Hailing from Albany, NY, NIKAID0 has recently debuted with a sultry, fierce R&B anthem – ‘Baby phat’ – packed with charisma and relatable lyricism. The young songstress champions a bouncy, dynamic aura, a willingness to delve deep into human behaviour and evoke an emotional response in any keen listener. Plus, her vocals are incredibly luscious and vibrant, wrapping the single in blissful, empowering energy.
‘Baby phat’ benefits from NIKAID0’s longstanding collaboration with fellow creatives Logfe and David Kordei. The former is the producer in charge of the project’s sonic vision, while the latter guides its visual efforts. Thanks to Kordei, ‘Baby phat’ also features a wonderful, hazy music video, quite intense and sensual in its overall aesthetic.
Intrigued by the project, we caught up with NIKAID0 to find out more about her artistry and future goals… Interview below!
Hey NIKAID0, how is it going? some of our readers might not be familiar with your project, how would you describe yourself, in a few words?
I would describe myself as a kind-hearted person who is an introvert, but also very energetic.
Your current work is the result of a long journey; What first drew you to making music?
I’ve always been into the arts ever since I was young. I did choir at church and chorus in school. I also played a bunch of instruments. I sang with my cousins and what inspired me to actually get in the studio was when one of my friends asked me to hop on a song he was making.
If you had the opportunity to pick any artists in the world for a collaboration, who would be your first choice? (and second choice, perhaps?)
This is a very tough question. If I had the opportunity to pick any artist in the world for a collaboration, it would probably be Rihanna if she would ever make music for our ears again, or Summer Walker.
You recently released an evocative, sultry and fiery single, ‘Baby Phat’. The track is very contemporary and luscious, wrapping the listeners into a musical universe that’s elegant yet hard-hitting. What does the song mean to you, and what should the listeners look out for in it?
The song to me is a story of two souls coming together and being very lustful. I would love my listeners to look out for the metaphors and similes throughout the song that describe intimate things. That’s my favourite part at least.
The accompanying video is a stunning slice of creative visuals. David Kordei is the human responsible for them; how did you two end up working together?
Yes, David is actually the person who got me into the studio. He was the one who asked me to hop on a song. I’ve known him since 7th grade.
Do you feel more confident writing music alone, or within a team? Are there any other producers you work with, alongside frequent collaborator Logfe?
I love writing music alone, but I’m open to collaborating with others. Logfe is my producer and has been working with me and David since 2019.
We are curious about the Elvis Presley reference (“A Little Less Conversation”); did you grow up listening to him? how do you relate your modern, vibrant brand of R&B to Presley’s 60s-flavoured aesthetic? Perhaps, songwriting formulas don’t change that much within decades…
I did not grow up listening to Elvis Presley at all. I literally was listening to my TV and a commercial came on and it was his song. I was already in the music writing mode so that kind of inspired me to get out of my writer’s block.
What are the next steps for your project? Anything exciting on the horizon?
I’m definitely gonna be releasing music at least once a month with videos, so be on the lookout for that!
