Creator to Creators S6 Ep 37 Nikena

Creator to Creators With Meosha Bean

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6XTFWv1vuminZK3bRRcuoY
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nikena/1481797430
https://www.youtube.com/c/Nikena
https://www.instagram.com/_nikena__/?hl=en
Nikena, a pop and R&B artist, has infused her Jamaican heritage and passion for
singing into a vibrant track titled "Hold Me," accompanied by a lively music video
depicting a thrilling night at the club.
“I wanted to create a song about two people who makes eye contact at the club and
then end up dancing together before the end of the night” Nikena said.
Making a music video is another way for her to explore her creativity further, especially
in contributing to the vision for the music video.
“I enjoy seeing my vision come to life,” she said.
Creating “Hold Me” was a process that started with an entirely different beat altogether
than what was on the finished copy.
“Usually, my songs begin with a certain direction, but as I delve more into the creative
process, they take on new melodies and sounds, sometimes moving from my initial
vision. I never truly know where they’ll end up and I enjoy that mystery.”
With “Hold Me,” Nikena is most proud of her ability to step out of her comfort zone.
“I let the song unfold naturally. I allowed myself to have fun and release my
expectations, even though I’m often very critical of my work. I’m constantly challenging
myself.”
Nikena’s musical story starts in her native country of Jamaica at the age of 11. One day
she was sitting in her classroom and the newspaper was delivered, and in one section
there was a photograph of Aaliyah with some of her song lyrics.
“I thought she was so beautiful,” Nikena said. “This was my first time being exposed to
an R&B singer and music. I thought, one day I want to have a song and do something
like her.”
Soon after, she moved to Brooklyn where her love for music continued to blossom. She
participated in talent shows and singing in choirs as she grew up. For fun, she would
just go to the library on the weekends and print out lyrics to music from artists like
Brandy, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera to practice.
Nikena became a nurse after college, but her desire to make music was unwavering. At
this point she was writing and singing constantly, and this when inspiration hit.
“One day, I wrote a song outside a laundromat,” she explained. “It was a hot summer
day and having just ended a relationship, I wanted to escape the sadness I felt at the
time. I began to think of what I could do to get out of the mindset I was in. I decided to
write a song, not about how I was feeling in the moment, but the complete opposite. So
I started to imagine a romantic escape with a future partner by waterfalls in Jamaica. A
melody came to mind and that’s how ‘Water’ the first song I ever released came to be.”
Shortly after “Water” was written, she had a realization that music was a direction that
she needed to take. She had an epiphany that was reinforced during an encounter with
a woman she was introducing herself to at work. The woman complimented Nikena on
her great speaking voice and asked if she was a singer. Nikena mentioned her song
“Water,” and the woman encouraged her to go and record it.
This was 2019 and Nikena has been in the studio ever since. Nikena loves the process
and everything involved, from recording to doing open mics and shows.
Since she started she has recorded eight songs and released six, but she has plenty
more to go.
Nikena is inspired by life experiences and says she 'loves everything about love.' She
enjoys writing about love and even heartbreak. Whenever she faces a situation, she
turns it into a song.
She is also influenced by her Jamaican culture, infusing Caribbean rhythm into her
sounds. Nikena added that the music video also displayed her culture through the
dancing and attire.
“I try to incorporate my culture into my work, even in the smallest ways,” she said.
Nikena mentioned that her goal is for people around the world to hear her music. "I
want people to enjoy my music as much as I do and for them to join me on my journey.”
Be sure to check out “Hold Me” and the music of Nikena, available on all platforms.
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