Fresh Prospects: Nina Del Río / Jessie Starnes

Nina Del Río will perform as part of the Fresh Prospects series—a showcase of the best up-and-coming artists attending Berklee.

Deep in the mountains of Argentina, echoing across the rooftops of Brooklyn, a hypnotic melody feathers into your ears. Listen closer, and you might recognize the vocal stylings of singer-songwriter Nina Del Río. Crafting distinctive lyrics from a young age, Del Río spent her childhood split between two worlds, forever dreaming of one while in the other. After graduating from Laguardia High School of the Performing Arts, the young artist traveled to Argentina, living and studying amongst musicians in Buenos Aires before returning to the U.S. to resume her studies at Berklee College of Music.

There’s a certain vulnerability in Del Río’s lyricism. Songs like “Sunspot” simmer with golden warmth, while the inciting lines of “Clueless” unfold with bare-laid candor, like you’ve stumbled across the ear-marked pages of your old camp counselor’s diary. 

While still a senior in high school, Del Río released her debut album “Suncito,” recorded with the homies at a friend’s studio. A year later, a continent away and quarantined in Buenos Aires, Del Río was writing again.

Del Río’s second album, What I Loved About You es Lo Que Amo de Mí, was recorded with warmth and light at Estudio Nave with Ezequiel Cantero and Gonzalo Sueiro, and features Argentinian musicians such as Hernan Jacinto. 

Jessie Starnes is a 19 year old singer/songwriter based in Boston. Originally from Seattle, Starnes grew up on pop, country, and folk. 

Currently inspired by artists like Maggie Rogers and Del Water Gap, her music is a singer/songwriter, indie, new age folk blend. With sweet melodies and lyrics derived from the heart, her songs tap into a vulnerable space that will leave you feeling a little bit lost and a little bit seen.

Music to be released soon, but in the meantime, check out Starnes's upcoming shows in Boston.