BWW Exclusive: Nina Herzog Releases Music Video for 'Lean Into Me'

Nina Herzog has exclusively shared her new music video for "Lean Into Me" with BroadwayWorld!

NINA is the voice of Odette from "The Swan Princess" series, who released her debut EP on March 12.

"'Lean Into Me' is a dreamy, twangy ballad that offers a lover the promise of comfort and solace. A string ensemble surrounds Nina Herzog's open-hearted vocal, while jazzy electric guitar fills add to the feeling of slowly simmering passion. This one is about opening your arms wide; being there for someone who has held the same space open for you. I directed the music video myself, so this video is my directorial debut, for film. I've always admired those who wear many hats, and I really enjoyed wearing my songwriter hat, my producer hat, my director hat, my editor hat, and I'm singing in a favorite hat in the music video, too. I hope the song reminds listeners that though life takes a lot of strength to carry on, together, we'll make it better," Herzog said.

She's been called a "vintage songstress" by BroadwayWorld, has sung on over 200 songs for Hal Leonard Publishing, BMI Publishing, Sony, and Universal, has performed with The National Symphony Orchestra conducted by the late Marvin Hamlisch, and with Grammy® Award-winning composer/arranger Patrick Williams (Barbra Streisand, Frank Sinatra), has starred in Buzzfeed comedy videos, and she's been the voice of Odette, The Swan Princess, from Sony Animation's "The Swan Princess" since 2018. Now, it's finally her turn for time in the spotlight singing her own songs.

TOGETHER AWAY is a six-song EP, full of touching melodies and honest emotions, a journey that explores the landscape of unconditional love and profound loss with an open heart. The songs unfold like a romantic novel, moving through longing, infatuation, intimacy and on to separation. "I wanted to express the ways lovers and loved ones retain the sensation of being eternally present in each other's lives, the ways in which humans are able to feel deeply connected - despite death or great distances."

It was recorded with producer and multi-instrumentalist Phillip Peterson (Lorde, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey) at his Seattle studio, House of Breaking Glass. "We both share an appreciation for cinematic storytelling," HERZOG said. "I'd sent him a demo of 'Lover's Lullaby' that I made in Los Angeles. When I heard his arrangement for it, we settled in and knocked out the EP in a week, working from sunrise to sunset every day."

While studying music and voice at the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, she began a career as a session singer and voice actor, recording hundreds of demos and commercials for Universal, Sony and Broadway shows. She also added her presence to a series of Buzzfeed.com videos that have gotten millions of hits. Shortly after graduating at the top of the Dean's List, she auditioned to become the speaking voice of Odette. She got the job. At one of her first voice over sessions, she was told the producers were looking for a woman to become Odette's singing voice. She told them she was a singer, too. After another audition, HERZOG became the embodiment of The Swan Princess.

Before the pandemic hit, HERZOG maintained an ambitious schedule singing with symphony orchestras, teaching voice, doing voice over work, working as a session singer for jingles and film scores, recording demos for other songwriters, acting and singing in plays, and working with a small non-profit organization that helps families with essential needs, provides educational opportunities, and focuses on community building.

Watch the official video for "Lean Into Me" here:

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