Nigel Kay Kabvina, also known as @SxmplyNi on TikTok, joins Cheddar News to discuss being chosen as one of TikTok's creators to watch in 2022.

Between Bells

TikTok Recognizes @SxmplyNi as a Creator to Watch in 2022

and welcome back friends between Bells and Cheddar news. I'm baker machado in new york scrolling on Tiktok, you met with you some new hobbies, some new recipes and even new friends. But for the creators it's so much more than that. That's why Tiktok, shutting a light on the rising stars on the platform. All sure to make waves this year, on and off the app. And if you're anything like me, you probably find yourself on brunch Tiktok and have more than likely seen our next guest. So we're very excited to be joined now by Tiktoker. Nigel, K Covina a K A simply ni good to have you here. So good to have you here joining us. Thank you for having me. Alright, so Tiktok chose 22 creators who make up the creators to watch list. You've, by the way, only been a creator since August. So that's amazing that you've been listed on this already in such a short period of time. What does it mean for you to be recognized by Tiktok for this? It's amazing. I think it's been really vindicating, taking the lead to be a creator jumping from a stable 9-5 life that I've led since I was 18 and it's honestly amazing and it's been such a whirlwind and quick week. And yeah, it's really exciting And of course for our viewers that can scan that QR code that's on the screen right now and then I'll take them directly to your Tiktok page. Nigel, it's so interesting. You have 950,000 followers already. I'm curious what made you decide this is something I want to be a part of, I want to get on this Tiktok train. So funnily enough, when I actually started, it was just a way to connect with my mother during lockdown. Like a lot of people, I was locked inside and board. Um, and I would send her pictures of dishes that would put together and she taught me to cook when I was eight years old. So it was just something fun to do. One day I decided to post it on instagram and everyone was just shocked about how good it looked. I mean, I was just using very everyday things. So I decided to find a way to show them. And Tiktok was just the easiest platform to use at that time. I found youtube terrifying. If you ever try and do a youtube video, The, yeah, it's overwhelming. But Tiktok was really easy to use and yet from there, it just picked up. So what I like about your pages, I feel like it's really, it's really focused for somebody like me because one, you're dressed really, really, really stylishly and two, it's all this amazing food, which is a foodie. I'm enjoying it as well. And your page obviously is completely dedicated to cooking videos. Has it changed or maybe enhanced the way that you look at food or the way that you look at cooking because of what you do now on Tiktok definitely, yes. My background is actually within cocktails. So it was finding a way that I could be within the realm of food and drinks, but I never really focused on food up until Tiktok. So now it's been surprising. I'm surrounded by amazing chef's amazing home cooks who've been doing it for years and to have um, kind words said about me from the, honestly means a lot. So yeah, it's really changed my outlook on food and just being able to enjoy it as well. So I've interviewed a lot of chefs when they make and write a cookbook. They say the hardest thing of writing a cookbook is finding more recipes. Do you find that same challenge for you always having to find content and make videos when you're like, do I really have to do an egg dish again? Yeah. Yes, definitely. I think definitely, um, difficult. I think some people or the culture is the idea is that you meant to post at least four times a day and obviously with a few recipes, original recipes that just doesn't work fortunately for me. I from the get go. I said to myself, I want to post once a week that gives me time to really tailor a recipe and make it something special and more than that it's really authentic because it's honest. It's not on a specific day. It's just whenever the sun is right and um, I'm hungry and about time and my roommates three and then I'm able to cook? So that just leads to the organic feel of the videos? Or at least I hope is there a methodology to what recipe you're choosing? Like are you wanting something that, you know, viewers would be able to recreate or you doing something because visually it's stunning and you also sort of want to show off your culinary skills here. Yes, it's a bit of everything that you just mentioned. And more importantly, um, there's one design technique that I like to use, which is the japanese style of wabi sabi, which is essentially, there's beauty in the imperfections. So whenever I'm making a dish, it's really important to me that it's easy for everyone to make at home and it's just not, it looks great, but it's not breaking the bank, it's not taking you hours and hours to make. And I'll start with the concept and then I'll kind of strip it back to the basics and then I'll add one factor that just makes it surprising. For instance, just Syria ble and then finding a way to turn that cereal into something that kind of makes you go, wow. Um, and that's kind of how I approach a lot of the recipes, I just find your videos. So even even just like interesting ones, like, you know, cutting bob ca I find it to be so relaxing, so calming and so great, what's the future, what do you sort of want to do next When you, when you look at your Tiktok videos, what does like the rest of the year sort of have for you here? I have a lot of amazing things planned for this year. A lot of amazing collaborations with big creators, which I can't say yet. Um some big celebrities here in London, some in new york. Um and I'm gonna be working with some amazing few charities, ones like the footballers or you would call him soccer player Marcus rashford's charity, where we're gonna focus on raising awareness for child poverty in local areas and yeah, there's a lot of amazing things to come from this year and it's just gonna be pushing the envelope without losing focus on what I do best. Well for viewers, again, if you're watching this interview, you can see the QR code on your screen, you can scan that and go directly to Nigel's Tiktok page. Tiktoker Nigel K Covina Ak simply ni joining us here on shudder news. Such a pleasure to have you here. Nigel