Stina Wäppling, Singer, NONONO

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'I’ve been writing music since I was six years old. It’s something I would always do, like writing in a diary. But I never thought I’d do it like this. It took a really long time for me to understand that I could make music my job, and that someone would want to listen to something I'd made. I studied psychology for three years in Brighton, England, and then worked at an elderly hall and a mental hospital as a nurse. I thought that was my career path.

The guys in the band, Tobias [Astma Jimson] and Michel [Rocwell], came up with the name NONONO, which is about saying ‘no’ to projects when your heart isn’t in it. It’s really important to make active choices in life. It leaves space for the things you really want to do. It’s our little motto...I’ve been thinking about getting it as a tattoo.

This is my first time touring in the US, and I can't believe this is my life right now. It’s really amazing to have someone singing and dancing to your songs. Since this is the early days, I don’t have anyone helping me with hair, makeup, or styling for shows—I’m just doing it all myself.

I start by moisturizing my face—I don’t want it to be too greasy or too dry. For deep moisture, I use Kiehl’s High-Potency Skin-Firming Concentrate. I think it’s supposed to help with wrinkles, but I haven’t started to think about that yet. It’s just really hydrating. And I like the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Mosturizer because it really doesn’t make your skin greasy, but it keeps it moisturized all day.

Then I apply Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Fairly Light with the Bare Minerals Maximum Cover Concealer Brush. It doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything—it’s very natural and light—but it evens out any areas that are blue or red. And for my cheeks, I like Bare Minerals Vintage Peach Blush. I’ve always liked a peach blush; it makes you look really nice, not too pink and not too red.

Other than that, I put Dior Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Lune in the inner corners of my eyes, to 'open' them a little bit. I like to put it on when I go out. It’s also good for under your eyebrows. And I like to wear Sante Kajal Eyeliner in Deep Black, too. I’m not good at doing it myself—it’s so hard! My eyelids are very small and sometimes eyeliner can make them look even smaller. But I like using this one. I prep my eyelashes with a Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, and then apply mascara. I have used this Lancôme mascara for eight years! It’s my favorite. There are so many mascaras with bent brushes that are supposed to be curling and blah, blah, blah, but I feel like they never really work... Or, they work at first and then start making your eyelashes look really weird. Lancôme’s is just really simple. One of my eyebrows is a little higher than the other, so I even them out with Christian Dior Sourcils Powder Eyebrow Pencil. I don’t do that every day, but on stage, it’s a great way to accentuate your features.

I really don’t think about my hair that much, I just know that I like it to be messy and I hate it to look greasy. My hair is very fine, so it can get messy easily. I tend to feel uncomfortable when I’m dressed too properly, but if my hair’s really messy, I can wear whatever I want and it works. The only product I have in it is Maria Nila Kolorit Dry Shampoo. It’s supposed to be for greasy hair, but I use it to give my hair texture and volume. I hate when my hair looks oily, especially because I have fringe, so I actually wash my hair almost every day with Aussie shampoo and conditioner. And I spray the dry shampoo twice a day. I don’t know if that’s really necessary. [Laughs]

My nails are really sad. I play the piano and guitar when I’m writing songs at home, so my nails get destroyed. Once a month, I make an attempt to put something on them. But they pretty much always look like this.”

—as told to ITG

Stina Wäppling of NONONO photographed by Emily Weiss in New York on October 16, 2013.