Interview: Niki Kini

In this ever-evolving world of music, fresh voices continue to emerge, bringing new perspectives and sounds. One such artist making waves is Niki Kini, a rising star from Oxford with a rich cultural background and a determination to break barriers in the industry. At just 22 years old, Niki has already made a significant impact with her unique blend of Pop and RnB, infused with playful lyricism and a deep sense of authenticity.

In this exclusive interview, Niki shares her journey, influences, and the passion that drives her creative process. Get ready to dive into the world of Niki Kini, an artist who’s poised to leave a lasting mark on the music scene.

Q – Can you tell us a bit about your background and where you’re from, your age etc?
A – My name is Niki Kini and I grew up in Oxford where I moved to London to pursue my music career! I’m 22 and I’m of Indian heritage.

Q – How did you get started with music? Was there a specific moment or person that inspired you to pursue it as a career?
A – I never thought I could be an artist, I had no connections, my family was not musical or well-connected and when I was quite young my family tell me I couldn’t hold a tune. I’d like to think things have improved since then! I started a YouTube channel around the age of 12, I didn’t tell a soul about it and I would record covers whenever I was home alone. My channel never blew up or anything like that but by the time I was 15, my first manager picked me up and it felt like a complete dream come true. I was a big Belieber at the time and also a fan of Madison Beer and of course, both Madison Beer and Justin Bieber got noticed through YouTube which was my main inspiration behind even being brave enough to sing and post it on the internet. 

Q – What were some of your early musical influences and how have they shaped your sound today?
A – I grew up listening to a lot of pop music, I loved my morning journeys to school listening to the radio and charting songs. So, my early influences would be P!nk – I was completely mesmerised by her playful lyrics and creative vision, Amy Winehouse – I don’t even really need to explain why, she will always be a timeless sensation, M.I.A was another influence – she was one of the first brown girls I saw making it big and that to me was both mesmerising and eye-opening. I think you can hear these influences when I sing, I definitely take inspiration from P!nk’s sass lyrically, Amy Winehouse taught me to have soul and emotion in songs, and I think I take rap-like inspiration from M.I.A.

Q – How would you describe your music to someone who hasn’t heard it before?
A – I would describe my sound as Pop/RnB. I love being as playful as I can with my lyrics and saying things you wouldn’t necessarily hear typically said in a song like “you’re minted but need a tictac”. I love pushing the boundaries with lyricism!

Q – Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you typically write and produce your songs?
A – Like most artists, it totally varies. Typically, I love to go into a session and make a song from scratch – song writing for me is based on my mood (making an upbeat song or if I’m in my feels I love a ballad), I tend to co-produce on tracks because I can hear what I want the beat to sound like once we get a vibe going and from there lyrics usually naturally come out but for the days I have writers-block, I do have a loooong list of lyrics on my notes. 

Q – Are there any specific themes or messages you aim to convey through your music?
A – I usually write from my own experiences just because it feels more authentic and it’s easier to write from a place you’ve been in. So this massively ranges, in my songs I try and write from different perspectives on things people don’t always address. For example, when you break up with someone the other person would often resent you and hate you for all the things you didn’t give to them in the relationship but I wrote “Hate About Me” (unreleased song) from the perspective of hoping that even though that’s the easier thing to do, you’re hoping they won’t look for all the things they could hate about you.

Q – What instruments or production tools do you use, and how do they contribute to your sound?
A – I grew up learning piano but as my many piano teachers would probably say I wasn’t a natural talent at the piano. I would always end up tinkering and doing my own thing (Sorry Beethoven I just wanted my own moment oops!). I use Logic to produce which has given me the confidence in sessions to say to what I think and make suggestions. As a female and as a female who began in sessions at the age of 15, it’s sometimes been quite hard to feel confident enough to speak up in a room full of guys with a lot more experience. I’ve definitely since gained the confidence to speak up and contribute more and using Logic myself has massively helped, along with working with incredibly kind & patient producers.

Q – I see you are involved in initiatives that raise recognition for Asian Artists and you have identified a lack of representation within the industry from the Asian Community, Please can you tell us more about this?
A – I am! The Asian community within the UK (& US) music industry are insanely underrepresented in my opinion. I grew up in a predominantly White area and growing as a bi-cultural individual (Indian and British) I found it really hard to explore my Indian side. I never had any Asian friends and I never saw a lot of really successful Asian artists in the UK music industry. Having moved to London and meeting so many people and Asian creatives proved to me that I wasn’t the only one who felt like that. There is so so much Asian talent and creativity that just needs a platform to be seen and valued at the same level as other communities. I created a ‘Creative Asians’ group chat which people have flocked to and it’s beautiful to see so many people across the UK connecting with one another. The creative industries can feel very lonely sometimes so I think it’s important to make Asians feel heard in these scenes. The stereotypes of being Asian and needing to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer are still super prevalent. I never thought I could be an artist because of it and I’m lucky enough to have supportive parents of my dreams, now I’m working towards gaining more success so little Brown kids everywhere don’t have to grow up thinking that the creative industries aren’t an option. Our moment is coming and I’m excited to be a part of that.

Q – Can you tell us about your latest project or any upcoming releases you’re excited about?
A – My last release was a song called ’Special’ which TikTok loved! TikTok has massively shifted the way the music industry works so I’m currently pushing towards being in a position to release my next 3 singles. They’re ready and so, now it’s all about timing and execution.

Q – Who are some artists or producers you’ve collaborated with, or would love to collaborate with in the future?
A – I was invited to Raye’s “she makes beats” camp back in 2019 and when I tell you I’ll never shut up about this, I mean it. Raye has always been one of my favourite artists and song-writers. I had the incredible pleasure of working with the likes of JinJin (Jess Glynne, Raye, Madison Beer) and Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa, Katy Perry). A future collab I would drool over would be with Raye and Sabrina Carpenter. 

