[Interview] Niki Kini chats about "God's Hitlist," her heritage & more

UK-based rising talent Niki Kini captures the relatability of being bogged down by life without losing her sense of humour on darkly playful track “God’s Hitlist.”

Striking a delicate balance between vulnerable expression of frustrations and witty, word-play-laden lyrical takes, the track transforms life’s turbulences into an uplifting, vibrant sonic experience.

Drawn from deeply personal experiences yet utterly relatable to anyone who has felt like everything seems to go wrong all at once, the track is honesty and comfort wrapped up together within a luscious melody.

In conversation with Lyrical Muse, Niki dives into the inspiration behind “God’s Hitlist,” how she keeps herself motivated during tough times, her upcoming EP, how her craft is influenced by her South Asian heritage and much more.

Read our Q&A with Niki Kini below!

Tell me a bit about what sparked the inspiration for “God’s Hitlist”?

“God’s Hitlist” came from a place where everything in my life felt like it was going wrong – I was barely sleeping, I was on the edge of being laid off from my job, I could barely afford my bills. It just felt like no matter what I was doing, life was give me lemons and I could not make any lemonade!

You’re channelling turbulence in life into something playful and witty on this track, what do you hope people take away from this track in terms of a message?

I hope “God’s Hitlist” reminds people that they don’t need to feel alone, everyone is always going through something & life always does get better in the end. This song is for anyone who needs a scream, cry, or just an anthem to dance to and forget everything else.

In terms of going through a rough time yourself where you do wonder “am I god’s hitlist” how do you usually deal with it and keep yourself motivated?

As rough as times can be or feel, it’s so important to remember all the things to be grateful for. I’m massively into journals and so when times get tough, I always turn to journal & writing music. It really is a safe place for me.

As a South Asian artist what impact or mark do you hope to leave in the music industry?

Growing up I didn’t see a lot of South Asian pop icons in the UK music industry & so I really want to be a part of that change. It’s really important for the younger generations to feel like they can do whatever they put their mind to, especially as a young female South Asian who didn’t think I had the ability to break into the music industry because I didn’t have a lot of other South Asian artists to look up to. The truth is when you trust yourself, your ability, and have the drive you can do anything. I hope to inspire a new generation of South Asians and young people to continue to make waves not just in the UK but globally.

How much does your culture or roots influence your music/sound? Is there anything you’d like to infuse from your culture into music that you haven’t yet tried?

I think my South Asian heritage definitely influences my artistry. Having listened to Carnatic music growing up has naturally influenced the way I sing. I’m always experimenting with my sound and so leaning into my roots more & more is becoming a more natural process as I grow as a person. I definitely want to introduce more Asian instruments in my songs in the near future.

How have you evolved over time and where do you see yourself going from here?

Over the last few years I have experimented with different sounds from being on dance tracks like ‘Money Talks’ to writing ballads to where I am now making funky, upbeat pop music. I have an upcoming EP coming out in May which I am super excited about as this will be my first project release. I’m excited to experiment even more with my sound and find what resonates best with me and my fans.

Who are some artists who inspire you?

I take massive inspiration from Raye, she is an absolute lyrical and melodic genius. I also grew up listening to a lot of Lily Allen, M.I.A, and Amy Winehouse. I love artist that do a lot of word play and bring sass to their music.

You started your music journey quite young, what are some major lessons you have learned along the way?

There are a lot of lessons I’ve learnt on the way… I think one of the biggest lessons has been to trust myself. I started out young and so I was very easily influenced by the teams I was working with when in reality the music I was putting out wasn’t always the music that felt like myself. Since then, going fully independent is pretty terrifying but also the most freeing feeling – to have full control over my artistry and to see the support I’ve got from it is insanely rewarding.