NONONO Biography
Swedish threesome NONONO, aka front girl Stina Wappling, and production duo Astma & Rocwell formed in Stockholm during the spring of 2012, following Stina’s return from Brighton where she had spent three years studying for a degree in psychology - a subject which might have indirectly
impacted her songwriting...
“Idon’t know about songwriting rules, and I didn’t go to music school,” Stina explains.“It’s more about a feeling I want to get out. i don't do that much active thinking when writing music but Psychology has probably influencedme because it gives you so many tools to think about life and situations”. Stina now works in a mental hospital alongside making music. “I like to have that world alongside themusic, because it is quite ease to get wrapped up in the music industry and lose sight of why you are really doing it- the love for music.Working with something completely different reminds me of how amazing it is that I get to work with my passion. This in its on turn makes me really happy and pleased on the inside, and thus hopefully doing a better job at the hospital, it´s a win win situation!
Despite her laid-back attitude, Stina threw herself into songwriting projects when she returned to Sweden during her long university holidays, having signed a publishing deal with Warner Chappell at the tender age of 21. In fact, it was through her publisher that she was introduced to Tobias and Michel aka Astma & Rocwell. Having workedtogether for ten years, primarily on hip hop, the production duo were looking for a vocalist for a new project. The three found instant chemistry, and soon became the trio now known as NONONO, a name which highlights an important philosophy for the band.
Having been pushed into musical projects that they didn’t want to do, it became clear that in order to do the music they really wanted, they would have to start saying no, no, no. “We look at it as something that is really positive... to have the courage tosay no to things you don’t really want to do. If you say no to a job, or finish a relationship, it is often viewed as a negative thing, but itmeans you can start something new,” Stina muses. She adds that it has now almost become her life motto.
Thisthoughtful sensibility is reflected in their much-hyped debut release “LikeThe Wind”, to be released in the UK in early May through Best Fit Recordings. Described by Popjustice as “a song you are going tolisten to once, then immediately feel like listening to again, setting in motion a repeat listening frenzy that willlast well over three hours,” it has also been championed by tastemakersincluding The Guardian, Notion and The Quietus.
“Like The Wind” is to be preceded by the anthemic “Pumpin Blood”, set for a Scandinaviarelease this week. Having previously been described by The Guardian as “the kind ofpercussion-heavy, gloom-tinged pop which brought Niki & The Dove to
the masses last year”, this track swerves thegroup in a new direction, with its overwhelmingly positive sentiment and rousing whistling hook. In fact, we expect the track to be universally adopted as the far superior “whistle song”. With its instant appeal andsummery feel, expect to see this track propel NONONO to anthemic status.
Theband are currently finishing their debut album, which they describe as “darkand beat-orientated,” for the most part, although the mood will likely improve as the seasons change in Sweden. The aim? “We would really like if someone gets a feeling that they can take from it. We want to make animpact and for people to be touched,” saysMichel. “Most importantly, it is going to come from the heart”.