation] and that is just one site. We have about seven sites where the song can be downloaded from and they all have been doing well.

Was Creation your first release?

We have been gigging around for years but, yes this is our first release. Not only can the CD be bought on line but of course it is also available in the shops also so it's like a bit of everything.

Nina and the band have also been to the States.

Yes we have been over there a few times, Texas and New York. I love it, it's wide open. The Americans are very open to Irish people in general so when you go over there they are going to listen to you before you even start. We are not your typical Irish band. Listening to us you could not say 'That is an Irish band'. The band is very trippy. We are not a straightforward pop thing. It's like some songs are a bit poppy but then some of it is very wacky and out there and some of it is kinda folky. It's very mixed.

Nina's voice has been likened to that of Bjork.

Yes I have heard that. She has a great voice. Its been likened to a lot of people, The Cocteau Twins, Sinead O'Connor. It depends on the song. P.J. Harvey also.

Nina's voice has a more commercial edge, more so than some of the aforementioned singers. Is 'commercial' a dirty word for Nina?

Oh no it's not a dirty word no. I'd like to see the paybacks a bit more. If my voice IS commercial, I'd love to see it coming back to me!

What kind of music did Nina listen to as she was growing up?

Growing up I listened to a hell of a lot of stuff. I have five brothers and four sisters and there was a huge record collection, from the Beatles to Gary Numan to The Doors. When I was eight I was really into the Doors. I grew up living over a pub also and there was also traditional Irish music being played. I used to sing with my mother as well. Then I got into jazz and a load of strange stuff like wacky jazz and world music. Then it was onto people like Jeff Buckley.

Is music something that she always wanted to do?

No. It's just something that I ended up doing. I have always sung and I have always enjoyed it but I never thought of it as a career. A few years ago I simply decided that this was what I enjoyed doing the most so I may as well focus on this because I didn't get the same buzz from other things. I was into photography and acting and I wanted to make films but I found myself doing music more and more.

Are you surprised at the speed your career has elevated?

It feels kind of natural because until you release something people don't really take you seriously and I was gigging around for a few years mostly in Dublin and in the last few years with a band. We developed a following and now there is a strong following. Any time we play Whelan's we just pack it out and the fans are great. Really quiet and listening. 


Nina is now in the States and will return to record new material and will return to the States again in September. When she plays Waterford again do yourself a favour and make sure you get to see her.

Roddy Cleere

Morgan Records interview

March 28 2001

Cat: Can you tell us a wee bit about the forthcoming album?

Nina: Lots of songs. Quite diverse. Some of it very soft and quiet and melancholy. some of it is quirky, happy pop. Some if it is spacey electronica. It reflects where I'm at. I don't like to trap myself within one style, things are always changing. This album was a pleasure to make, I chose lots of my favourite people to work with and everyone was so flexible, open and imaginative. I'm happy with it sonically and creatively. . . It's helped me to move on.

To date, what is the most memorable show you have played?

Last night in Whelan's in Dublin. That connection with the audience was there and the music was flowing easily. . . as it should be. . . that's the show I remember best. . .

What else interests you, aside from music?

Motivations - why people do what they do. Films/books - pure escapism without taking any chemical substance. The differences and similarities of cultures. Visual arts. Social etiquette and expectations. Connecting with others. . .

What do you love?

Honesty - Music - Films - Dark and interesting bars - Confidence - Feeling good, healthy and happy with oneself - Good food - Books - Good friends - Hope - Kindness - Confidence - Feeling grateful - Being understood - Understanding - Feeling that people are intrinsically good and that the world can be a beautiful place - Feeling that anything is possible, anything could happen; just saying it could even make it happen - Dancing - The sea - Real smiles - Big dogs - Kittens - Lions - Birds - Colours - Fresh Air - Connecting - Shoes - Eyes - The imagination . . . and lots more. . .

What do you hate?

Insincerity - Feeling locked inside sadness like is an endless grief of a disastrous world lost to corruption - Politics - Not knowing if someone is true - Generally the feeling of being unsure - Jealousy - When talent or creativity is confused with the product of clever marketing strategies and when the latter becomes the expectation and the norm within a society so it becomes harder for the real diamonds to exist or shine through - When money is power - Power games - Being misunderstood - Not understanding - Coco without sugar - Impersonal coffee - The way one sock always gets lost in the laundry - The imagination. . . and lots more. . .


Is there a particular event that occurred which empowered you?

Being born. . .

What is your favourite thing about where you live?

The sound of seagulls.

If you could change one thing about where you live, what would it be?

I would lower the overall rent of the city. Irish people have certain elements of a beaten race in our psyche from a history of our language and country, which was taken over by another empire and the famine, etc., so we have a pride for producing so many writers, artists and musicians. But Dublin is now becoming a very hard place to live for anyone, but the upwardly mobile business people. . . because of inflation and our infamous "Celtic tiger" . . .phrases that have now become clichéd excuses for greed.

What is your favourite place to travel to?

Music. The eyes of love.

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