Meet Girl Named Nino

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Girl Named Nino a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Girl Named Nino , so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being the only one in the room: how have you learned to be effective/successful even when you are the only one in the room that looks like you?

There’s a quiet fire that comes from being the only one in the room who carries your story: your face, your roots, your rhythm.

Culture shock hit me hard as a young teen in a country I’d only known through the lens of films and TV. I felt like I had to overcompensate: be perfect, be polished, make myself easier to digest. But I could never bring myself to betray who I was. I kept showing up as me, even when it cost me. And I’m grateful for that now, because I’ve always innately understood , even in my native land, that being myself, at all costs, was the only way forward. My difference isn’t a liability; it’s the reason I create work that lingers.

As an immigrant, an independent artist, and a woman in male-dominated spaces many times over: songwriter, producer, composer, mixer-I’ve learned that authenticity is the strategy. People remember what they’ve never seen before. I’ve always rebelled against becoming a replica of any beauty standard du jour. I lead with presence, with preparation, and with a sense of purpose that isn’t performative.

I’ve had to learn how to thrive with contradictions most people would try to erase: I’m an opera-trained punk. A nurturer with razor edges. A solo act who builds community from scratch.And instead of hiding my multitudes, I wear them like tattoos- permanent, visible, and chosen.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the artist behind Girl Named Nino, a genre-fluid sonic and visual project rooted in storytelling, soulful tension, and cinematic energy. I’m a songwriter, producer, composer, mixer, and filmmaker; creating work that lives at the intersection of sound, emotion, and identity. My sound blends alt-R&B, synth textures, jazz and soul sensibilities, and a haunting vocal presence that refuses to play by genre rules.

From composing immersive soundtracks to crafting spell-like songs that dance between heartbreak and empowerment, my work is designed to linger — emotionally, sonically, and visually. More than anything, it exists to celebrate and build community through music and what it inspires. At its core, my goal is always to comfort and celebrate the underdog, the outsider, the loner who is their own community — or has chosen to be.
But in this movie, the loner is never lonely — and they’ve got a place to dance all day and night, if they choose to.

Right now, I’m expanding into immersive audio formats, film scoring, and writing my latest album AU CINEMA (Songs from the Movies You Haven’t Seen Yet), which will be released before the end of summer on my independent label, Moonlight Daughter Records.
My brand is about reminding people that truth has texture, vulnerability has voltage, and identity isn’t something you simplify — it’s something you cultivate and protect at all costs.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

1. Vision Without Compromise
From the very beginning, I saw glimpses of the artist I wanted to become and over time, I learned to trust myself more and more. That vision deepened as my conviction was matched by a growing body of work.

2. Self-Education & Resourcefulness
I didn’t wait to be chosen. I learned how to produce, compose, record, and mix so I could bring my ideas to life independently. I built an internal toolbox, and it’s saved me countless times. When collaboration wasn’t available, I moved forward anyway and those skills now allow me to lead from a place of autonomy, not scarcity.

3. Emotional Endurance
This path isn’t just about talent-it’s about resilience. It’s about how you move through silence, rejection, burnout, or being misunderstood. Some of my favorite work was born in seasons when I felt less visible and yet, that music made its way to film directors, who later invited me to write original songs for their projects. Listeners would reach out to say they’d pack venues in NYC, LA, DC or SF if I ever toured their city. That’s how my DIY U.S. headlining tours were sold out before the pandemic hit.
When COVID collapsed my touring model, I had to pivot. I leaned harder into composing for film and TV, and in the process, my studio chops became my lifeline. That season taught me that emotional endurance isn’t passive-it’s a creative force of its own.

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m open to collaborations that begin with conversation; where friendship and shared values come first, and creative synergy unfolds from trust. I’m especially drawn to working with filmmakers, choreographers, photographers, DJs, rappers, and classical ensembles who build from emotion and aren’t afraid to experiment.

I welcome aligned sponsorships that honor artistry without dilution, and partnerships that amplify not just sound, but spirit. Whether it’s co-producing an album, music directing a tour, scoring for film or movement, or curating immersive, cross-genre work.

I’m here for projects that feel rooted, reciprocal, and resonant. If we build together, we build as a community-not just a credit line.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

photos by Kinetic Kath

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