NIKIEH uses velvety neo-soul vocals and jazzy breakbeats to inspire liberation and connection in her latest single ‘People’
A gentle jazzy DnB anthem for the people if there’s ever been one! We’re very impressed with NIKIEH’s latest velvety liquid/jungle masterpiece featuring production from Sempra – not least because she’s one of the most noteworthy neo-soul voices to come out of Birmingham lately, but because People is a song promoting true human connection and liberation.
A rolling full-bodied drum beat kicks off People, it’s a standard jungle breakbeat that has a retro quality bringing an air of late 90’s liquid DnB to the sound – this is further cemented with the classic 808 arriving after soulful striking piano chords that indicate something eloquent and expressive is about to arrive.
Centerpiece NIKIEH does tease us early on with sensual tunes from the mouth before her catchy chorus – all going brilliantly with the energetic breakbeat. Organ note progressions subtly chime away before the bridge, and NIKIEH’s noteworthy lyrics that make this single ever more profound…
Bring back the power to the people
We don’t take money, you pay with your soul
Dance through the spirit of the evil
We don’t take money, you pay with your soul
A more intense bass and gentle drop allows the song to flow into a kind of half-chorus flow state. NIKIEH’s vocals are truly engrossing with the off-beat crash symbols and the ever-present piano chords encapsulating almost as much neo-soul as her voice.
NIKIEH isn’t just singing for the sake of creating another liquid drum and bass banger though, but bravely exploring the theme of liberation by speaking out against oppression and colonialism in the many forms it manifests itself in the world today – meaning there’s much more under the surface here than just another jungle hit for a Saturday night rave.
NIKIEH offers a path to liberation through her music, and the dance that it’s likely to induce. It’s got gentle energy, while offering the sort of laid-back low-intensity flow that’s usually found in the best late 90s gems, or more recent anthems from the likes of DRS, Riya, and Lenzman – all while NIKIEH uses her art to draw attention to oppression, inspire connection, and truly bring “the people” together.
