Nina Simone Vidal (born April 20), is an American singer-songwriter and pianist known best by her stage name, Nina Vidal.

In 2008, Vidal released her self-titled debut album, which gained her success in Japan. Within six days of the release, Nina Vidal became the most downloaded album on Japanese iTunes. From there, the album went on to become the number 1 Contemporary Jazz Album in Japan, with five of Vidal's songs on the top 10 most downloaded Jazz songs on iTunes.

In 2010, Nina Vidal released the singles "Cigarette & Wine" and the Paul McCartney written song "My Love" on iTunes. The singles were songs taken from her second full-length album, The Open-Ended Fantasy which was released in September 2010, and also became the No. 1 Jazz album in Japan.

In July 2011 an album of cover songs entitled Love, Pop & Soul (The Cover Session Vol. 1) was released and hit the No. 1 spot as well.

In first week of September 2013, Vidal's self-titled debut Nina Vidal once again became the No. 1 Jazz Album in Japan. Simultaneously her album The Open Ended Fantasy became the No. 6 Jazz album in the country that same week giving her two albums in the Top Jazz Albums for the month of September. The Nina Vidal debut album also peaked at No. 25 for the Top 200 albums in the country.

Nina Vidal's album Silver Lining was released in November 2013, and not only became the No. 1 Jazz album in Japan, but also broke Vidal's previous records with 8 of the 11 songs on the album included in the top 200 singles in the country.

On March 26, 2016, the album Best Of Nina Vidal was released by Village Again in Japan and included one new original song called "It's Time". The album became Vidal's seventh consecutive release to reach No. 1 on the iTunes Jazz chart.

Music career
Vidal was born in Queens, New York. While a student at New York University, she attended a monthly open-mic night. On one such occasion she met musician, producer and composer Caté. Vidal passed her demo on to him and after hearing it Caté agreed to produce some of her songs. These songs would later be put together in an EP, entitled Do It Again.

Vidal was soon contacted by the Japanese label Uni-Village. Executives had heard her songs and wanted to sign her on their label for a full album.

In 2008, Uni-Village released Nina Vidal, which received extraordinary praise. The Soul Express (Finland) called it "A timeless masterpiece!" Adam Greenberg of Allmusic.com wrote that, "Nina Vidal takes her inspiration from a wide array of classic female singers…she breaks loose with a subdued, smoldering style."

Vidal's first album toppled Norah Jones Come Away With Me as the number one Contemporary Jazz album in Japan – a spot Vidal would hold for eight months straight. It also became the number 1 most downloaded album on Japanese iTunes in September of that year, and five of its tracks made it to the Japanese Top 10 most downloaded Jazz songs. She was only 25 years old.

On September 15, 2010 Vidal's album The Open-Ended Fantasy was released exclusively in Japan. It became the No. 1 Contemporary Jazz Album in that country in less than 24 hours. It had five songs on iTunes Japan Top Ten Jazz Singles simultaneously including the No. 1 single "Cigarette & Wine" which was written by Vidal. The album was released in the U.S. the following year.

In 2010, Vidal signed a Publishing deal with Universal Music Japan.

In July 2011, Vidal released Love, Pop & Soul (The Cover Session Vol. 1) on the Japanese label Village Again. An album
of cover songs she has again worked with her partner and producer, Caté. On July 28, 2011, it reached the No. 1 position on iTunes Japan and became Vidal's 3rd consecutive album to reach number 1 in Japan.

In August 2011 The Open Ended Fantasy was released in Korea with two songs from the album, the Paul McCartney written "My Love" and Vidal's original composition "Cigarette & Wine", charted on the Korean Soul chart reaching the No. 5 and the No. 8 spot respectively.

In first week of September 2013, Vidal's self-titled debut Nina Vidal once again became the No. 1 Jazz Album in Japan. Simultaneously her album The Open Ended Fantasy became the No. 6 Jazz album in the country that same week giving her 2 albums in the Top Jazz Albums for the month of September. The Nina Vidal debut album also peaked at No. 25 for the Top 200 albums in the country.

On September 11, 2013 Vidal released the single "Paint The Sky". The single reached #1 on iTunes Japan on November 14, 2013.

Her next album Silver Lining was released in Japan on November 6, 2013. The album is a blend of jazz, world, soul and pop music and prominently features pedal steel guitar and harmonica. Vidal wrote nine out of the 11 songs on the album. The album was again produced by Caté. On October 23, 2013. In less than 12 hours it became the No. 1 Jazz Album in the country. 10 of the 11 songs from the album charted in the Top 100 Jazz Singles in a 4-day period.

On December 18, 2013, Village Again & CCG Recordings released the album Covers in Japan. It became the No. 1 Jazz Album in less than three hours giving Vidal her sixth No. 1 album and her second No. 1 album in 2 months.

On March 26, 2016, Village Again released the album ’Best Of Nina Vidal. The album featured one new song called "It's Time" written and produced by Vidal. It reached No. 1 album on iTunes Jazz Album chart in Japan in less than 5 hours making it her seventh consecutive No. 1 album in eight years.

