Niki (singer)

Nicole Zefanya (born 24 January 1999), known professionally as NIKI, is an Indonesian singer, songwriter, and record producer.

NIKI
Born
Nicole Zefanya

(1999-01-24) 24 January 1999
Jakarta, Indonesia
EducationLipscomb University
Pelita Harapan School
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • ukulele
  • keyboard
  • piano
Years active2014–present
Labels
Associated acts

Early life and career

Nicole Zefanya, born 24 January 1999, was raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. Her music is partly influenced by her mother, who listened to 90s R&B like Destiny's Child and Aaliyah when she was young.[3] She went to Pelita Harapan School in Lippo Village, Indonesia. At 15, she was the opening act for Taylor Swift's The Red Tour in Jakarta after winning a competition arranged by Swift and the ice-cream brand Walls, called Ride to Fame[4]. The gig became a catalyst for her YouTube channel, where she uploaded original songs and covers, gaining over 40,000 subscribers. She published two songs, Polaroid Boy and Anaheim, in 2016 and 2017 respectively, which can be found on Spotify under Nicole Zefanya.

In 2017, Zefanya moved to Nashville, Tennessee to study Music at Lipscomb University. She released two singles, “See U Never” and “I Like U”.[5] under the American mass media company 88rising as an artist under their label.[1] She released the song “Vintage” in May 2018 as the first single for her EP titled Zephyr.[6]

Zefanya has stated that she tries to empower Asians and Asian Americans through her music.[7] In the Head in The Clouds music festival, NIKI took a moment to address the 10,000-plus audience gathered in Los Angeles’ Historic State Park. “I just want to say, as an Asian female, I do not take this day and this stage for granted.[8] My hope is that above everything else today, that you feel heard, you feel understood, but most of all that you feel represented." NIKI's mission is to empower young Asian artists under-represented in the American music industry.[9]

After 88rising announced their collaboration with popular food festival 626 Night Market to curate a food section at Head in the Clouds, Zefanya made a special guest appearance with a meet-and-greet at the 626 Night Market event at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California on 11 August 2019.[10]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Moonchild

Extended plays
Title Album details
Zephyr
  • Released: 23 May 2018
  • Label: 88rising, Empire
  • Formats: Digital download
wanna take this downtown?

Live albums
Title Album details
NIKI Acoustic Sessions: Head In The Clouds II

Singles

As lead artist
List of singles, showing year released
Title Year Album
"Awali Hari Dengan Cinta" 2014 Non-album single
"Polaroid Boy" 2016
"Anaheim" 2017
"See You Never"
"I Like U"
"Chilly"
"Newsflash!" 2018 Zephyr
"Say My Name" Zephyr
"Friends" Zephyr
"Spell" Zephyr
"Vintage" Zephyr
"Dancing With The Devil" Zephyr
"Warpaint" Head in the Clouds
"lowkey" 2019 wanna take this downtown?
"Indigo" Head in the Clouds II
"Shouldn't Couldn't Wouldn't"
"La La Lost You"
"Switchblade" 2020 Moonchild
(upcoming studio album)
"Selene"
Title Year Album
"Little Prince"
(Rich Brian featuring Niki)		 2018 Amen[11]

Tour

Opening act
gollark: And the HTech™ one.
gollark: Did you check against the GTech™ ethics machine?
gollark: That news really has propagated impressively fast.
gollark: Sorry, network.
gollark: Sure.

See also

References
  1. Methanisa, Katyusha (29 September 2017). "Meet the Latest Indonesian R&B Singer Trying to Take Over the US". Vice. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  2. "SINDHÈN INTERVIEW: NIKI". 4 October 2017 – via YouTube.
  3. Harfenist, Ethan (14 November 2017). "We Talked to Indonesia's 'R&B Princess' NIKI About 'Going International,' and '90s Nostalgia". Vice. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  4. Bartleet, Larry. "NIKI: "Name one Asian artist that's popping right now. I want to be the girl that sets that up"". NME. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  5. "In The Studio with NIKI". milk.xyz. 1 January 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  6. "NIKI Reminisces About a Former Love in 'Vintage' Video: Premiere". Billboard. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  7. "NIKI Opens Up About the Value of Creative Freedom and Pushing Past Her Anxieties". Popspoken. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  8. Morin, Natalie. "NIKI Wants Asians To Own Their Heritage". refinery29.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  9. "Indonesian singer's mission to break America's bamboo ceiling". South China Morning Post. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  10. "Jackson Wang, iKON, DPR Live, Dumbfoundead Join Head in the Clouds 2019 Festival: Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  11. Maher, Natalie (30 January 2018). "Rich Brian Reveals Track List for Debut Album 'Amen'". Billboard. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  12. Cung, Danie (5 June 2014). "Lautan Swifties di #REDTourJkt Taylor Swift di MEIS". Creative Disc. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  13. Newstead, Al (26 March 2018). "Rich Brian announces debut Australian tour". Triple J. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  14. Jones, Abby (26 March 2018). "Halsey Announces Final Installment of Hopeless Fountain Kingdom World Tour". Billboard. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
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