“I remember sitting one night in this amazing house in the hills… and thinking how damn gorgeous it was despite all the fucked up shit that was going on day in and day out, but its flaws only made it all the more seductive.” shares Ricky Wilde, brother of pop icon Kim Wilde, depicting a vision of a moment of realization and inspiration. And it is this blend of reflection and authenticity that marks the collaboration between Ricky and NINA, as well a harmonious coupling of experiences and musical crafts, which has birthed the album, “Scala Hearts.”
The album is a glittering dream woven with synth and adorned with the distinctive vocals of NINA. It’s a bit like colorful time travel—sparkling, dim, and full of good vibes. Together, they invite listeners into a nostalgia rush, creating an ambiance that is both familiar and new. “When I meet someone who I really connect with (like Ricky), the creative magic continues to grow…” NINA tells.
In our interview, we delve into the intricate dance of fate and choice that brought these two artists together, explore their individual and collective artistic evolution, and get a glimpse of the impact their collaboration has had on them both personally and professionally.
Photography by Polocho of Say Goodnight Films
Ricky, NINA, it sounds like fate brought you two together in the most unexpected way. How do you think being in the right place at the right time impacted the creative flow of “Scala Hearts”?
RICKY: I have found that in my life the universe sometimes interjects to make sure certain things happen.. sure coincidence it may be, but really sometimes it all seems a bit too weird! I had only been talking about possibly reaching out to Nina to maybe work with her not even ten minutes before we literally bumped into each other! We had never met before, but after only five minutes of chatting felt like old mates, and so fixed up a few days in my studio where we wrote ‘Runaway‘ and ‘Gave Up On Us‘ for Nina’s ‘Synthian’ album. It was such an easy process that it seemed only too obvious that we were going to do more collaborations together at some point, so for me, SCALA HEARTS was almost inevitable.. just not in the form I expected it to be!
NINA: I definitely believe in destiny but I also believe that we write our own story. When I meet someone who I really connect with (like Ricky), the creative magic continues to grow. We worked on SCALA HEARTS over a stretch of a few years, absolutely giving us room to define and enrich our sound as well as our way of writing together. Ricky inspires me and I really look for that when I am considering any collaboration.
Both of you come from different realms of the music world. How did you balance the influences of new wave and synthwave in creating a smooth sound for “Scala Hearts”?
RICKY: Originally in my head I was writing the SCALA HEARTS album as a follow up to SYNTHIAN, and as such was going to produce it in that mode. When Nina asked if I would be interested in releasing it as a collaboration, I feel it freed us both up to experiment a bit further with sounds and direction. SCALA HEARTS I don‘t think would have sounded anything like it does if it had have been a Nina album.. and certainly some of the tracks on it would not have surfaced.
NINA: After SYNTHIAN I was on a bit of a quest to explore and create new sounds. It started with CARNIVAL NIGHT (Produced by Radio Wolf) and continued with GOLD HEART (a co-production with Radio Wolf and Ricky). When it came time to discuss a new album as NINA, I wasn’t really ready. I still wanted to try things and experiment. When Ricky shared his demos with me I loved them! They had a natural retro feel but sounded very modern! I also love his voice, this inspired the idea of a duet album. In many ways, Synthwave comes from New Wave, so the smooth sound is inevitable. Ricky and I have a very good understanding of both genres. The only difference is we are at different ends of time sharing the same desired centre point.
“The best part of this whole process for me is stretching myself mentally…” Ricky
How was the process of working together different from your solo projects? Were there any specific challenges or revelations during the collaboration?
RICKY: Apart from the stuff I did as a kid, this is actually my first solo project as such, albeit with Nina.. so the whole process has been a new experience and a huge learning curve for me, but one that I have really enjoyed and am most grateful to Nina for. As for revelations, I think every time I heard Nina sing each track as they were coming, was always a huge buzz.. I knew she would deliver of course, but at the same time it was always a pleasant surprise to hear how hard she had worked at her vocal delivery, (Radio Wolf was a huge part of that process too), but also the way she gently pushed me to make it sound the best it possibly could.. the devil is always in the detail, and this was especially evident in every vocal production on all the tracks.
NINA: I’m a very sensitive artist, so having Ricky always in my corner made a world of difference. He’s is one of those pure hearts. My biggest challenge was letting go of any past restrictions and traumas (both professionally and personally) to truly be myself. It’s not always easy but that’s the point of SCALA HEARTS. You gotta fight the good fight, baby!