Recognition in Japan
The recognition Vidal received in her home country of the United States is trumped considerably by the esteem bestowed on her by the Asian audience. Starting in 2004, with the executives at Uni-Village records releasing her first album, and continuing to top the Japanese Billboard charts, Vidal owes a great deal of her success to Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and other Asian countries.

Personal life
A frequent traveler to Asia and Europe, Vidal currently resides either in New York City and Spain.

Sound and influences
Vidal is influenced by Soul, Jazz, and World music. She has been compared to: Jeff Buckley, Tracy Chapman, Amos Lee, Lizz Wright, Djavan, Nina Simone, Anita Baker, Sade, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Fiona Apple.

Collaborations
On her albums, Vidal collaborates with such artists as Lonnie Plaxico, Jean Caze, Jeff Haynes, Lee Hogans, and Jody Redhage.

She was the featured vocalist on the song Moon Child by Japanese artist Kenichiro Nishihara.

Vidal has collaborated with producer/composer Caté on most of her recorded work.

Discography

Albums
Love, Pop & Soul (The Cover Sessions Vol. 1) – CCG Recordings (US) 2011, Village Again (Japan) 2011
The Open-Ended Fantasy – Sweet Mimosa Music (US) 2011, Village Again (Japan) 2010
Best Female Jazzy Tunes – Best Female Jazzy Tunes – Village Again 2010
Nina Vidal Live Session EP – iTunes Japan Exclusive – Village Again (Japan) 2008
Nina Vidal – Sweet Mimosa Music (US) 2007, Village Again (Japan) 2008

Compilation albums
Life – Moon Child – Kenichiro Nishihara – Unprivate (Japan) 2010
Absolute Voices – Driving – S2S (Singapore) 2009
Luv U 100% – Reggae Female Vocal Collection -Village Again (Japan) 2009
True Soul Sistas – Moving Along – Soul UK (Britain) 2009
Ram Cafe Vol.3 Lounge & Chillout – Driving – Magic Records (Poland) 2008
Addicted To House – Why- Single 7 –  SoulStar (Germany) 2008

Singles
"Cigarette & Wine" – Sweet Mimosa Music/CCreatives (US)2010 – Village Again (Japan) 2010
"Paint The Sky" – Village Again (Japan) 2013

References

External links 
 Official website
 Nina Vidal at AllMusic

Year of birth missing (living people)
African-American pianists
Living people
Musicians from Queens, New York
New York University alumni
21st-century American women pianists
21st-century American pianists
African-American women musicians
21st-century African-American women
21st-century African-American musicians
니나 시몬 비달, (Nina Simone Vidal, 생일 4월 20일)은 미국의 작곡가 겸 가수, 피아니스트이자 니나 비달이라고 흔히 불린다.

2008년에 니나는 자기이름의 데뷔앨범을 발매한 뒤 일본에서 큰 인기를 끓었다. 발매 후 6일만에 Nina Vidal은 아이튠즈에 온라인 앨범차트에 1등자리를 차지했다. 그 후 이 앨범은 일본 아이튠즈의 재즈차트에서 1등을 했고, 앨범 수록곡중에 무려 다섯곡이나 10위안에 올랐다.

2010년에 니나 비달은 “Cigarette & Wine” 그리고 폴 매카트니가 작곡한 “My Love” 라는 싱글을 아이튠즈에 발매했다.
 두 싱글은 그녀의 두 번째 정규앨범 The Open-Ended Fantasy에 수록된 곡이였고, 이 앨범은 9월 1일 일본에서 발매됐다. 미국에서는 2011년 여름에 발매됐다.

2011년 7월에 그녀는 “Love, Pop & Soul - The Cover Session Vol. 1" 리메이크앨범을 발매하며 일본 재즈차트에서 1위로 올랐다.

활동 
니나는 뉴욕 퀸스 출생이다. 뉴욕대학교에서 재학 중인 니나는 매월 열리는 “오픈 마이크 나이트”라는 이벤트에 참가했다. 거기에서 우연히 음악가, 프로듀서이자 작곡가인 카테를 만나게 된다. 카테는 그녀의 데모테이프를 들은 후, 몇 몇 곡을 그녀를 위해 프로듀스하게 됐다. 이 곡들은 EP앨범 Do It Again에 수록돼있다.

2004년에 일본 음반사 Uni-Village 간부들이 그녀의 노래를 듣고 전체 앨범제작 및 계약 제안이 들어오고 니나는 이 음반사로 소속됐다.

2008년에 Uni-Village는 Nina Vidal을 발매하며, 앨범은 뜨거운 반응을 보였다. 핀란드 음악 전문지 The Soul Express는 “시간을 초월하는 명작품” 이라고 앨범을 극찬했다. Allmusic.com의 Adam Greenberg는 “클래식계의 다양한 여성가수들의 영향을 받은 가수이자 조용하고 천천히 풀려가는 스타일이다” 라고 칭찬을 했다.

