Doused in Dreams: a Listen to NIIKA’s “Honest Dancing”
Soothing. Rumbling. Dreamy. Dusky. NIIKA’s EP, “Honest Dancing” is a gem that combines sounds of neo-soul, indie, jazz, and pop into a delicious amalgam of textures and sounds. Lyrically captivating and full of depth, the EP is a guaranteed generator of chills. Tapping into the juicy tones of the indie pop of the early 2010’s and supplementing them with elements reminiscent of Hiatus Kaiyote, “Honest Dancing” is dynamic, magical, and just plain great.
Opening with the thrumming bass of “Dragon Calls,” the EP boasts NIIKA’s gentle, warbling vocals over a dreamy, cyclical guitar hook. The mix gives each instrument ample headroom — every little percussive hit, guitar strum, and bass pluck are audible. There’s an honesty to the way that “Honest Dancing” is mixed. Though many of the elements have modulation, each is clear and mixed to the same room feel. It’s intimate and it makes the listener feel as if they’re listening to something personal and secret.
Overall, “Honest Dancing” is a fabulous EP. NIIKA has a beautiful voice and an aptitude for writing lyrics that sink deep into one’s soul. Masterfully recorded with all the right instrumentation, it’s hard to find a better EP than this, and I look forward to the day when NIIKA releases more music.
Listen to “Honest Dancing” here:
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