Q&A with Nino Bederan
When looking for your newest favorite hip hop artist, you want to find an artist with an excellent ear for hits but with meaning and honesty in their art. Nino Bederan is the best of both worlds. His latest release, "Sully my Name", is a perfect blend of cinematic soundscapes with the burgeoning sound Nino has always drawn inspiration from in his Franco-American background and the hustling demeanor of New York City. A track with powerful crescendoing synths and accompanying vocal harmonies, Nino doesn't fail to deliver an infectiously rhythmic performance. Entirely written, produced, and recorded by Nino himself, "Sully my Name" is an uplifting hit recounting Nino's journey upwards facing obstacles and knocking down barriers: guaranteed to lift you off your feet.
In our interview with the young songwriter, he talks to us about making music during a pandemic, his journey in the music industry, and the inspiration behind his stage name.
IndieWavves: Hi Nino, where are you from, and where are you currently based?
Nino Bederan: Hey! I'm based in New York City and was born in Schoelcher, Martinique, a French department in the French West Indies. With Martinique being such a community-based and hospitable island, I quickly learned about family importance and being there for one another. New York is now my home, and English is my third language behind French and Spanish.
IW: How was the recording process for you during a lockdown? We heard you used your mother's bedroom.
NB: Yeah! Stuck at home during most of the pandemic, I had to record the last single in my mother's bedroom and my closet due to my far from ideal recording situation. With my little brother having online classes in our shared bedroom, I was left without a space to record new music. I knew I needed to get creative with finding a new workspace. I recorded most of my latest music in my mom's bedroom/workspace as she was also working from home in the same room. But I made it work. I'll do anything to make the music happen.
IW: What can you tell us about your journey in making music since you started?
NB: Through thick and thin, I have experienced just how challenging it is to be a self-produced artist. When I first started making music, all I could think about was artists I wanted to be like. Whether it was Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, or J.Cole, I couldn't stop thinking about copying them. I have always been insecure about my voice and my abilities. But my journey is much more than music. My journey through music is about self-acceptance, the discovery of my abilities, but also loving myself. Ever since I started making music, it forced me to face my identity issues, and every day I improve, I become more and more comfortable with who I am and everything I want to stand for every day.
IW: What are your thoughts on your recent work versus your latest releases?
NB: Oh, it's very bad. It's crazy to watch yourself progress over the years because you really notice how much you improve and at such a fast rate. I'm proud of all the work I put in these past four years. I'm not ashamed of my first few projects, but I know I can do so much more, and I'm beginning to discover what I want out of the music I'm making.
IW: What is the origin of your stage name (NINO BEDERAN)?
NB: NINO is derived from the Spanish word "niño" due to some teasing me about my short stature and youthful appearance. The BEDERAN portion is a direct play on words with "Better Than" because I knew that while tackling this re-branding, I wanted this new persona to be "better than" I was before.
Written by Bastian Delalande