INTERVIEW

Interview: Nina Sky - Pop Music Duo

Written by Clayton Perry
Published November 07, 2008

In 2004, at the height of the reggaeton movement, Nina Sky stormed up Billboard's Hot 100 Chart, peaking at #4 with the international smash "Move Ya Body." Although fame, fortune and success came quickly, the sisters spent the past four years out of the spotlight so that they could craft an album that would fully express their diverse, genre-defying style. In 2009, the duo will invite the world to enjoy The Musical Nicole and Natalie Albino — raw and uncensored.

In many ways, The Musical serves as a fresh start for Nina Sky. Since their departure from Universal Records, the two have found a home at J Records. In the wake of The Musical's release, Nicole and Natalie Albino managed to squeeze some time out of their busy schedule to settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry, reflecting on Madonna, sisterhood and the reggaeton movement.

On your debut album, the very first track was entitled "Nina Sky is..." Four years later, how would you complete that sentence? 

Nicole: Nina Sky is two girls from Queens, New York, who make hot music that all you guys love! [laughing] In the past four years, we've grown so much. When we first came out, we were 18 years old. We were fresh out of high school and, at the time, we hadn't experienced much in our lives. Our new album, The Musical, shows our evolution and growth over the years.

As a dynamic duo, how often do you have people come up to you and say, "Which one of you is Nina Sky, because there are two of you?"

Nicole: Quite a bit [laughing], but it was intentional. We named ourselves Nina Sky because we wanted everyone to think that it was one person, and then surprise them with the fact that we're two people; and then surprise them with the fact that we're identical twins. So that's why we named ourselves Nina Sky.

Natalie: The first name combines pieces of our first names — "Ni" from Nicole and "Na" from Natalie — and the last name is "Sky," because we believe that the sky is the limit.

When artists are presented as a duo, sometimes it's hard for your individual personalities to shine through. Nicole, how would you describe Natalie?

Nicole: Natalie is the s**t.

Okay. Natalie, how would you complete, "Nicole is...?"

Natalie: Nicole is — I can't say what she said — Nicole is my favorite. That's how I'd finish it.

Nicole: She's sweet.

Natalie: That's how I'd finish it [laughing].

I see... [laughing]. So, Nicole, how would you fill in the blank: "I am the ____ of Nina Sky?"

Natalie: "I am the energy of Nina Sky." I answered for her.

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Clayton Perry's mission parallels that of John Hope Franklin, Marcus Garvey and Carter G. Woodson. As the founder of the NUBIANO Project, Perry facilitates the design of projects that give voice to the Black diaspora, empower the Black community, redefine mainstream perspectives of "Blackness," and celebrate Black culture and history. He can be reached at crperry84@gmail.com.
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Interview: Nina Sky - Pop Music Duo
Published: November 07, 2008
Type: Interview
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: R&B, Music: Pop, Interviews, Culture: Celebrity, Music: Reggae and Caribbean
Writer: Clayton Perry
Clayton Perry's BC Writer page
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