Nino Arobelidze
We had the pleasure of catching up with the incredibly talented Nino Arobelidze (Girl Named Nino) this week. Born in Tbilisi and now based in Chicago, this songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is on The Daily Herald's Best Of list as one of 8 Chicago Acts of 2018. The Chicago newspaper has also dubbed her "Rising Star of Indie, Soul, World Music and Jazz," and others describe her as serene, soulful, genre-defying and captivating. When you listen to her music ... when you talk to her – you feel all these things and more. We're so happy to share the beauty that is Nino with you. Please, enjoy!
FEATURED: Nino wears pieces from the Marla Studio collection | SHOP NOW
1. Describe yourself in 3 words.Adventurous Feeling Thinker.
2. Tell us a bit about the work you do and why you chose that field.
I’m a Musician, Songwriter and Producer fascinated by the endless possibilities of Independent Music and Entrepreneurship, built on the foundation of unapologetic, radical creativity, always operating from a compassionate lens.
3. What were some of the lessons learnt along the way?
The most important lesson I learned is that all my interests and experiences fully contribute to my story and it has value in its very existence, whether or not I ever directly utilize it. Everything you do and live matters.
"WHEN YOU TURN PEOPLE AROUND FROM JUDGING YOU TO WANTING TO CHAT AND SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH YOU, IT'S...HEART-FILLING!"
4. What has been your most humbling experience professionally?
Positively humbling experience has been booking, grass roots promoting and playing coast-to-coast live shows in the small-to-midsized venues (for my last two US tours), and watching strangers I’d never directly met before show up and try to decide how they felt about me (and sometimes my music). Such a challenge, but what a game changer! When you turn people around from judging you to wanting to chat and share their experiences with you, it’s life-affirming and heart-filling!
Something else that has been professionally humbling is fully engaging with the notion that I can't win everyone’s heart and that’s a tough pill to swallow as an entertainer, but it’s also something every artist eventually understands (has to in order to keep evolving). I can't expect to please everyone. I’m not ice cream.
"CHIN UP SWEET GIRL, KEEP YOUR HEART PURE. I LOVE YOU."
5. What advice would you give to your 15-year old self?
Chin up sweet girl, keep your heart pure. I love you.
Photography by Roman Sobus
6. Happiness is …?
Being excited to go to bed at night so you can do it all over again tomorrow.
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Spiritually bankrupt people. Fish handshakes. People who don't tip.
8. Describe your go-to style.
Athleisure. All black. Fit as a fiddle both in mind and body so I can be fully available to the world and be of service to myself and those I care about.
9. You feel most beautiful when …?
I’m taking care of myself and I feel appreciated.
"FASHION IS CREATIVITY UNLEASHED AND WORN UNABASHEDLY."
10. What does fashion mean to you?
Fashion is creativity unleashed and worn unabashedly; it’s choosing to look like how you feel without apologies.
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BE ON THE LOOK OUT!
Follow Nino on Instagram for a Behind The Scenes with Girl Named Nino series, where Nino will be pulling the curtain on the inner workings of what it takes to be an independent musician and creative entrepreneur.
Stay tuned for her upcoming music project – Au Cinema.