Nina Nesbitt finds it “disheartening” to be seen just as Ed Sheeran’s ex: “It only happens to women but it drives me to keep going”
Sheeran's track 'Nina' was released in 2014
by Tom Skinner · NMENina Nesbitt has reflected on being the subject of one of Ed Sheeran‘s songs, saying it is “disheartening” to be seen only as his ex-girlfriend.
Sheeran wrote the 2014 track ‘Nina’ about the Scottish singer-songwriter, with the pair having dated previously. Nesbitt also supported the star on tour and made a cameo appearance in the video for his 2012 single ‘Drunk’.
During a recent episode of The Eras Podcast, interviewer Abbie McCarthy asked Nesbitt how it felt to have a song written about her. She mentioned ‘Nina’ specifically, saying: “Did it bother you?”
In response, Nesbitt conceded that details about personal relationships can be expected to filter into an artist’s music.
“Yeah, I think it’s just got to come out,” she said. “There should be a disclaimer on songwriters, really. But I think it is what it is. I’ve definitely written songs about other people, so…”
Nesbitt went on to say that being the subject of Sheeran’s song was “tricky” because she “never wanted to be known as someone’s ex-girlfriend”.
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“Obviously, [Sheeran] gave me amazing opportunities of touring with him and everything, and I’m really super grateful for that. But on the other hand, I was like, ‘Oh’… I think I’ve had to fight that for so long.
“Articles about my albums [mentioning Sheeran], and being described as someone’s ex is just so disheartening after all the work and years that I’ve put into it.”
Nesbitt then agreed that this “only happens to women”, adding: “You literally see it with Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift… people who are massive.”
She called it “frustrating” but said it “drives [her] to keep going and just be known as a musician”. You can watch the conversation at the 49-minute mark in the video above, and revisit ‘Nina’ below.
Speaking about penning ‘Nina’ previously, Sheeran explained (via Genius): “When you’re a musician and you date someone, there’s always an in-between. Like, you put your family and your friends first, always, and then your career second.
“But when you date someone, they kind of fall in between the family and friends and career, and you don’t really know whether they’re more important than the career or whether they’re more important than family – so this is a song about that.”
He continued: “You just need to find someone that’s OK with it, and I think by the time you have kids, that’s when your family comes first, and that’s where the woman comes, because she’s your family now.
“I think kids change everything, but up until then it’s different. My family understand I had to go away for 12 months last year, but until you find a partner who’d happy with that, you shouldn’t even bother. Well, you shouldn’t bother committing.”
Sheeran and his wife Cherry Seaborn have since had two daughters together, Lyra and Jupiter. His latest album, ‘Autumn Variations’, was released last year.
Nesbitt’s new studio record, ‘Mountain Music’, is out this Friday (September 27). In July, the singer supported Stevie Nicks at BST Hyde Park in London.