Introducing The Dazzling Singer-Songwriter… NIKI

If you’re in search of a new dynamic artist to elevate your music playlist, then emerging artist NIKI is for you. The Los Angeles-based talent was first introduced to the music sphere through her parents. Throughout her childhood, NIKI honed her vocal abilities with the help of her mother, who was a talented singer in the church. Along the way, her father introduced an array of artists and genres that helped elevate her musicality further.

In 2018, NIKI released her popular ‘Zephr’ EP – which made a powerful impact on the pop scene. Since then, the young talent has amassed a global fanbase with over 1.8 billion streams to date. After releasing an array of singles over the years, NIKI made music history in 2022 when she became the first Indonesian artist to perform at Coachella. With her brand new album ‘Nicole’ currently making the rounds and a headline tour in the near future, it’s safe to safe NIKI is showing no signs of slowing down. We were able to chat with the beloved singer-songwriter about everything from her Coachella performance, her dream collaborations and so much more.

Hi NIKI! How’s it going? 

Hi! I’m doing really well, thanks!

Let’s dive right into the music! We absolutely love your single, ‘Oceans & Engines’! What was the inspiration behind the track?  

I wrote Oceans & Engines in 2016, when I was 17 years old, about the earth-shattering heartbreak of a first love moving away permanently. The song sort of laments our final moments together before oceans and engines take him away from me, essentially. The idea is sort of as soon as he steps into the car that takes him to the airport that puts him on a plane that whisks him away from me, we will only grow further and further apart. Nothing will ever be the same from now on, and I have to accept that and move forward, as devastating and unwanted as it is. That’s sort of the emotion of the song.

You recently collaborated with an array of artists on Marvel’s Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings soundtrack. What was that experience like for you? How did you end up linked to the project?

I got a call sometime in 2020 from my manager Sean, who told me it had been confirmed that 88rising was going to spearhead the soundtrack of Shang Chi! Since it was made during the pandemic, I think we had quite a singular, unique experience of making it. Most of the tracks I did were done remotely, and in a couple of them, I even recorded myself with my USB mic in my guest room! I kept it secret for such a long time that when it finally came out, it felt so jarring and surreal to process that I had been on an actual Marvel movie soundtrack! I am so grateful and honored I got to be a part of it. I mean, how many people get to say that? Truly one of the coolest things that I got to be a part of so far. 

You have such a dreamy and soulful voice – when did you realise you wanted to pursue a career in music?

Aw, thank you! That is very kind. I only started seriously thinking about it in high school. I started singing from a very young age as I was always adjacent to music, given that my mom sang at church, but it wasn’t until high school where I started daydreaming about a career in music. It really felt like such a longshot, though, which is why I originally moved to the US to attend university. But everything happened the way that it did, and here we are today. I’m so grateful I get to do what I love and have always dreamed of doing. It’s wild and surreal, and I don’t take it for granted.

Are you from a musical family?

Sort of! My mother was a singer at church. I definitely got any and all vocal abilities I have from her. My sweet dad can’t carry a tune to save his life, though his taste in music, I will say, is quite immaculate. He taught me how to appreciate different kinds of music. 

Who’s on your wish list for any future collaborations?

Samia, Phoebe Bridgers, Caroline Polachek, Laufey, Beabadoobee, Clairo, Aaron Dessner, Ethan Gruska, Jack Antonoff, The 1975 just to name a few.

With the world reintroducing live performances, how does it feel to be playing live again?

No words describe how excited I am to be playing live again. As nervous as I get pre-show, it almost always dissipates immediately as soon as I’m on. Performing makes me feel alive, and I view it as the summit of my job as a musician and writer. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience between artist and audience, and it’s always been a personal dream of mine to go on a headline tour.

Speaking of live performances, you performed at Coachella recently, how was that?

Coachella was awesome! That was my first time attending Coachella ever, and I honestly had the best time! The vibes were great, the crowd was awesome! It was the best way to kick off this year’s set of live performances, and I’m honored I was even on the line-up! I would absolutely do it again. 

What else can fans expect from NIKI later on this year? 

My short film “But I’m Letting Go”, which is the culmination of all three music videos that preceded my album release, and also my first headline tour! So excited for that, and I hope to catch them in their respective cities.

Make sure to listen to NIKI’s brand new album ‘Nicole’ here or below.