Nina Vidal은 일본에서 노라존스의 앨범 Come Away With Me를 제치며 현대 재즈 차트에서 1위를 차지하고 8개월 동안 유지해 나갔다. 그해 9월에 아이튠즈에서 가장 많이 다운로드된 앨범이 되었고, 수록된 다섯개의 곡은 재즈차트 10위안에 올랐다. 그 당시 그녀는 무려 25살이였다.

2010년 9월 15일 니나의 정규앨범 “The Open Ended Fantasy”가 일본에서 발매됐다. 발매 후 24시간안에 일본의 재즈차트 1등을 차지했다. 일본 아이튠즈 재즈싱글 차트 10위안에 그녀가 직접 작사작곡한 "Cigarette & Wine"(1위)와 함께 싱글이 다섯개나 올라갔다. 미국에서는 2011년에 발매될 예정이다.[6]

니나는 카테와 다시함께 손을잡고 그는 "The Open-Ended Fantasy"라는 앨범을 프로듀스했다.

2010년에 니나는 일본의 유니버설 뮤직과 퍼블리싱계약을 맺었다.

2011년 7월 니나는 “Love, Pop & Soul - The Cover Season Vol. 1"을 일본음반사 Village Again에서 발매한다. 이 앨범은 카테와 같이 작업을 한 많은 리메이크곡들이 수록돼있다. 2011년 7월 28일에 이 앨범은 또 일본 아이튠즈 차트에서 1위를 차지했고, 3번 연속으로 1위를 차지한 앨범이 됐다.

각국의 인지도 

모국 미국에서 그녀의 인지도는 아시아 팬들의 평가에 의해 지원되고 있다고해도 좋다. 2004년에 발매된 첫 앨범은 일본의 빌보드 차트에서 최고의 자리를 계속 유지했다. 싱가포르, 필리핀에서도 인기를 얻고있다.

2010년에 The Open-Ended Fantasy는 일본에서 선행출시되었고, 2011년에 미국에서 발매될 예정이다.

2011년 1월부터 니나는 1960년, 1970년, 그리고 1980년도의 발라드곡을 리메이크한 앨범 제작을 시작했다. 2011년 봄에 일본의 음반사인 Uni-Village에서 발표될 예정이다.

한국 활동 

일본에서 성공적인 활동을 마친 뒤 니나는 2012년에 한국에서 "The Open Minded Fantasy"를 Leaplay Music에서 발매할 예정이다.

니나는 한국의 음반사 Music Cube와 계약을 맺고 음반을 발표할 예정이다.

생활 
니나 비달은 아시아와 유럽 투어를 즐겨하며, 현재 뉴욕에 거주하고있다.

음악적 영향 
그녀는 소울, 재즈, 힙합, 월드 뮤직 등의 영향을 받고있다.

그녀는 제프 버클리, 트레이시 채프먼, 아모스 리, 리즈 라이트, 자반, 니나 시몬, 아니타 베이커, 샤데이, 안토니우 카를루스 조빙, 피오나 애플과 같은 음악가들과 비교되는바가 있다.

콜라보레이션 
니나는 “On the Open-Ended Fantasy” 앨범에서 로니 플락시코, 진 케이즈, 제프 헤인즈, 리 호근즈, 조이 레드헤이지와 같은 음악가들과 같이 작업을 했었다.

니나는 케니치로 니시하라의 앨범 Moon Child의 보컬리스트로 참여했었다.

니나는 프로듀서/작곡가인 카테와 주로 작업을 하는편이다.

디스코그래피 
앨범
 The Open Minded Fantasy – Sweet Mimosa Music (미국) tbd, Village Again (일본) 2010년
 Best Female Jazzy Tunes – Best Female Jazzy Tunes - Village Again 2010
 Nina Vidal Nina Vidal – Sweet Mimosa Music (미국) 2007, Village Again (일본) 2008
 Nina Vidal Live Session – Live Session EP – 일본 아이튠즈 – Village Again (일본) 2008

싱글
 Cigarette & Wine – Sweet Mimosa Music/CCreatives (미국) 2010
 Driving - Ram Cafe Vol.3 - Lounge & Cillout - Magic Records (폴란드) 2008

편집앨범
 Life - Moon Child - Kenichiro Nishihara - Life - Unprivate (일본) 2010
 Absolute Voices Driving - S2S (싱가포르) 2009
 Luv U 100% - Reggae Female Vocal Collection -Village Again (일본) 2009
 True Soul Sistas - Moving Along - Soul UK (영국)
 2009 Addicted To House - Why- Single 7 - SoulStar (독일) 2008

출처

외부 링크 
 공식 홈페이지
 Nina Vidal at AllMusic
 https://web.archive.org/web/20120320101758/http://www.music-chart.info/artist/20476/Nina-Vidal
 
 
 

미국의 싱어송라이터
미국의 피아노 연주자
미국의 재즈 음악가
월드 뮤직
살아있는 사람
뉴욕 대학교 동문