Photo Courtesy of Niki Darling
The traveling bard: it’s a classic trope of the singer-songwriter personality, a performer who journeys beyond borders, across oceans and deserts and all manner of landscapes, to share their music on a global scale. Along the way, they meet a plethora of new faces, expanding their network with a host of folks from all kinds of backgrounds.
That’s the life Niki Darling has been living the past few years. A born-and-raised New Yorker, she’s happy to credit her home city for helping shape her. “It has definitely given me the fearlessness and strength I need to be a musician, which is a career that will test your mind, body, and soul time and time again.” She’s been performing since high school, when she sang in girl groups with her sister, attended performing arts school in Manhattan, performed at amateur night at Showtime at the Apollo, and sang with the band Pants Velour.
But a few years ago, Niki Darling decided she wanted to escape the harsh winter of the Northeast, a relatable feeling as another cold, dark winter approaches us right now. But after that initial winter out of her bubble, she kept finding more opportunities to travel and broaden her horizons. “I think seeing that there was another world outside of NYC and a different (not necessarily better) way of living [was what] I needed at the time. I lived in NYC my whole life and I couldn’t stay in that little bubble if I wanted to grow and truly experience life and reach my full potential.”
Photo Courtesy of Niki Darling
Niki is quick to list a slew of iconic pop stars who influenced her sound: Tina Turner, Lady Gaga, and Prince get first mention; but Niki also cites Stevie Nicks and the way she fit into the harmonic structure of Fleetwood Mac as a “timeless” influence; Janet Jackson’s 1997 hit-loaded The Velvet Rope, Cree Summer, and K-Pop as a genre also inform her sound in their own unique ways.
At various stops along her journey, she’s been able to connect with a slew of talented artists: performers, producers, all manner of people who interact with music directly to try to create something new. This has led to collaborations with artists who have tried their hand at crafting scintillating remixes of Darling’s songs. “I’ve been very fortunate enough to work with some amazingly talented producers in the dance world. Most of them found me on social media actually, and I was able to connect with other producers after working on various popular tech house records.” On top of that, she’s had the chance to link up in person with a handful of these collaborators: “I was able to connect with Maxinne in Ibiza and then [we reconnected] in London, where we actually got the opportunity to do an impromptu performance our song ‘Something In Our Life’ together.”
As is the case with those who spend a significant amount of time traveling and meeting people, Niki comes prepared with a seemingly-endless stream of anecdotes that add flair to her adventures. “I went to an event Toolroom records was having (I wasn’t scheduled to perform). After I hung out and Maxinne had already spun an earlier set but someone fell ill and they asked her to close out the event. We decided it would be cool to perform our song together but the time would be cutting it close as I was an hour away from my hotel and airport. I performed with her at around 3:30am to a packed club and jetted out to my hotel to get my bag and went straight to the airport just barely making my flight.” A close call like that would no doubt be nerve-racking for some, but that’s all part of possessing an adventurous spirit: live now, and worry about the details later.
The music video for her single “Take You There” operates as a showcase of her globetrotting lifestyle of the past few years. It features footage taken from her various stops around the world, places like the Sahara near Marrakech, London, and Hong Kong. But it doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of all the locales she’s got stamped into her passport. “I lived in Bangkok for 3 months and also spent some time in Bali. I’ve also been to Istanbul, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Amsterdam, and France.” While she’s not quick to choose favorites, she does note an affinity for Southeast Asia, especially the vibe around Bangkok. “It’s my favorite city, because it matches the energy and feel of NYC, but the weather is warm. I hate winter.”
She details experiences in other countries too, praising the warm, welcoming reception she felt at a Diwali celebration in Bali (“[I went] with a local family they took me to two of there temples. I was the only outsider amongst them and they welcomed me like I was family”). She talks about how humbled she felt experiencing the vastness of the Sahara (“You feel so small when you are there. It makes you appreciate everything you have”). Then, she lists some of the venues she’s had the good fortune to perform at in these locales. There were Sofar Sound events in Beijing and Hong Kong; a residency at the Rosewood Hotel in Beijing; Studio 338 and Sheesh Restaurant in London; the Epicurien in Marrakech (“the number one club in Morocco!”), plus several others, also adding a impressive roster of fellow musicians she had the opportunity to perform with.
Of course, when world events take certain turns, there can be an air of uncertainty that falls on a life lived on the road, bringing with it a harsh reminder of the existence of borders. This was the position Niki found herself in earlier in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to enter a state of quarantine. Naturally, this changed Niki’s plans and left her stuck abroad in the UK. “I was upset because my residency and shows got cancelled and it was my first tour in London.” But as is often the case with closed doors and open windows, she was able to take some advantage of the situation and find an opportunity to boost her profile. “I was staying with a lovely family in Essex and someone they knew connected her with the BBC network who were doing a piece on unusual lockdown scenarios. So they interviewed us for the morning show and then also did a follow up online and I was on the local radio in Essex.”
Photo Courtesy of Niki Darling
But while she recognizes that positive outcome, her London quarantine wasn’t without problems. “I suffer from depression so all the stress hit me hard but I am very grateful for all I have,” she explains, taking stock of the support she received from family and friends. “I try to put all of that emotion back into my music. It really helps me put everything into perspective especially when I’m feeling hopeless or down.” Thankfully, this rut didn’t prevent her from continuing to create. “I wrote a song when I was quarantined in London called ‘Run’ that will be on my debut album that encompasses how I was/am feeling. I’ve been back stateside for a few months now working on finishing my album, and spending time with my family.”Stream some of Niki’s singles (and remixes of her tracks) via Soundcloud, and keep an eye out for her debut album! You can follow her on Facebook and Instagram under the handle @NikiDarlingOfficial.