Kristina Behrsin AKA Niine is a Melbourne musician premiering her new track, ‘Hold On. Wait A Sec’, after exploring her own genre of ‘avalanche pop’ for the past year. I interviewed Niine about her inspirations and her journey to creating her new music.

The bonus track was finished while Niine was solo travelling through Europe last year. She says “It was the very last project my ex of 6 years and I did together, kind of like our closing ceremony. This breakup encouraged my solo 3-month venture to Europe and my further discoveries of what it means to be a Female artist in Melbourne today.”

How did your journey lead you to where you are now in your music?

As a really young girl, I would fall to sleep with my dad playing the piano. I remember I would dream of being as accomplished at the piano as he was. I ended up being lucky enough to have classical piano lessons from the age of 8 to around 14. Growing up I also spent pretty much every car ride with mum listening to the pop hits of the 90’s (in particular Tina Arina) and singing along with them at the top of my voice. I think this was when I really learnt to sing. I picked the guitar up around the age of 16 when my dad taught me enough to learn Bob Dylan songs and the like by myself. My family were always very musical, and so it seemed a natural progression for me to start studying both contemporary jazz guitar and piano at University. Now I’m lucky enough to spend most of my time writing and performing music.

Through this, where do you source inspiration in both your background in musical interests and personal influences?

The music I write under my moniker, Niine, is very strongly influenced by my childhood and years of studying music.

My pop sensibility, love for power ballad choruses and 90’s beats are probably inspired most by childhood drives with my mum. The harmony I use, the intricate rhythms and arrangements are more a result of studying jazz and becoming passionate about a vast variety of genres.

When did you decide you wanted to be an artist?

I can’t remember ever not wanting to be an artist. I was always fantasising about being a pop singer throughout childhood, and I guess my love for performing and playing music has never worn off.

What do you have coming up?

I’m super excited to put all of my energy into my Niine project this year. I’m organising recording sessions at the moment and will have my first E.P by the end of the year. I also have my debut video clip to release, which I’m waaay too excited about.

Check out Niine on Bandcamp: https://niine.bandcamp.com/ and Triple J Unearthed: https://www.triplejunearthed.c...

Published on The Ladies Network, February 27, 2017: http://theladiesnetwork.com.au...