Brightest Gold

Brightest Gold is an upcoming third studio album by Puerto Rican-American girl-group Nina Sky. It is scheduled to be self-released in 2016. Its lead single "Forever" was released on June 1, 2015. During the premiere of the single, the band announced their new EP Brightest Gold set for release in September 2015. However, the project was delayed for a 2016 release as a full-length album reportedly being produced by Spaceplant and Vito Fun. A "Champion Lover" snippet was released on the band's official Instagram account. Song was performed on radio on December 5, 2015 and released as the second single from the album on June 24, 2016. Brightest Gold will be released through an independent record label Tommy Boy Entertainment.

Background and recording

Nicole Albino (left) and Natalie Albino (right) during a photo shoot in May 2016

The promotional single "Overtime", produced by Slimmy Neutron was released December 12, 2013. The single "Stoners", produced by Sky NDGO featuring Smoke DZA, was released for digital download April 18, 2014. The official music video premiered on July 25, 2014.

In January 2015, it was announced that they were working on a new project titled Brightest Gold; reported to be an extended play. It was announced for a September release in early June 2015. Brightest Gold will be the first studio album since their second album Nicole and Natalie (2012), to be released independently. On December 18, 2015, Nina Sky the twin duo composed of sisters Natalie and Nicole Albino announced Brightest Gold as a third studio album instead of an extended play; set for release in 2016. Brightest Gold, like the EP The Other Side (2010) and Nicole & Natalie will be self-released. In November 2014, they announced tracks for the album. They have also signed to an independent record label Tommy Boy Entertainment, LLC which will release the album. In an interview with Billboard on 24 June 2016, besides discussing about "Champion Lover", they said that Brightest Gold will contain a cover of Usher's song "Nice & Slow".^[1]

Release and promotion

Brightest Gold was first announced on June 1, 2015 as an extended play (EP) for September 2015 independent release, the day its lead single "Forever" was released. They didn't announce the EP after that but later announced that Brightest Gold will be their third studio album. They also have signed to a recording label, Warner Music Group's independent label Tommy Boy Entertainment. It's their first label contract since their 2010 fall-out with Polo Grounds/J. In early June 2016, the second single "Champion Lover", whose snippet version and radio performance were heard before, was made available for pre-order on iTunes Store. Single was officially released on June 24 through Tommy Boy. Brightest Gold will also be their first album to be released through a recording label since 2004, when their debut album Nina Sky was released.

They appeared as a featured artist on TroyBoi's song "Afterhours" (also featuring Diplo). Single was released on September 18, 2015. Electric Bodega released a single "Love at First Sight" which features the duo. It was released on SoundCloud on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2016. They also made a guest appearance on Azealia Banks' mixtape Slay-Z on the opening track "Riot", released on March 24.

Singles

The album's main single "Forever" was released on June 1, 2015. During its premiere, Nina Sky announced Brightest Gold as an EP. "Forever" was produced by Spaceplant and Vito Fun making it the sisters' first song to be produced by the two. "We wanted something that was smooth but also had a bounce," The FADER reports the twins as stating to them in an email. "Spaceplant finessed the verses with a modern '90s freestyle beat pattern and built up the hook just enough that the song still has its original, sweet vibe, but if you drop it at the right time in a club; it will still go off!" Added the twins.^[2] A snippet for a second track titled "Champion Lover" was teased in a video on the twins official Instagram. It was performed for the first time on Abstract Radio on December 5, 2015 and officially released on Apple Music on June 24, 2016.^[3]

Recorded tracks

Following tracks were confirmed by Nina Sky on Twitter, November 6, 2014, except for the last, which was confirmed in an interview with Billboard on June 24, 2016:

• "Forever" – 3:16
• "Nancy"
• "Champion Lover"^[4] – 3:06
• "Zero Gravity"
• "Lock and Key"
• "The Brightest Gold"
• "Nice & Slow" (originally recorded by Usher)

Personnel

• Nicole Albino – vocals, deejaying
• Natalie Albino – lead vocals
• Spaceplant – producing
• Vito Fun – producing
• Lady Bee – producing, remixes

References