We Speak Music
Nina Ann Nelson’s New Single ‘Just a Little’ Hits a Confident Stride
There’s a certain refinement to Nina Ann Nelson’s latest release, “Just a Little,” a track that balances poise with emotional gravity. Where her debut solo offering hinted at promise, this new single fully articulates her artistic vocabulary—sleek, soul-leaning pop with introspection woven through every melodic turn. It’s a confident stride rather than a cautious step.
Symphony’s production feels curated rather than constructed. The arrangement is sparse yet intentional, allowing Nelson to inhabit the quiet spaces. Smooth percussion flickers at the edges, warm chords unfurl slowly, and the track moves with a groove that is understated but deeply felt. It’s modern R&B with a painterly touch, echoing the finesse of RAYE and Leon Thomas without mimicking either.
Nelson’s songwriting is where “Just a Little” digs its roots deeper. She examines self-worth through a lens that feels personal but universally resonant, channelling a sense of reclamation. It’s a narrative familiar to many—wanting more, accepting less, and finally refusing to. Yet she writes with a freshness that avoids cliché, delivering lines that are contemplative rather than confrontational.
Her voice, warm and unhurried, is the anchor. There’s a clarity in her tone that suggests she understands the power of restraint; she never oversings, never overproves. Instead, she drifts effortlessly over the production, giving the track both softness and backbone. The performance feels intimate, as though she’s singing into a diary rather than a microphone.
“Just a Little” solidifies Nina Ann Nelson as a quietly compelling force, an artist crafting a sonic identity rooted in depth and direction. It’s a polished, self-assured release that signals she’s entering a more mature phase—one that promises nuance, honesty, and an evolving command of her craft.
We Speak Music
Christian Balvig releases gorgeous new album ‘Find And You Will Seek’ in collaboration with Ensemble Hermes.
Acclaimed composer and arranger Christian Balvig is known for his work with an array of artists and bands like Jade, Efterklang, Lowly, When Saints Go Machine and Mew, as well as his work with some of the most acclaimed orchestras like Royal Northern Sinfonia (BBC Proms), The Royal Danish Orchestra, Copenhagen Phil, London Contemporary Orchestra, The Danish Radio Broadcast Orchestra and The Norwegian Wind Ensemble.
The cinematic sound on his new album might echo Balvig’s work in the world of film and TV music. Scoring the 2025 Oscar shortlisted short movie ‘Eternal Father’ and the Danish hit series ‘Cry Wolf’ (Ulven Kommer), which has been shown on television in more than 30 countries around the globe, including Channel 4 in the UK. He was also nominated for a Harpa award for ‘Best score’ last year at the Berlinale for ‘The Son and the Moon (Min Arv Bor I Dig)’.
Balvig’s new album, ‘Find And You Will Seek’, backed by Danish string group Ensemble Hermes, grew organically out of this background of experiences and is music that appeals to listeners seeking original, immersive music with space for reflection and contemplation.
‘Find And You Will Seek’ is a collection of chamber works that explore the combination of piano and strings in new ways. Recent single ‘The BirdSuite II – Praesentia’ is part of a 3-part Suite running throughout the record, written and performed on a custom made “Keybird” piano, which is an una-corda (one string pr note) piano that gives a more subtle and intimate sound. On top of it is a lush and emotional string ensemble arrangement with Ensemble Hermes in multiple layers fluctuating in and out of the keybird piano.
Balvig’s second single from the record is ‘What Happened To The World’, an ultra transparent neo-classical inspired piece, with slow melodic structures, a simple chord progression and emotional performance starting with a floating viola solo. It is written from the feeling that the world sometimes goes backwards, and you feel left on the platform wanting to take the train in a different direction.
From film music inspired pieces to experimental chamber music over piano concerto inspired movements, to more neo-classical productions with almost orchestral sounding dubs of strings, ‘Find And You Will Seek’ flows with emotions and lush sound worlds, always with a tangible organic texture.
Find Christian Balvig and Ensemble Hermes on tour in Denmark:
27.5 Ansgars Kirke (Odense)
28.5 Folkegaarden Festival (Aalborg)
29.5 Gnisten (Ry)
30.5 Musikhuset (Aarhus)
1.6 Basement (Copenhagen)
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