On 2021’s State of Mind, London rapper, producer and pianist Nino SLG introduced a new school of thought. Exploring his psyche and surroundings with maturity well beyond his 15 years, the six-track EP reflected just a fraction of the music student’s boundless potential—and earned him top marks upon submission. For the follow-up, Mirror Story, Nino turns his sharp, analytical gaze even further inward. “Where I come from, there’s a way that people operate in order to come up in life,” he tells Apple Music. “I’ve never seen that as a correct way to do things. That’s why my close friends gave me the name ‘SLG’ way back in the day—it stands for ‘So Legit’. And it’s stuck. It’s a part of my identity now. I’m trying to do things in a way that my family would approve of: in ways that could inspire or maybe help others. That’s the legit way.” It’s true that the mirror won’t let you hide from yourself. For some, it’s even believed to offer a window into the soul. As he navigates this bout of self-exploration with curiosity and compassion, Nino’s bright, poetic flair lights up self-produced tracks (alongside beats from Kyle Evans). Expansive lead single “What’s Left” details the teen’s acceptance of loss and the breakdown of once-close bonds, and on EP closer “Love Yourself”, he advances a depth and wisdom that has him positioned well to graduate to the next stage. “At the start [of the process], I admit, I might not have liked what I saw looking back at me,” he says. “But as time goes by, and I explore myself further, I’m learning how to deal with it all and still carry on. That’s exactly how you have to strive through life.” Read on as Nino gives a detailed breakdown of Mirror Story with this track-by-track guide. “Monster” “This song is about what I see when I look in the mirror—an introduction to who I am. I’m defining a balance I’ve been trying to find my whole life. It’s something that many can relate to, especially at my age, because there’s a lot of distractions. I touch on very personal issues, too. Particularly the feeling of [holding] responsibility in my family: I’ve got to set the right example to my younger brothers. But, a while ago, I saw my youngest brother trying to make a beat on GarageBand, which was pretty cool and actually inspiring to me.” “Battle Cry” “Sometimes I worry about the future. This song analyses the position that I’m in, looking at my own potential. I just want to reach it while trying to not inflate my ego at the same time. With so many things happening in my life—family, school, friends—it all affects me. This is all very personal, just characterised in a creative way. Also, my flow and tone reflects how I feel, so it goes from a subtle, laid-back flow to fast and aggressive. It’s important to keep you listening and engaged.” “What’s Left” “This is simply a reflection of past events, and how they’ve managed to affect me. You’ll notice the beat change [at the middle section]: That was needed to reflect my anger. My anger at what’s left of my life, and this state I’ve been left in. The first part is quite melancholy, and I suggested to [British songwriter and producer] Kyle Evans that we switch to a more aggressive style. I had an overall idea of what the track would sound like, but I just couldn’t produce those 808s. I showed him the sample [of C. M. Lord’s 1976 single ‘Oh Mama (Your Daughter’s a Woman Tonight)’] and I’m happy he helped me bring that [part] to life.” “Tell Me Why You Need Me” “I asked [British producer Chris Thomas] Kurisu for any ideas that he was working on. He showed me some cool bits he’d done on the piano, and I felt it was the right opportunity to talk about these issues I'm dealing with. This song is about a love interest feeling like she wants to come back after seeing the progress [I’m making]. And, I can’t lie, I’m angry about that.” “Love Yourself” “The project begins with ‘Monster’, which is almost me beating myself up—I’m not being pleased with what I see in the mirror. And as we go on, I evaluate events in my life until we get here: ‘Love Yourself’, a positive ending to the narrative of this EP.”