NIKI: Tiny Desk Concert

NPR Music's Tiny Desk is celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. These artists represent just a sliver of the cultural diversity that exists within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Stephen Thompson | May 31, 2023
NIKI, a.k.a. Nicole Zefanya, took a circuitous route to the Tiny Desk. Born in Jakarta, she scored a major opportunity by winning a competition at 15 to open for Taylor Swift when her Red Tour took her to Indonesia. After moving to Nashville and building a following as a YouTuber, NIKI released two EPs and an album (Moonchild), then moved to L.A. and landed her song "Every Summertime" on the soundtrack to the Marvel blockbuster Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album. Our own Bobby Carter heard that track and fell in love, and soon enough, NIKI and her band were breaking in the latest instrument in our in-house Tiny Desk collection: a light-blue toy piano.

That li'l piano figures prominently in "Backburner," the song that opens NIKI's Tiny Desk debut, but these songs also reflect a more serious side. "The Apartment We Won't Share," which the singer says "sort of laments the loss of an unlived life with somebody," recalls the weightier reflections of Taylor Swift, while "Before" tells the specific-but-relatable story of a long-distance love that falls apart before it can get fun. But NIKI closes her set on a breezy note, as she and her band swim in sleekly soulful, '70s-singer-songwriter vibes throughout "Every Summertime." The story of a love that grows and evolves with each passing summer, it had Bobby and the rest of us swaying, swooning and swimming in high hopes for the weeks and months to come.

SET LIST
"Backburner"
"The Apartment We Won't Share"
"Before"
"Every Summertime"

MUSICIANS
NIKI: vocals, piano, guitar
Jacob Ray: percussion, effects, guitar, vocals, music director
Kim Vi: keys, guitar, vocals
Edison Lo: bass, vocals
Fer Fuentes: drums
Andrea Ferrero: guitar, toy piano, vocals
Desiree Hazley: violin, vocals

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Bobby Carter
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Creative Director: Bob Boilen
​​Videographers: Maia Stern, Joshua Bryant, Sofia Seidel, Alanté Serene
Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna
Photographer: Elizabeth Gillis
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Kara Frame, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

#niki #nprmusic #tinydesk

[savirrschannel]

we’re starting niki’s tiny desk with backburner?? i’m crying already!😭 so proud of you, niki! always sending a lot of love and support from home!❤️

[jello-dklx]

00:00 Backburner
5:10 The Apartment we wont share
8:42 Before
14:29 Every Summertime

[teokengchuan]

First time I've heard of Niki. I'm not from Indonesia but from the tiny island of Singapore north of its huge archipelago. I'm going to take some liberties and claim Niki as our own sister from Southeast Asia. Anyone who has made it to Tiny Desk deserves our love and respect. Wonderful little set with a bunch of talented young musicians. Well done, Niki, the only way is up. You've made us real proud.

[cassandra]

Her storytelling ability through music is UNREAL. She’s amazing. Can’t wait to see you live in Vancouver, queen!! 🤍

[rafaelunplugged]

This woman is so talented. I was blown away by her Coachella 2022 set. Amazing.

[advanze]

wow, what a moment. so glad to be a fan of niki, truly an artist deserving of a tiny desk

[stevenmillion]

from Awali Hari Dengan Cinta to
being the opening act on Taylor Swift concert in Jakarta to
Polaroid Boy to
Anaheim to
See You Never to
I Like U to
Chilly to
Newsflash! to
Zephyr to
Included in DISNEY Raya and The Last Dragon Ost. with her song Warpaint to
Being the opening act on Halsey tour in every listed city in Asia to
Lowkey, Indigo, Shouldn't Couldn't Wouldn't, La La Lost You, Sugarplum Elegy to
Her debut album Moonchild to
Hallway Weather to
Being the opening act in H.E.R tour in all USA dates to
The biggest dream of every musician hittin MARVEL Ost. with Every Summertime to
Nicole album to
Nicole north america and asia tour to
NICOLE WORLD TOUR AND SOLD OUT EVERY TICKETS
+ featuring on other musician songs

First ever Indonesian female singer to perform at Coachella, Lollapalooza, "Tiny Desk" and many more. Her journey is kinda unbelievable, so proud of her.

[Nicholasful]

Tiny Desk has it’s own standard, and it make how we love listening to their production. This video proof that Niki already has a standard same as other popular artist. I love the music arrangement and sound engineer. Niki song is so touching, but the violin make it more magical. I’m listening this video for 30x times and it just gives me more energy and spirit. Good job guys and so proud of you Niki

[dissydose]

THANK YOU TINY DESK TEAM FOR INVITING NIKI AND THANK YOU NIKI FOR BEING OUR PHENOMENAL INDONESIAN PRINCESS <3

[thickivicki]

Very unique. The band seems so at peace with her. A peaceful band= Blissful music being made.
Her voice is beautiful ❤
In a world that’s crumbling down, this is what makes us connect.!

LOVE ❤️ SPREAD LOVE AROUND ❤

[FellexandroRuby]

Acoustic sessions always hits different. Thanks Tiny Desk for this! And congrats NIKI!

[joshhardon]

Appreciate this young artist!!!! My daughter was just an extra in her video “too much of a good thing” 😊 I’m a new fan 😝 and honestly seeing this….YOU ROCK NIKI stay true to this !!!! Don’t let the industry dictate you ….you have a great style don’t lose it don’t get “poppy” 😊

[mikay_la]

I THINK IM NEVER GONNA GET TIRED OF HEARING HER DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF BACKBURNER 😭

[dreampinkreel]

Niki honestly has everything.
She’s a great lyricist, she plays numerous instruments and her voice is as pretty and bright as her smile

[noname-pode]

Everytime Niki do this raw vocals with her acoustic guitar... it brings me back to the days when she used to cover songs. I now realized that I have been here all along listening to Niki and it makes the lyrics more special for me. I love you Niki ❤❤ I will support you always.

[shaitremor]

So proud of you Niki! Accidentally discovered your music back in 2018 and I immediately fell in love with your style and lyricism. I could listen to all of your songs every single day 🥺💗

[THIIIIRSTY]

I found NIKI through my listening adventures of 88 Rising artists and it honestly got me through the last half of 2022. I'm so happy seeing this today. Every single album is magic in its own way. Thanks for this beautiful gift on another cloudy day 💚

[Chronomatrix]

OMG NIKI MADE IT TO TINY DESK!!!

I love her music so much.

[francesalexa]

So proud of NIKI ❤️

been rooting for her since youtube era 2016. she has come so far. 🥹🥹🥹

[musicenthusiast]

i was always wondering when niki was going to be on npr because she is that talented and here we are!!! she is just so talentedd. to see an asian girl like me on npr is just CRAZY like dreams do rly come true. niki is a trailblazer for sure ❤