NIKI Releases New Single "Split" Featured on 88rising's 'Head In The Clouds III'
Fresh off the heels of her powerhouse performance at this year’s acclaimed Head In The Clouds festival, Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer NIKI has released a new sonically rich single and music video called “Split” via 88rising.
The track is a retro slow-burn, complete with steel guitar and NIKI’s sweet rasp. “Split” sees the 22-year-old artistic force chronicling the ache of feeling split between two worlds and two homes. Penned by NIKI herself and produced with frequent collaborators Jacob Ray and Bekon & The Donuts, “Split” depicts the emotional pull and turmoil the pressure to continually adapt brings. Like all her well-loved songs, NIKI has over one billion Spotify streams to date.
“I wrote it about having to split myself between Indo and LA and feelings like I have to constantly “split the difference”/adapt/assimilate all the time. It’s a song about home and identity or maybe the struggle to find either. It’s very very personal and I hope you guys love it as much as I do!”
The Sean Matsuyama directed music video is the third in an installment of videos powered by Samsung from 88rising’s upcoming album, Head In The Clouds III. Shot entirely on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra, the cinematic video features a wistful NIKI in the backseat of a vintage blue Chevy Nova Wagon. NIKI longs for home while shots of her living in LA are juxtaposed with dreamy cuts of her pouring her heart out as a lounge singer.
Photo Credit: Natt Lim
With the help of Samsung’s creative partner, global design and marketing consultancy R/GA, NIKI extended her platform to her fans, giving everyone a chance to be featured in her official music video by submitting content that shows how they feel split between two worlds #withGalaxy.
Following the hit singles BIBI’s “The Weekend” and Ylona Garcia’s “Don’t Go Changing,” “Split” is the newest single off the upcoming Head In The Clouds III, 88rising’s game-changing third installation of the world-building, collaborative effort bringing together rising artists from East to West.