There’s a quiet intensity in Nina Kohout’s voice — the kind that makes you stop and listen a little closer. Her music, balancing fragility and power, feels like an invitation into a deeply personal world where darkness becomes beauty.
Ahead of her first-ever performance in Poland at Liveurope Night 2025 in Warsaw’s Klub Stodoła, Nina reflects on her roots, her creative process, and what it means to be part of a generation of artists shaping Europe’s new soundscape.
You’re about to perform at Liveurope Night in Warsaw’s Stodoła. How are you feeling as you prepare for this special show?
I’m very excited! This will actually be my first show in Poland, so it feels extra special for the premiere to take place at Stodoła, especially since I’ve heard such great things about the venue and the people surrounding it.
Your music carries a unique atmosphere – dark, delicate, and deeply intimate. Where do your inspirations come from?
I think I always do a dangerously deep dive within myself when making music, reaching a place where I stand face to face with my sensitivity, particular perception, and a certain darkness that has accompanied me my whole life and that I’ve come to truly love in recent years. All of this tightly holds my hand as I build melodies, compose harmonies, and look for words to describe very complex feelings or issues.
Your songs seem to blend echoes of Slovak culture with a broader European sensibility. How important are your roots to you as an artist?
To be honest, I’ve always thought of myself as part of a bigger concept, as a human existing in a society rather than within a particular country. I feel this has started to shift in recent years, and I’ve realised how impactful that actually is - the country, environment, and mentality you are surrounded by in your early years. I’ve definitely started to observe and welcome my “Slovakness” way more enthusiastically as I grow older.
You did a few gigs with Liveurope in the past, what is your experience like so far?
Amazing. It’s always the people that stood out to me - the constant passion and professionalism of the crew behind the organisation of Liveurope shows, whether it was in Milan, Ljubljana, or Prague. That subsequently transferred to the audience, creating a beautifully well-rounded and rich experience.
What does being part of the Liveurope project mean to you personally and artistically?
It represents a real sense of pride for me, being part of this exciting, electrifying web of incredible European artists, all presenting their authentic art and outlook on the world we live in. I feel honoured to be able to communicate my perspective on such a platform.
Your live shows often feel like a kind of ritual – both vulnerable and powerful. How do you prepare yourself before stepping onto the stage?
Solitude is always something I long for just before stepping on stage, even if it’s only for a few seconds. I suppose I just need an undisturbed space that allows me to completely ground myself, get into my skin, and bring the most transparent and real version of myself in front of the audience.
Your music balances intimacy and expression — how do you find that middle point between quiet emotion and strong performance?
The powerful and the vulnerable go hand in hand for me; they always have, whether in art or real life. I think one cannot exist without the other, and therefore it is impossible for them not to intertwine when making and performing a song. It’s just the ratio that changes as I go through different stages of my life.
We know a couple of artists in Poland who have a similar vibe, have you had the opportunity to get to know some Polish music?
Please give me recommendations! I actually don’t know contemporary Polish music at all, shamefully, but on the other hand, I think you have some of the most remarkable classical music composers. Górecki’s Third Symphony is, in my opinion, one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful pieces of music ever created… but that’s not very contemporary, is it? Haha.
Finally, what would you like to share with the audience in Warsaw before your Liveurope Night performance?
I would love to send a message their way, confirming how excited and full of anticipation I am to play for them. I have a feeling it’s going to be a beautiful connection we share on December 4th – that weirdly yet beautifully emotional pre-holiday time!
Nina Kohout’s words carry the same emotional precision as her songs — calm, reflective, and full of quiet courage. As she prepares to bring her haunting sound to Warsaw, one thing feels certain: her performance will be more than just a concert. It will be a moment of connection — between artist and audience, sound and silence, vulnerability and strength.
Klub Politechniki Warszawskiej „STODOŁA”
ul. Batorego 10, 02-591 Warszawa
phone: +48 22 825 60 31, +48 691 800 388