Q – What has been your most memorable performance so far, and why?
A – My headline show at Café KoKo last year. It was an absolute dream come true. Every artists’ dream is to hear the audience sing along, I had people singing along to the unreleased songs – there is no better high than performing on stage (not that I’ve done drugs and not that I’d want to ha!)

Q – Do you do live shows? How do you prepare for your live shows, and what can fans expect from a Niki Kini performance?
A – I do and it’s one of my favourite things about being an artist. I am a total weirdo and I drink plain hot water (no lemon and honey) all day. One thing you can always expect from a Niki Kini performance is that we’re gonna have a boogie, I love getting the crowd involved so best believe you’ll be singing a harmony (or maybe making it up if you forget the notes), it is always a good time though. Another thing is STICKERS, I’m a sucker for stickers and the crowd always seems to love them too. 

Q – Do you have any favourite venues or festivals where you’ve performed or would like to perform?
A – Café KoKo is a beautiful venue and has unreal food which is a plus. It would be a dream to perform at Glasto of course, I’m saving my Glasto virginity for the day I perform there. Another festival I’d looove to perform at would be Reading and Leeds, it was my first festival I went to and it was the first time I got recognised by a complete stranger which was crazy. 

Q – What do you think about the current music scene in the UK, and how do you see your place within it?
A – I think the current music scene has massively shifted because of TikTok which has its good and bad side. It’s a shame that being viral is more important than talent. There are so many artists I’m obsessed with but aren’t getting the recognition they deserve because they haven’t “blown up”. I think it massively takes away from artistry, no artist wants to be in the bedroom or car singy-songing to their music every day to gain recognition but that’s just the way things are now. Having said that, TikTok is quite literally making overnight successes which is pretty crazy and is an amazing thing for those artists. My place in this is still unconfirmed sadly but I’m still fighting for my big big moment on TikTok, so for now I’m focusing on making music I love and I’m proud of and my followers connect with and if that’s happening, then that is success to me. 

Q – What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an upcoming artist, and how have you overcome them?
A – You face a lot of challenges as an artist to be 100% honest. I’ve been through phases where I don’t think I’m a good-enough writer, that I’m not a strong enough vocalist, that I’m not pretty enough or skinny enough. The reality is if you don’t believe in yourself you can’t expect other people to. I’ve been caught in cycles of comparing myself to others’ success and so, someone once told me “do you ever look at your peers/ other artists who you deem as talented but haven’t made it yet and judge at them the way you’re looking and judging yourself right now?” That’s always stuck with me. Treat yourself the way you would treat others, it might change your outlook.

Q – How do you stay motivated and inspired, especially during tough times?
A – I find inspiration in all pockets of life but staying motivated purely comes from drive. I know what my end-goal is and I’m determined enough to do what I need to do to get there. As for the tough times, I always think they should be taken with a pinch of salt and cooked up in the studio into something beautiful.

Q – Where do you see yourself in the next five years? What are some of your long-term goals?
A – This always seems like a scary question but I want to be able to do music as a full-time career in the next 5 years. I would also love to drop an album. I’m such a creative person visually that I would love to create a whole story around the project through visuals and music videos. 

Q – Are there any upcoming projects or initiatives you’re working on that you’d like to share with us?
A – As I don’t have dates set in stone, I’m going to suggest you stay tuned by following me on socials 😉 @nikikinimusic 

Q – How do you plan to evolve your sound and artistry in the future?
A – This often happens quite naturally as an artist so I don’t feel I need to plan it in so much detail. I’m currently making more upbeat music as I’ve had my sad girl music era for some time. Time to give myself a reason to shake my flat a$$ on stage (sorry mum). 

Q – When you’re not making music, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
A – I love being around my friends and family, I love meeting new people and exploring new places.

Q – What’s something about you that your fans might be surprised to learn?
A – I’m not tall! I get told all the time that I give off tall-girl energy online which is a huge compliment but honestly, I just know my angles ha! 

Q – Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music that influence your artistry?
A – I absolutely love interesting and quirky marketing campaigns. I consume so much marketing content that when I have the budget to execute bigger ideas, best believe you’re not going to be able to stop me!

Q – How do you connect with your fans, and what does their support mean to you?
A – The best way has to be shows and in-person but I absolutely love the community around me on social media. The support is enough to make me cry and I have days where I feel so lucky and overwhelmed when people reach out to share their love. It makes the small and big things feel worth doing when people connect with it.

Q – Can you share a memorable experience or interaction you’ve had with a fan?
A – I think one of the coolest experiences was when I performed at Tobacco Docks for BBC Introducing, a bunch of girls approached me and asked for pictures. They definitely didn’t know who I was but they watched my whole set and then asked for pics so little ol 17 year-old Niki was not complaining. It was the first time I felt like a real artist.

Q – What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
A – Don’t feel like you’re alone, don’t question your talent, just focus on what you do know and what you do have and write your affirmations every single day until they become a part of you!! you’ve got this.

Kini Vibes – Bold Beats & Playful Pop

Niki Kini’s story is one of resilience and authenticity, shining a light on her determination to break new ground in the music industry. Her passion for music, coupled with her advocacy for greater representation of Asian artists, showcases her commitment to both her craft and her community. As Niki continues to evolve her sound and make her mark, we look forward to witnessing her journey and sharing updates with our readers. Keep an eye out for Niki’s upcoming releases, and be sure to follow her on social media to stay connected with her music and journey.

Artist Spotlight!

Read more about Niki Kini on our artist Spotlight post HERE