Meet Nyna Nelson

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nyna Nelson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nyna, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?
My husband, Trevor, and I tour full-time as musicians in the indie folk duo, Fort Vine. We have been traveling in our self-converted Mercedes Sprinter Van since March of 2018. Because we live a nomadic life on the road, inspiration can be found pretty much anywhere and everywhere we go. We just have to be open to the spark of creativity and – like magic, it is there.

Of course, it’s not always that simple. In order to be in a creative state, there are many factors at play- mostly having to do with our mental state, how well rested we are, and if our environment is conducive to focused creative time.

It’s a delicate dance, being on a perpetual tour and scheduling time to rest so that we have the energy to be creative. It can be an uphill battle, trying to spark inspiration when we are tired. But it’s not impossible. In fact, Trevor and I challenged ourselves to do a project called “Song a Day in the Month of May” where we wrote and recorded a brand new song every single day for the whole month. 31 songs in 31 days. We just wanted to see if we could actually do it. And we did! Sometimes, we can force ourselves to be in a creative state if we challenge ourselves to meet a deadline. Having a creative partner definitely helps. Our sleep-deprivation that month was easier to overcome knowing we were holding each other accountable in reaching our goal. We did that project two years in a row… if you’re curious to hear those songs, they are available online at www.fortvine.bandcamp.com.

Cultivating an environment where inspiration can arise and flourish is another huge factor in keeping our creativity alive. We change locations all the time, so we have to be flexible with this one. But our van is our creative haven when inspiration strikes. We recorded our 5th album, “Land of the Gemstones” in our van while we were on tour in 2022. Waiting for our calendar to open up for us to schedule ample studio time just wasn’t in the cards, so we decided to record our music while we were on the go. Best decision we ever made. Now, when I listen back to those recordings, I think about the fun, scenic, and remote locations we were parked at when we tracked each song. So, waiting for our environment to be perfect isn’t really all that necessary. Making the best of the place we are at and running with it- that’s another way we keep our creativity alive.

Lastly, Trevor and I keep our creativity alive by cultivating meaningful friendships with other artists, musicians, makers, and doers. We love our creative friends, because they inspire us endlessly, and help us find that spark when we feel we have lost it, and vice versa. Having great friends who are artists definitely helps us to keep our creativity alive.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Trevor and I are on tour in Colorado this summer! Our schedule can be found on our website: www.fortvine.com/live

In addition to playing festivals, winery and brewery shows, we have been booking a lot of private house shows recently and we would love to play a concert at your place! These are our favorite kind of shows to play because we get to share our music and our stories with your friends, family and neighbors in an intimate listening-room setting. If you’d like to host a backyard or living room concert at your house, please reach out to us at booking@fortvine.com.

We released our 5th Fort Vine album, “Land of the Gemstones”, earlier this year. It captures the memories we’ve made living life on the open road. It is available on all streaming platforms, and at our website: www.fortvine.com.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There are many skills and areas of knowledge I have acquired and developed over the last decade of being a songwriter, and the last 5 years of being a full-time touring musician. The most impactful skills that have gotten me to where I am today: -Trusting my gut and listening to my heart. Believing that everything will work out as long as I am living in alignment with my purpose.
-Putting on a great show, connecting with people through music, and telling compelling stories through song. (An ever-evolving and growing skill set, I might add.)
-Planning and managing the tour booking process and juggling all of the logistics (still constantly learning and expanding upon this skill every day!)

Advice I would give to any creative person who wants to make a career from their art:
-get quiet, sit down, close your eyes and listen to your beating heart. Check in. Ask your heart questions. Listen for the answers. It’s okay to not know right away. You will be guided as soon as you make a decision and pick a direction, if it feels right or not. Check in with yourself often. Listening to your intuition is an important skill to develop for anyone, but especially artists.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was they paid close attention to what my interests were and supported me in my artistic pursuits as a young child. And I had so many interests! They could’ve told me to stick to just one thing out of fatigue or financial strain, but they allowed me to be the guide, and I am so appreciative of their support and belief in me. As a child I was able to study piano, ice skating, dance, perform in musical theater productions, etc. – they were my biggest fans in all of my endeavors, something I am eternally grateful for. They also taught me to trust my heart, for it will never lead me astray. Pretty awesome parents, huh!? I am blessed to come from such a solid foundation.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Carly Wesolowski Marisa Nelson Manoa Rain Gianna Joy

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