Interview by Carol Wright | Photos Courtesy of Stina

We got to chat with singer/songwriter Stina about her single “Until We Forget” and advice she has for aspiring musicians.

Has music always been a way for you to express yourself?

I have always loved making music and singing, only recently have I started professionally recording music starting with my first song “Uninvited” released on January 1st of 2020. Throughout my life, I have been able to train and perform at some pretty incredible places including The Grand Ole Opry where great performers such as Paul McCartney and Pharrell have performed as well as vocal training with Grammy Winner Darlene Koldenhoven and Willie Norwood, father of singer Brandy. I have always had a passion for singing and songwriting, and I am so excited to be able to share my stories through music.

Who are some of your music influences?

I am inspired by so many different artists for a multitude of reasons. For my own music, I look to strong songwriters such as Taylor Swift, Michael Jackson, and Beyonce to help me become a better songwriter. For producing styles, I enjoy Pharrell, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, and Timbaland. The wonderful part about being a songwriter is that we are constantly evolving and taking inspiration from our favorite songs and pushing the craft forward.

Do you have a particular songwriting process?

All of my songs are written about my own life and are very self-reflective. I usually will think of a certain situation in my life and try to come up with a melody line that reflects that. I will then take the concept to my producer and we will come up with something really special from that!

Tell us about the story behind “Until We Forget.” What inspired the lyrics?

“Until We Forget” is really a breath of fresh air for me, the track really talks about wanting to be free of drama and negativity and wanting to have a good time, which I think everyone really needs right now! There are a lot of heavy things going on right now in the world, and sometimes we need to just let go and let our hair loose! Even if it’s only for a few minutes, I feel like that’s a break we could all use.

You recently were the executive producer of the three-day online benefit music festival titled “The Movement”. What was The Movement’s mission and what did you learn through producing it?

The Movement Music Festival was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had. During the protests last year, we were thinking about how we could provide help and raise awareness for the injustices happening to the Black community. Raising money for The NAACP and being able to work with incredibly successful artists such as Lauren Daigle, KT Tunstall, King Princess, and many others was very exciting. At first, we were planning to do only a one-day festival, but after immense interest, we decided to make it three days, and having major label artists take time out of their busy schedules to use their voices and speak up was amazing. I’m excited to be in the process of planning the 2nd Movement Festival for another amazing cause this year. More details to come soon!

What advice do you have for aspiring singers?

Something I have always thought about is what if the music artists we know and love today stopped right before their big break? In this industry, we face a lot of rejection, and it’s easy to use rejection as fuel to stop altogether. My advice for anyone aspiring to be in the music industry is to build long-lasting endurance and perseverance. You never know if that next song, post, or interaction might change everything for you!

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Website: www.stinabattle.com