Nina Nesbitt shares the inspiration and emotion behind “The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change,” her stirring testament to life’s predictable unpredictability.
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A year ago, Nina Nesbitt was writing music in London and living “a pretty normal life.” Today, she’s an internationally touring artist-to-watch, with over 90 million streams to date and an ever-expanding global fan base. Few artists experience such overnight success, and while Nesbitt had a former solo career to build off, her rapid rise is nothing short of sensational. At 23 years old, the Scottish artist can knowingly discuss life’s ups and downs with the learned perspective of someone twice her age – which is exactly what she does in her breathtakingly intimate new single. “The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change” is a poignant, stirring testament to life’s predictable unpredictability, a heartfelt ballad observing the volatility and stability driving our very existence.
You just never know where new music or life is going to take you next.
Walking down Parsons green,
I can feel the cold
The leaves in the park are turning brown,
I’m twenty two years old
Crazy that I was stood right here
just five years ago
With the heat on my skin
and a lover who
is now someone I don’t know
Similar to 2017’s breakout return “The Moments I’m Missing,” “The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change” is a heavily autobiographical song. The title itself is a mantra of continuity and persistence – a philosophical anchor for Nesbitt to hold on to as she reflects on her whirlwind year: A year that taught her to make the most of life’s good moments and to ride out the bad ones, because “nothing is permanent” – the sun will come up, the seasons will change.
You don’t see it, when it’s happening
happens over time
First you’re laughing, then you’re crying
Then you can’t decide
My life’s uncertain and sometimes strange
But one thing I’ve learned is it won’t stay the same
Even in the darkness I’ll be okay
The sun will come up, the seasons will change
Instantly memorable and hauntingly beautiful, Nina Nesbitt’s new song is the latest in a string of emotionally evocative releases that connect on a deeply human level. Listen to “The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change” out now on Cooking Vinyl Records, and dive into this powerfully moving, uplifting song as Nina Nesbitt shares its inspiration and emotional value in our exclusive interview!
It’s a form of therapy for me; once I’ve written about something, I can move on from it…
“The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change” – Nina Nesbitt
“THE SUN WILL COME UP, THE SEASONS WILL CHANGE”
Looking back in your past year (per your lyrics), what would you say are the biggest shocks for you in terms of change?
Nina Nesbitt: This time last year, I hadn’t officially released any music for a couple years and I was just writing in the studio most days in London, living a pretty normal life. Ever since putting out the intro track for the new album (“The Moments I’m Missing”), I’ve barely been at home, I’ve had the chance to travel all over the world with the new music, which has been incredible and the album isn’t even out, so that’s been a lovely surprise. You just never know where new music or life is going to take you next, and I think that’s what’s so exciting about being an artist. I’m just so grateful there are people listening and turning up to the shows.
Sometimes the intimate songs come easy, and sometime they're the hardest stories to tell. How was this one for you?
Nina Nesbitt: This was actually really easy to write. I had just left a session and was walking across Parsons Green (the actual green) when I thought of the lyrics, it was around autumn time and I was thinking how fast the year was going and how I’d kinda come out the other end of the tunnel. I’d been experiencing episodes of depression for the first time in my life and I always found it really weird how one day I’d been on top of the world and the next it’s like the rug had been pulled from under my feet and I was back at square one again. It just showed me nothing is permanent. I went to my local swimming pool and lay down on a lounger and closed my eyes for about 20 minutes and wrote the rest of the lyrics in my notebook (there was 1 notebook that I always carried around with me whilst writing). I came up with the chorus lyrics ‘My life’s uncertain and sometimes it’s strange, but one thing I’ve learnt is it won’t stay the same. Even in the darkness I’ll be okay. The sun will come up, the seasons will change,’ and thought they perfectly summed up the past year for me.
This isn't your first time diving deep into yourself for your songwriting. What is it about these life transitions and reflections that inspire you? Why are they your muse?
Nina Nesbitt: I guess growing up in general is something that has its ups and downs, and I love to document everything. It’s a form of therapy for me; once I’ve written about something, I can move on from it usually. I think making an album is really special because people can listen back in decades to come and hear that one person’s life story, in that precise moment and it’ll always be there.
Making an album is really special because people can listen back in decades to come and hear that one person’s life story.
One of the most wonderful aspects of “The Sun Will Come Up, The Seasons Will Change,” for me, is how life moves forward no matter what, stopping for no one. What is it about this constancy that helped you wrestle with your personal change?
Nina Nesbitt: As I previously said, sometimes you can be having a really shit time and feel like it’s gonna last forever, and the only thing I’ve learnt from those times is, it never actually does. So whenever I’m feeling good (which is now most of the time), I absolutely make the most of it, and when I’m not feeling so good, I know just to ride it out. I guess it’s different for everyone, but I find change a very comforting thing. Even just with life events, career, etc, I never thought I’d be touring America and getting millions of streams on my songs this year; sometimes life surprises you.
What is the significance of Parsons Green, London?
Nina Nesbitt: That’s the first place I lived by myself in London. I lived there for 4 years and it was really key to making this album. Being able to live in London and be around so many different cultures, sounds, studios, etc was vital to learning more about writing and myself. There’s lots of beautiful places in Parsons Green, like Fulham Palace Gardens, where I’d often sit with a lyric book…. Or down near the Thames. It’s just a really inspiring place and I went through a lot of different things whilst living there.
Edinburgh was your first home. Is it still an anchor for you? As an increasingly touring artist, do you feel like you have a physical home?
Nina Nesbitt: It’s weird ’cause I’ve never felt settled in life in one place. I’d say Edinburgh as a place is my childhood, proper home. And a bit of Stockholm too (I’m half Swedish). But London definitely feels like home to me, too. I think home is wherever you feel happy. There’s so much more opportunity for me down here at the moment, but maybe I’ll return to Scotland one day. It’s an amazing place to grow up and we have some of the kindest people.
The song's name is particularly long, but I feel like it hits the nail on the head. Can you speak to your decision to go with such a long song title?
Nina Nesbitt: I love a long title – there’s quite a few on the album. I’m a very lyrical artist, so I thought why not include that in the titles. Even if someone doesn’t listen to the song, maybe they’ll read the title and it’ll provide them with a moment of comfort.
Even if someone doesn’t listen to the song, maybe they’ll read the title and it’ll provide them with a moment of comfort.
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