Today, Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer NIKI kicks off 2024 with the release of her incredible, intimate new single “24,” out now via 88rising.
The song points towards a new sonic era for NIKI, combining all of the things that have made her an international favorite – brilliant lyrics and outstanding melodic sensibilities – with a musical palette that, for NIKI, sounds like home. Indeed, it’s early in the year, but we can guarantee you that you won’t hear a more beautiful, ornately-crafted song about a quarter life crisis this year.
About the track, NIKI shares “’24’ was heavily inspired by Joni Mitchell’s performance of “Both Sides Now” at the 2022 Newport Folk Festival. I came across that performance and was so unbelievably moved by it, it brought me to tears immediately. I felt struck by some lightning bolt of inspiration and just ran to my studio and picked up my guitar and out flowed the words to ’24.’
The song is essentially my attempt at synthesizing my early twenties, and the many humbling things I have learned up to this point in my life — namely, learning to embrace nuance and the idea that life is rarely ever dichotomous. Everyone can be many things at once. Of the many takeaways I’ve gathered since turning 24, I think that’s the most freeing one.”
NIKI co-produced “24” with Grammy-nominated producer Tyler Chester (Madison Cunningham’s Revealer) and James Krausse. NIKI plays guitar on the track – an instrument she’s been playing since she picked it up a decade ago – while lauded multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose (Bon Iver, Phoebe Bridgers, The National) contributes and arranges strings.
Although not yet 25 years old, NIKI has amassed over 2.1 billion streams worldwide. Following the release of her highly lauded 2022 album Nicole, NIKI 2023 by storm. She made her NPR Tiny Desk debut; embarked on a worldwide sold out tour spanning across North America, Asia, Europe, and Australia; performed at numerous festivals including Lollapalooza, Outside Lands, and headlining slots at Head in the Clouds NYC & LA; and released her first live album Live at the Wiltern. And that was just in one year….
