Kater literally translates to a "tomcat" (a male cat), but in everyday German slang, it is the standard word used to describe a "hangover".
In the lyrics, Nina Chuba sings, "Und alles, was über Nacht bleibt, ist der Kater" (And all that stays overnight is the hangover). She uses this memorable double meaning to describe both the physical reality and the emotional emptiness she feels the morning after letting her guard down and spending a chaotic night with a toxic partner.
Neben Mir is a late-night confession turned indie-pop banger. The moment her phone lights up, Nina Chuba dives headfirst into “ein, zwei Stunden Chaos,” fast-forwarding through reckless fun only to wake up with nothing but a hangover and self-doubt. The song captures that dizzy feeling of standing right beside someone yet completely beside yourself—your plans scrambled, your mind foggy, your life suddenly playing in reverse as you wonder, When did I lose myself?
Beneath the catchy beat, Nina paints a vivid picture of a relationship that shines like a dusty pair of rose-colored glasses. Every time the other person slips them on her, she sees what they need her to see and hands over everything they want. She wishes she were stronger, but each escape leaves her a little emptier. With blurred vision and glassy eyes, she finally admits, “Baby, I’m sorry, aber das kann nicht funktionier’n.” It’s a relatable anthem about recognizing toxic cycles, reclaiming your focus, and stepping out of the haze so you can star in your own film again.
Nina Chuba is the stage name of Nina Katrin Kaiser, born in 1998 in Wedel, just outside Hamburg, Germany. Before music she was a child actor: from 2008 she played Nina Flynn, the youngest of the teen detectives in the long-running kids' series Die Pfefferkörner. She sang in the band Blizz and put out early solo tracks in English, collected on the 2020 EP Power.
Switching to German changed everything. "Wildberry Lillet" (2022), a deadpan wish list of luxuries, went to number one in Germany. Her debut album Glas (2023) also topped the charts and gave her more Top Ten hits with "Ich hass dich" and "Mangos mit Chilli". Her style mixes pop with rap delivery and a cool, slightly bored attitude that makes even her brag songs sound funny.