Meet Nina de Vitry | Multi-Instrumentalist & Songwriter

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

Hi Nina, how do you think about risk?
I think risk is a very important element of learning. As a musician, it has been essential for me to take risks in order to grow. I am grateful to have been a part of many different spaces and communities in my life where I felt safe enough to put myself out there and explore new ideas on my instruments, and because of this, I have been able to gain more confidence in my abilities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a musician, my career has evolved a lot over time. I have spent many years making music as a solo artist, playing as a side person in various bands, and teaching music lessons. This year I transitioned into touring full time as a multi-instrumentalist. In March I started touring with Noah Kahan, and this has been one of the most exciting chapters of my career thus far. I am very proud to have landed this gig, because it feels like the culmination of many years of practice, community building, and faith in a career in music. Two of the biggest lessons I have learned along the way are that things are never quite as scary as we make them out to be in our head, and that the universe is always here to guide us on our path. I was intimidated about the idea of playing in arenas and learning the banjo for this gig, but I have found that I absolutely love playing for crowds of this size, and that banjo is one of my new favorite instruments! Taking these risks and facing these fears has come with an immense feeling of gratification, and reminds me how worthwhile growing past your comfort zone can be. In addition to pursuing this new path, I’m really proud to have produced and released my first full length album in 2023. I love the processes of both creating my own music and being a supporting player in someone else’s project. Experiencing both sides has helped me to grow both as a bandleader and side person, and though I’m not always sure what is next in my music career, I’m grateful for every step of this winding path.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A week long trip in Nashville, here we go! Let’s say it starts on a Saturday morning. I would definitely take them to the Richland Park Farmer’s market, where you’re sure to find a bunch of delicious locally grown food and lots of cute dogs. A favorite brunch or lunch spot to follow would be Dozen, where they have amazing sourdough bread, salads, and soups. Ideally, John Mailander’s Forecast would be playing at Dee’s Lounge that night, and we could go out for a night of shooting pool and listening to some of the most ripping jazz/acoustic music fusion out there.

On Sunday, I would take them for a long walk at Radnor Lake, my favorite nature preserve in South Nashville. Maybe we would cook a dinner from our farmer’s market veggies, or go to Xiao Bao, an amazing Szechuan restaurant in East Nashville. If we feel like going out again, I’d take them to the Old-Time jam at Fran’s.

Over the course of the week, I’d make sure to take them to Rudy’s Jazz Club, a Tune Squad soccer game (my soccer team!), a clothing swap and potluck with my friends, and some more local shows. Hopefully my friends Jobi Riccio, Liv Greene, Ava Swan, Jake Byrne, Dallas Ugly, or Paper Wings would be playing somewhere that week! If not, we would check out the 5 Spot or The Station Inn to see what’s happening. Some other favorite restaurant destinations would be Vinh Long for some vietnamese beef stew, Smiling Elephant for the best pad thai in the land, and Peg Leg Porker for some classic Southern BBQ.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are endless people, communities, and books I could shout out in terms of those who have supported me and contributed to my ability to follow my dreams. My parents Ann & Pierre de Vitry are the first who come to mind, because they spent the entirety of my childhood giving me access to music lessons and other musical experiences, encouraging me to follow my heart, and surrounding me with love. I also have to shout out John Mailander, who has been a dear friend and fiddle hero to me for some time, and who believed in me enough to recommend me to audition for the current gig I have with Noah Kahan. I have looked up to John’s playing and his band leading with his group Forecast for years, and it means the world that someone I admire so much would be willing to help open a door like this one. I also want to highlight the book “The Audacity to be Queen” by Gina DeVee. I read this a few years ago, and her words really helped me to transform how I was showing up for myself and my life. I love lending copies of this book to friends, because I feel like it can really help people to unlock their true inner power.

Website: https://www.ninadevitry.com

Instagram: @nina.dv

Image Credits
Pooneh Ghana (1 & 4)
Ross MacDonald (2 & 3)
Ross Smith (5)