Nina Sol, a nod to her Afro-Latina heritage & warm and sunshiny disposition, delivers a genre-bending soulful sound that resonates with audiences locally and across the globe. A vinyl enthusiast that traverses time and texture, Nina's insatiable curiosity for music discovering keeps her sets fresh and unexpected. Currently based in Oakland, Nina holds monthly residencies at Constellations, a party dedicated to past and present artists born under the zodiac sign of the month, and Elements throwing down underground dance music alongside soulful house DJ veteran, Patrick Wilson. She has played with artists including DJ Spinna, Solange, Rich Medina, Natasha Diggs, Pete Rock, Moodymann, Jose James, Bugz in the Attic, and many others. Sol has contributed to music sites such as Music is My Sanctuary and mainstay parties namely thePeople, Soul in the Horn, Jump N Funk, Makossa Brooklyn, Motown on Mondays, & Black Weirdo. Nina Sol brings a profound energy to dance floors while spreading messages of justice, freedom, and love.
This fall, leaves are turning yet the remnants of the summer aren’t too far behind yet. Helping us with the 9-5 grind, I’m thrilled to present Nina Sol as she draws us into a dancer’s dance floor. Encapsulated by jazzy melodic layers and soulful hooks, the thumping percussion creates a relentless groove imbued with deep reflection and catharsis.
CST: Where are you from and where do you live now?
NS: I was born in Washington D.C, raised in San Diego near the border. I live in Oakland, I have been in the Bay Area since 2004, it is home! As for my people, they come from Africa and Mexico.
CST: Introvert or extrovert?
NS: Extroverted introvert, i love being alone and I can also feed off of other people's energy. I can get overstimulated which is why I like being social from the safety of the DJ booth lol
CST: What is your sign?
NS: Cancer, i'm such a water baby
CST: What is your favorite record shop?
NS: I usually think about record shops as souvenir shops whenever I am traveling, especially internationally. I love experiencing a city from their new arrivals used record bin and connecting with locals. More recently, I make a point to hit up Human Head when I am in NYC.
CST: What is your morning ritual?
NS: I swish my mouth with coconut oil, meditate or do yoga/move my body with a morning playlist in the background
CST: What is your dream lineup for a party and what would you name this party?
NS: I suck at naming parties! but I think the line up would be inspired by Larry Levan's Paradise Garage sound. It would include a live set by Larry Heard with Chaka Khan on vocals. And because it is my dream, it would have multiple rooms of live music + disco, deep house, global bass, funk, broken beat, jazz, whatever, so long it's soulful, it would work. i have also dreamed about an international funk party that would unite sounds from James Brown to Seu Jorge to Fela Kuti, yeah that would be dope.
CST: What parties/underground spaces did you go to when you first started partying?
NS: I have sweet memories of dancing all night at Pink and Mighty in SF, Brothers & Sisters in Oakland, and I would make regular pilgrimages to NYC to see Timmy Regisford at the Shelter Party
CST: What are you reading right now?
NS: Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Marie Brown
CST: What are your other interests besides djing?
NS: i love to travel, especially to experience music, culture, delicious food, and bodies of water, be it internationally or a road trip, I love the shift in perspective. i love to read & I am starting to learn music production! My other passion is working towards new economic models that promote racial, LGBTQ & climate justice.
CST: Do you collect anything else aside from records?
NS: I am trying to become more minimal but I do have books and a Wax Poetics magazine collection, but yeah mostly I collect records.
CST: Biggest vice?
NS: Unnecessary portions of chocolate cake... sometimes for breakfast
CST: Is there a concept or theme for this mix and if so, can you tell us about it a little bit more about it?
NS: I chose a few songs i love and tried my best to connect them, it is always a random process for me. the mix is black expression, it is resistance & love. it is textured, soulful, and spiritual, always acknowledging the ancestors & their influence on the present moment. these are sounds you can contemplate, move, or heal to.
