At sixteen, musician Mya Nicole moved from Cyprus to London with the aim of pursuing her creative goals. Now nineteen, she can safely say she has achieved what she set out to do. Working as a Soho-based creative, Mya’s many talents can be seen through her creative outpourings as a musician and stylist, and recently she was recognised by Vogue for her work in the industry.
Creativity and self-expression has always been a huge part of Mya’s life, and fashion is key in helping showcase her vision, evident through her work organising shoots and creating stunning visuals as a stylist. “When styling, I look for outfits that shape the body well and individual pieces and colour schemes which suit the model and scene I’m trying to set,” Mya told Sheesh Mag. “Currently I’m into mutual tones, contrasting colours and contouring clothing.”
On top of this, Mya’s work as a musician is another outlet through which her endless creativity is clear. “Music has helped me a lot in my life, I hope that through sharing my experiences I can help others in the same way,” she says. “I think music helps us all realise that we’re not only here for ourselves but also for each other.” This inclusivity is something which Mya carries with her into other areas of her life. In the summer of 2021 she founded 2o2st, a pop-up shop in Soho, London which provides a space for like-minded creatives and entrepreneurs to display and sell their work in person.
Mya’s work knows no limits, and this summer she will be releasing her debut EP, as well as the first 2o2st collaboration. In the meantime, 2o2st’s next event will be held on the 24th of April, where Octavia Banks, Anna Wetton, and Scarzzt will be selling their work alongside others at 72 Berwick Street, Soho, London. If you are in the area, make sure to stop by and check it out!
Q: Where do you get your style inspiration from?
MYA NICOLE: My personal style inspiration comes from designers like Rick Owens, Vivienne Westwood, John Galliano, and Marc Jacobs. I also get inspiration from seeing people’s everyday looks in places I’ve lived like Soho and Cyprus, as well as watching fashion shows, reading magazines and following pop culture whilst growing up.
Q: What does creativity mean to you?
MYA NICOLE: To me, it’s creating something through your own experiences, individuality, and talents to gift to others in the physical and emotional sense. It’s a very broad word!
Q: When and why did you open the 2o2st space?
MYA NICOLE: I opened the space last summer and we did our first pop-up on July 11th which included six different vintage brands! I started 2o2st to provide a face-to-face shopping space and community for young sustainable designers and vintage brand owners so they can flourish. Alongside that, I hope to improve and grow the sustainable shopping experience! I also noticed many brands emerging and evolving during the lockdown period, so it was the perfect time to start this business venture since people were excited to shop their favourite brands face-to-face.
Q: How did you get into music and what are you working on at the moment?
MYA NICOLE: I got into music from quite a young age. I’ve always loved music and known that writing and singing is what I’ve wanted to do. I started attempting to write at around 9 or 10. I used to try and re-write Hannah Montana songs and perform them in the garden to my Dad. I started professionally in a recording studio under industry eyes with producers almost four years ago at 16 when I moved to London from Cyprus. I’m currently working on my first EP release alongside Pat Alvarez and Brad Baker. We started the project in November and are releasing in the summertime! I’m very excited to finally share my creative vision through music.
Q: Who or what inspires the music you make?
MYA NICOLE: Above everything, what inspires me most in the musical sense are my experiences and how I can portray them, and how other artists portray theirs too. It’s not even just musical artists always, art galleries like Saatchi and the Tate Modern inspire me a lot too! I also love the business side of the music industry. It inspires me to work hard on the overall picture.
Clothing by: @freyamckee @beadsbyedie and @vintageparadiseuk. Model: @baby.binch. Photo by: @josephcphoto Styled by: @myanicoll.
Q: What advice do you have for aspiring young creatives?
MYA NICOLE: To find and follow your passion. It will fuel you rather than drain you, and inspire you to do more. Through following your passions, it will inspire other people to do the same. Even though it can be hard at times, it’s definitely worth it. Another tip is to dedicate time to work on your crafts— the more you water a flower the prettier and bigger it will grow.
Q: How does it feel to see everyone enjoying the 2o2st pop-ups?
MYA NICOLE: It overwhelms me with happiness, especially when you can really see the community shine through. I love when people connect through the pop-ups. It’s great to see how you can bring people together through creativity. 2o2st feels like a very safe space for creative people.
Q: What’s next for 2o2st?
MYA NICOLE: I’m currently working on my first collaboration with two designers which will be releasing this summer. On top of that I am in the process of turning 2o2st into a sustainable clothing brand alongside a pop-up shop! The first launch of this will hopefully be released early next year. Me and Kyriacos Stylianou, a very close friend of mine from Cyprus who shares the same vision, are currently creating it. 2o2st is also back for spring and summer events! The next pop-up events are on the 24th of April, and the 8th of May at 72 Berwick Street, Soho, London. Hope to see you there soon!
Follow Mya Nicole and 2o2st on Instagram to keep up with what’s next.
