We had the good fortune of connecting with Nina Porter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nina, how do you think about risk?
When I think about risk, I always seems to come back to this question: will this choice/decision/opportunity draw me closer towards existing authentically as a stand for more love, inclusion, equity, and sustainable co-existence?

I’ve risked and walked away from many ventures, relationships, and opporutnities when the answer felt like a ‘no’. But ultimately betraying the Truth within me feels like too great a risk to bear.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
While singing and performing came pretty naturally to me as a child, I didn’t set out to compose songs of my own until my early twenties. It was around the age of 22 when I was working the corporate tech sales job in San Francisco that I thought I needed to ‘prove myself’, that I came home one night depressed and exhausted and wrote my first song, “Nail & A Hammer.”

“I wanna come back home
when I come back to me.
I wanna feel like I’m home,
I wanna feel like I’m free.
I want a place to gain strength.
I want a place to grant peace.
I want a nail and a hammer to put back together
the broken pieces of me.”

Shortly after writing this song, I quit my job, signed a modeling contract, and started visiting open mics, studios and different music venues throughout the Bay Area in hopes to find ‘my people’ and grow my confidence as an artist. Songwriting became a sacred space where I could be radically honest with myself and exist in the world more authentically, which i’m forever grateful for. In a world/society that feels like it’s doing it’s best to drown out the voice of our inner knowing with influencers and advertising and propaganda and dogma, music and songwriting has been my tool of reclamation for the voice of Truth within me, beyond the noise of the world.

As I continue to develop, practice and share music from this space, I’m continuously blown away and so so thankful for the musicians, producers, listeners and cheerleaders of my music, who resonate with my work. Most recently, I’ve found immense joy walking with people as their guide on their journey of opening up their authentic voice. I know the sweetness and power contained in this act, and I want everyone to feel what it feels like to have a loving and honest relationship with their voice.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Well, if we’re *real friends*, I’m absolutely picking them up from LAX, no question! Our weeklong itenerary would include but not be limited to: a morning hike at Griffith Park with Observatory views at sunset, a night out at The Comedy Store, visiting a bespoke music listening experience called “The Record Club” (latest obsession), a Soho Warehouse poolside sunset moment, a trip to my favorite crystal shop Liberate Emporium, a Hollywood Bowl show, a drink at the Dresden Room, an early AM walk through the flower district, a waterfall hike through Eaton Canyon Falls, rosewater and lavender ice cream cones at Mashti’s, Vegan Italian dinner at Pura Vita, hot yoga morning at Modo in Anita’s class who chants so beautifully you can’t help but weep, a trip to Descanso Gardens to take a nap on the grass, surrounded by tulips, a walk through downtown LA to stay woke to the gross economic disparity and lack of resources allocated to our houseless neighbors, followed by a Sunday service at Agape International.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Mom. You taught me what love is by consistently living it. Thank you for all the ways you’ve brought the light into my life.

Website: www.ninagrae.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninagrae/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-grae/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ninagrae

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ninagrae

Image Credits
2. Nathan Johnson Photography 8. WeDeepen Photography

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