Ahead of the release of Niko’s 3rd LP ‘Electric Union’, the songstress shares 13 tunes she’s been listening to recently and during the time she was writing her album.
Pre-save ‘Electric Union’ to your favourite streaming site here.
or Pre-order Vinyl & CDs here.
Desire – Under Your Spell
One of my favourite songs to play super loud! I love singing this one while I’m dancing around the kitchen cooking dinner.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs – MAPS
This tune blew me away when I first heard it back in 2003-ish. I love the deceptive simplicity of the song, the way the melodies are all over the place, intertwining, it feels like one long non-stop chorus.
Niko – You Used To Have Her
Well I had to include my new song didn’t I?! I’m pretty giddy to finally get some new music out there for people to listen to. I love the detailed production and heavyweight beat, it makes me want to go ‘out-out’!
Aim – From Here To Fame feat. YZ (Remix)
The perfect blend of synths, dusty beats and Aim’s signature melancholy. YZ sounds just as fresh and relevant on the remix as the ’99 original. This remix just hits the spot for me and feels elevated and timeless.
The Notorious B.I.G. – Juicy Remix
I think this ‘remix’ by Pete Rock was actually made before the ‘original’ but Puffy remade it and decided his version was the ‘original’. True or not this is THE version for me. I used to live on St. James Street in Brooklyn and would walk by Biggie’s old house all the time so I’m cool by proxy!
Aim feat. QNC – The Force
I love this song because it was one of the first songs I fell in love with when I moved to Manchester. It was such a fun time in my life touring all over the UK playing with Aim’s live band and working and hanging out with my favourites Q-Ball and Curt Cazal.
Julian Casablancas – 11th Dimension
I nearly lost my mind when I first heard this. Amazing. I saw him live later that year in Manchester at The Ritz and my god it WENT OFF!!! Technically and musically brilliant, full of gritty New York post punk vibes hit over the head with a melodic mega-pop sensibility. Love the lyrics too.
Aleem – Release Yourself
When I hear this tune it instantly makes me want to throw crazy shapes. Perfect dance-floor shaker, it makes me feel joyous instantly.
Joe Jackson – Stepping Out
Unfortunately I can’t find the same (far better) mix on Spotify that I have on 7” but it’s a top tune, pure 80’s bliss.
Talking Heads – Once In A Lifetime
I mean c’mon. Classic tune. Instant euphoria. Summer BBQ good time vibes.
Kate Bush – This Woman’s Work
This song gives me the chills. What a songwriter and what a voice!
Lewis Cole – Night
This song is so soothing to me. Nostalgic and tinged with sadness. Perfect for when I’m in that sort of mood. I find Lewis Cole so funny with a lot of his tunes, I love artists who are brilliant but don’t take themselves too seriously.
Betty Carter – Favourite Things
This song probably doesn’t ‘fit’ in this playlist but I just love it! When I heard how she stretched this song into her own almost beyond recognition I thought AMAZING. When I was in high-school I would listen to as many female Jazz singers I could. I saw Betty Carter live at Jazz Alley and was that dorky girl who went over and told her I wanted to be a singer and gushed about how much I loved her and she was so nice.