Introducing The Multi-Talented Trailblazer Creating Immersive Art-Rock With A Vital Message… NXKXTA

Having originally forged a path as a creative director, NXKXTA (Nikita) has spent most of her life perfecting and authenticating her artistic expression. Growing up in Germany, she moved to the UK tender age of 15, and ended up falling in love with the country’s alternative music scene. It wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that NXKXTA finally embarked on her musical journey, and with new release ’THE LIKES OF YOU’, it sounds as though it was meant to be. Preparing to release her debut visual album, NXKXTA is still vey much enjoying creating captivating visuals, which, similarly to her music, come straight from the human experience, never shying away from difficult topics. NXKXTA is all about creating immersive experiences, with no dramatics spared. We had the opportunity to speak to the multi-talent about her new path as a master in sultry art-rock….

Hey NXKXTA! For anyone new to your music, give us three words to describe it.

Empowering, Seductive, Cinematic.

Congratulations on your new single ‘THE LIKES OF YOU’. The video is stunning. What inspired the song and visuals?

Thank you! The song is based on a Russian saying “suitcase without a handle”, which describes something that is a pain to carry around but a shame to throw away. In this case I use it to narrate a relationship that you know has run its course but feels too hard to let go of. When you still love the person, but you also deep down know it’s over. My concept for the video was to depict a mixture of intimacy and pain between myself and actor Freddie Dadson, who is basically playing the human version of the ‘suitcase without a handle’. Additionally, you see me struggling with an actual broken suitcase while also cradling it and holding on to it for dear life. The video was directed by the wonderful director Kassandra Powell and shot in various locations around London.

You first made a name for yourself as a creative director. What made you want to take a side step into music? Do you feel as though the two go hand-in-hand?

Definitely! I think music combines everything I love to do creatively and offers me so much space for collaboration and exploration.

You’ve also announced that there will be a debut visual album! What can you tell us about it?

The album is titled ‘7’. The number has a special meaning to me, as it’s my Enneagram type and the self-reflection I did around that was a catalyst during the writing process of the album. All of the songs were produced by Steven Graham Ansell (Blood Red Shoes) and one of them was also a collaboration with Will Vaughan (Universal Music). It’s 7 songs and 7 videos that symbiotically come together as a body of work. They are collaborations with different creatives and shot in various countries. I want to take the audience on a visual journey and really dig deep into the cinematic energy of my music.

Who are you most inspired by in terms of musical and creative visionaries?

Every element of my work is inspired by so many artists, so that would be a long list! But to keep it as short as possible: Timber Timbre, Leonard Cohen, Unloved, Nick Cave, Warhaus & The Kills were the music artists that inspired my sound and lyrics the most. Performance wise I’m drawn to artists who put on a show that feels raw, authentic and seductive. The first artist and performer that I looked up to as a kid was Janet Jackson. Other performers whose live shows I have admiration for are Eartha Kitt, The Cramps, Florence + The Machine, Madonna, Aerosmith and FKA twigs. In terms of the visuals, David Lynch was a huge motivating force. I adore his intelligent approach of dark themes and value how he immerses himself into a thoroughgoing idea and vision instead of today’s very popular trend driven approach.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with on upcoming projects?

I love collaborating with other creatives, so again the list is long. Lyrically, I enjoy Tamino’s & Maarten Devoldere’s (Warhaus, Balthazar) style of writing, so a collaboration would be a dream. Visually, I’m very keen to work more with film and hope to explore further in the realms of creating soundtracks. One of my still unreleased songs from the upcoming album has already been used to soundtrack a feminist shortfilm titled ‘Pissen aufs Patriarchat [Piss on patriarchy]’ by Lena Fakler. So I aim to do more work in that direction.

Any plans for live shows? We can imagine there’s no dramatics spared!

Yes, performing live is an absolute thrill to me. I’ve got a show coming up on 18th August at 1_06 Berlin, a stunning venue in Berlin that has recently opened in place of the iconic King-Size bar. Very much looking forward to it and there will be more gigs announced for Autumn dates soon.

What’s the main thing you want people to take away from your work?

A sense of empowerment and inner strength. I want to encourage others to embrace their own wild self-expression and to experience a sense of power and pride in their resilience.

Make sure to check out NXKXTA’S latest single ‘THE LIKES OF YOU’ and it’s accompanying music video here or below.