Student Spotlight - Nina Bossicart
In our second Popular Music Student Spotlight, this week, we chat to Nina.
What is your name, and where are you from?
Nina Bossicart. I’m originally from Belgium, but have dual Belgian and Scottish nationality.
What were you doing before you came to Perth College UHI?
I was finishing high school in Belgium, where I got my CESS (equivalent of Highers) in Modern Languages.
Why did you decide to pick this course?
It was one of the few courses in Scotland that would allow me to do an entire degree in Popular Music, without having to switch from one college to another. The Popular Music course had a great reputation, and I wasn’t interested in studying at a Conservatoire. I also loved knowing I would be able to choose some optional modules from second year onwards.
Are the music facilities on-campus, good?
Yes! They’re very good, it’s a shame we couldn’t use them at all this year. The variety of rehearsal spaces is great, especially for band practice.
During the pandemic, how did the style of teaching change? Were your lecturers supportive during this time?
Most of the lecturers were very supportive and understanding. Being able to contact my supervisor on Webex - and get instant replies, rather than wait for an email - made a big difference to what online teaching would have been like otherwise! The style of teaching was completely different, a lot of our lecturers like to rely on class discussions and having students bounce off of each other when discussing a topic - which isn’t possible to do online.
You are now in your final year; can you tell us a bit about the projects you have been working on?
For our Creative Honours Project module, we were given complete creative freedom over what type of project to do. I decided to write, record, produce and release an album with my band Rosalie. The band is made up of myself, singer-songwriter and lead singer, and Stewart Landsburgh (past UHI student) who plays guitars and bass. We released our debut EP in September 2020. Leading up to Christmas, I spent all my time writing songs for this album. We recorded the album at the beginning of the year, then I was able to mix it all. We released Lost, lead single of the album, on 26th March and got some great feedback from it. We were played on local radios as well as BBC Rapal and added to a few indie playlists on Spotify. The release date for album isn’t set yet, but I can’t wait for people to hear it!
Has there been any stand out/memorable moments from your course?
I’m not sure if one moment particularly stands out from any other. Overall, it’s been such a wonderful experience. In first year, I was able to get funding from UHI to go to the Tallinn Music Week - which was an amazing opportunity. I also loved some of the band assessments we did, where we were able to play live in various venues around Perth and Dundee.
Any other achievements you have gained on your journey?
I was able to discover what type of musician I am, and went from having never written a song before and thinking I couldn’t do it, to being weeks away from releasing an album.
Where can we find your music, and follow you?
You can find my music on all streaming services and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
What are your plans, for after you finish your course?
My plan is to go to Glasgow University. I have a conditional offer to do a Masters in Music Industries.
Have you enjoyed studying at Perth College UHI?
Yes, I have!
And finally, what advice would you give to someone thinking about studying at Perth College UHI?
Get involved into as many things as you can and don’t get discouraged by the fact that Perth College UHI isn’t a big university. The Music department is great and part of the reason, I think, is because of its size. It allows for one-to-one teaching and support, that isn’t always available everywhere you study.
