After years of putting her music dreams aside, Brooklyn-based recording artist Nikena finally got to a point where she couldn’t ignore them anymore.
“It was the thing that just kept gnawing at me,” she says.
A few short years later and the Jamaican-born and Brooklyn-raised Nikena has released half a dozen singles, three music videos and is now hard at work on her debut EP which is slated for release later this year.
"It gave me a sense of freedom," she says. "I finally felt like the part of me I had avoided or ignored for so long was finally liberated, and in doing so, I felt free too. I wasn't hiding anymore; I was connecting with my true self. This process opened up parts of me I hadn't been aware of, making me more spiritual, more religious, and more mindful of who I am as a whole. Music and embracing my creativity pushed me to look deeper within myself."
Inspired by R&B and pop stars like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, singer-songwriter Nikena creates sultry music that also incorporates dancehall vibes from her Jamaican roots. She debuted the R&B single “Water” in 2020 while incorporating Caribbean sounds––perfect for a summertime state of mind, she says––and has found her biggest success to date with 2024’s “Hold Me,” which has garnered well more than 100,000 plays.
“I wanted to explore different topics, like writing about meeting someone at a party or creating a sexy dance single. So, I created a fictional person and the ideas surrounding it,” Nikena says.
Hold me
Hold my body, hold me
Hold me like you know me
To the rhythm of your beat
Hold me
I want you to control me
I’ll be your one and only
To the rhythm of your beat
The accompanying music video, for which Nikena spent more than a month on the choreography, offers a seductive glimpse into the idea she wanted to explore. Even though the song was based on something imaginative, it still tells a story about her life, she says.
“It might not have been a recent experience that inspired the song, but it’s something from my past,” she says. “My music is essentially a narrative of my life—reflecting on what I’ve been through, what I’m going through, and hopefully, what I will experience positively in the future.”
Her songs explore falling in love and navigating heartbreak, and writing them serves to help Nikena heal and process her feelings. She’s also released music videos for “Water” and “Not Sorry,” songs she wrote about experiencing love and heartbreak.
Now she’s focused on the upcoming five-song EP, This Is Me, which will serve as a further introduction to her melodic beats and unique style.
“It’s been a goal of mine to release an EP, but putting out singles has demanded so much of my attention. I’ve now reached a point where I can balance my time better and focus more on completing the EP,” she says.
Make sure to stay connected to Nikena on all platforms for new music, videos and social posts:
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