Press kit - Nina Kohout

Bio —

Nina Kohout is a 20 year old Slovak artist currently based in the UK, where she’s just finished her studies at the notorious The BRIT School. Last year, Nina won the Radio_Head award for the Newcomer of the Year 2020 (curated by the Slovak national radio), which she received for her debut single Blue Sunray. Her critically acclaimed debut EP Pandemonium (incl. the song Moonlight featured as the Song of the Day by KEXP Radio) got Nina’s name mentioned in BBC Radio and music magazines such as Under the Radar, Louder than War, and Electronic Sound magazine. In 2022, Nina played at The Great Escape Festival in Brighton, the iconic Kino Šiška in Ljubljana, the United Islands of Prague, the Ahoi! Pop Festival in Linz, as well as the biggest Slovak festival Pohoda, and she supported acts such as Lola Marsh, Cathy Davey, and múm. At the beginning of 2023, Nina played at the biggest European showcase festival Eurosonic, where together with a string quintet she introduced her uniquely coloured chamber pop.

Her music connects the eerie atmosphere of ancient Slovak folklore, classical music elements, and the freshness of an innovative trip-hop. Subsequently, she creates her own timeless, rather strange, and anarchic musical world. Nina Kohout is a sonic storyteller who pushes the boundaries of musical obedience, forming a constant conversation between an invasive horror and a fragile purity.

Press quotes —

“Beautiful, charming and astutely stripped-down chamber pop of Nina Kohout.”

— Richard Foster / Louder than War

“While as a singer her talent is undeniable, it is her songwriting and composition that help her to stand out. Whether she performed at the piano or with an acoustic guitar the music danced with these narratives in a mesmerising way, packed with influences from classical music, folk songs, traditional waltzes and even elements of Arabic composition.”

— James Thornhill / Under the Radar

“Nina Kohout casts a spell upon onlookers in the Kabinet (stage), as her teenage take on trip hop and alt pop is at once innovative and enigmatic.”

— Jimi Arundell / FMS Magazine

“There’s a vibe of Goldfrapp and Portishead in the arrangement, which makes an excellent backdrop for Nina’s haunting vocal. Delicate, special and at just 18 years of age, Nina surely has a bright and successful future ahead.”

— Luke Moore / Freshonthenet.co.uk

“The EP feels like a strong start to a career of unlimited possibilities. It’s creative and surprisingly mature, just like Nina herself. I’m certain her star will continue to rise.”

— Spectator.sme.sk

“Nina Kohout is one of the greatest talents of the Slovak music scene. Beautiful voice, ethereal appearance, great English and intimate music with meaningful lyrics. These are the prominent signs of her.”

— Martina Simonakova / Hudba.sk

“As if Alejandro Amenábar made Alice in Wonderland for the symphonic Björk, as if closing one’s eyes finally meant completely feeling the world around. The Slovak singer Nina Kohout is releasing a multi-genre, in places playfully picturesque and in the production wonderfully compact EP Pandemonium.”

— Mojesbirka.cz