And how has this collaboration personally evolved you both as artists? Were there any lessons learned or moments of personal growth?
RICKY: Being an ‘artist‘ as such has never been an aspiration of mine, and to be honest the thought of being one actually terrified me, but I think at my time of life it’s important to savour any different opportunity that comes your way however outside your comfort zone it may be. The best part of this whole process for me is stretching myself mentally, working with Nina and Radio Wolf, and hopefully do some gigs along the way.. but most importantly to enjoy the journey!
NINA: This journey has been so very liberating for me. Each time I work with another artist/producer, I learn something new and with Ricky it‘s no different. I admire everything he‘s achieved and all the wonderful songs he‘s written, which I grew up with. I cherish this experience immensely. I can’t really pin-point a moment or single anything out because our collaboration as a whole is so rich. I’m definitely a more confident artist because of this record and I’m so proud to now call Ricky my friend.
“I definitely believe in destiny but I also believe that we write our own story…” Nina
Tracks like “Fighter” and “Fade Me Out” seem tailored for cinematic moments. Were there any specific movies or series that inspired these tracks complementing?
RICKY: Films like ‘Bladerunner’ and ‘Close Encounters’ have always been favourite movies for me. I have always loved a bit of drama in my productions.. and both productions have it in abundance, and those two tracks in particular are ones I know Nina and I are particularly proud of. We would be thrilled if they were used for anything cinematic.. I can certainly see that happening one day.
NINA: I too am a big fan of dynamics and a bit of drama in a song. I also love the unexpected and I think we‘ve achieved this with these songs. The cinematic feel was not a conscious choice on my end but I always think that movies inspire me no matter what. I love Cinema and especially epic stories about heroes beating the odds.
In “LA Dreamers,” your lyrics read: “Under the moonlight, The city springs to life, All our worries fade away.” When did you last immerse yourself in such a moonlit spectacle?
RICKY: Back in the 80’s Kim and I went over tot he USA to promote ‘You Keep Me Hanging On’ which eventually went on to go to number one there. During that time we spent a few weeks in LA. I remember sitting one night in this amazing house in the hills owned by a record executive looking through huge windows over the city, and thinking how damn gorgeous it was despite all the fucked up shit that was going on day in and day out, but it’s flaws only made it all the more seductive. It was a special moment for me, as it made me realise all what we had achieved, and how crazy it was we were there almost, living this incredible dream.. kinda made me feel that anything was possible, and filled me with hope, I still remember that moment like it was yesterday.. and still feel it. I drew upon that experience when writing my lyric parts of that song.
NINA: I actually try to get that spectacle “fix” as much as I can. My apartment in Berlin has a really lovely view of the skyline, so I get gorgeous sunsets that transform almost seamlessly into mystical moonlighting. I don’t always get to enjoy a night-walk but when I do, “the city comes alive…worries are gone”.
“Being an ‘artist‘ as such has never been an aspiration of mine…it’s important to savour any different opportunity that comes your way however outside your comfort zone it may be.” Ricky
NINA, from the entire “Scala Hearts” album, is there a track that resonates most deeply with you, and if so, why?
NINA: FADE ME OUT. I love how dramatic it is and how it builds. Emotionally, I was letting go and moving forward. I made peace with the darkness of the past and opted for a new beginning in my own “theatre of life”. Ricky’s production (everything about it) gives me goosebumps every time.
Ricky, having been in the music industry for such a long time, how do you define success?
RICKY: Longevity, and enjoying the journey. I still pinch myself I’m lucky enough to still be doing a ‘job‘ that I couldn‘t live without.. and still look forward to all the new challenges and relish all the new experiences to come.
“I don’t always get to enjoy a night-walk but when I do, ‘the city comes alive…worries are gone’.” Nina
Given your collective experience in the industry, where do you see the future of synthwave heading?
RICKY: I think Synthwave is always going to appeal to many, and to new generations to come. Synths have always been a huge part of every genre, and I love that it has it’s own.. the 80’s synth vibe weirdly always sounds so fresh, and I love hearing all the new bands and productions coming out using them in such fresh and varied ways, always so very inspiring for me especially.
NINA: I hope it‘s going to keep evolving. Reaching further out into the “Synthsphere”. Like all great genres that last, I think it would be great to incorporate more influences from different time periods as well as experimenting with instruments. I’ve included more unexpected guitar sounds in my new material and that’s augmented things in a really interesting way.
The most important thing in life?
RICKY: Family and friends. Music is a very close third.
NINA: Give your life meaning and spread love.
Thank you so much for your time!
