Discover Yin, The Intoxicating Singer Who Doubles As A Fashion Designer

We often see musicians broaden their horizon by venturing into fashion — think Rihanna, who began her mission of world domination with her Puma collab — but it’s not often that upcoming creatives develop simultaneously in both fields.

Vanessa Nicol, the creative mind behind the fashion brand, Nessa Nicol, is one of such talents. Going by the stage name, Yin, Vanessa releases incredible songs onto her tidy Soundcloud page, while also juggling careers as a fashion student, entrepreneur and stylist.

Yesterday I had the privilege of styling this gorgeous individual for the second time for the dunes show. #StyledByVee @TbossTeam @officialtboss pic.twitter.com/El2pYflluk

— Yin (@vanessaonicol) December 20, 2018

Although Nicol’s eponymous brand is only in its infant stage — it was birthed just two years ago — Vanessa boasts a graceful portfolio, clearly in line with the unique aesthetics of the brands that influence her: Jacquemus, Thebe Magugu and Area.

Yin, the singing persona Vanessa embodies, is inspirited by a plethora of female singers. Her old school influences are the iconic Sade and Erykah Badu, while her new school inspirations include H.E.R, SZA, Summer Walker, Tink and Sabrina Claudio, who she still respects despite her scandal last year.

The ultra-creative mind of Vanessa Nicol — who creates feckless designs for her fledgling brand and mesmeric tunes as Yin — is one that deeply intrigued us here at Konbini, so we decided to peer in and share the artistic workings of this impressive designer, singer and songwriter.

What inspires your lyrics?

“My writing style has a lot to do with beats and the vibe I’m getting from it. I like to think about how it makes me feel and go off of that.”

Which musician would you like to collaborate with the most?

“Odunsi (The Engine), I love his whole aesthetic.”

Which has been your most significant release?

“‘DAMN’ for sure. It has had the most plays and best response so far. I want to thank everyone who’s still listening and sharing.”

What impact do you hope to have on the Nigerian music and fashion industries?

“In music, I hope to be an inspiration to the many that have inspired me; and in fashion I want to break boundaries, inspire, and grow exceptionally, while staying true to my vision.”

Why fashion icon would you love to style in Nessa Nicol pieces?

“That’s a hard one, but it’s between Rihanna and Solange. Solange’s style is very similar to my type of fashion aesthetic, and Rihanna is just a bad bitch. But I love her fashion sense too – It’s also what I aspire to dress like.”

Do your two creative outlets feed off each other or do you keep them separate?

“Music and fashion go hand in hand, and for a while I tried to keep them separate because I want each passion to speak for itself. But then I look at people like Rihanna and Kanye West who’ve both changed the narrative, and I think, if they can do it so can I.”

Although Yin has only released solo tracks so far, she promises a feature with one of her favourite artists in the game right now — the secret star will appear on her debut EP. As well as working on this upcoming project, Nicol also aims to put out another Nessa Nicol collection this year.

Follow her brand on Instagram here, and her music on Soundcloud here.