Alt-rock newcomer NXKXTA (aka Nikita) today releases the third offering from her forthcoming debut visual album. ‘THE LIKES OF YOU’ is a seductive moment of curiosity, the creative director, fashion figure – and now multi-creative music artist – putting her best foot forward with captivating sonics and visuals straight from the human experience, with a twist of the avant garde. Watch the video here. ‘THE LIKES OF YOU’ is out now via Drowned In Sound (Bat For Lashes, Blood Red Shoes).
A trailblazer of dynamic, immersive artistry, with no dramatics spared, NXKXTA delivers ‘THE LIKES OF YOU’ with her signature smokey vocal, twangy guitar lines and deep vibrato bass. The brutal minor key and vocal distortion offers a sense of mystery to be unpacked by the listener, with musical references to be made to the likes of Sonic Youth, Lana Del Rey and Cigarettes After Sex.
The new single follows the artist’s double debut: bloodied ballad ‘VERBAL VENOM’ and art-rock anti-narcissist anthem ‘DRACULA’, which saw NXKXTA first emerge into the world of music somewhere between the shadow of a gothic cathedral and the smoky silhouette of Leonard Cohen.
“The song is based on a Russian metaphor”, explains Nikita of ‘THE LIKES OF YOU’, “‘suitcase without a handle’ describes something that is no longer functional/broken but you can’t bring yourself to let it go. It’s about the stage in a relationship when the realisation has arrived that it’s pretty much over but you are not ready to end it yet. It’s noticing that you are dragging this person around with you like a ‘suitcase without a handle’ when they are not right for you and a break up is the right thing to do.”
The cinematic music video, directed by Kassandra Powell and starring Freddie Dadson alongside Nikita, has been conceptualised around the suitcase metaphor. Nikita lugs around a chained suitcase, through countryside, over bridges, busy roads and underpasses. She holds onto it for dear life before eventually realising it’s time to let go. Freddie plays the ‘human version’ of the suitcase. “The key was to create an intimacy mixed with pain between us. I played with editorial makeup and styling to visually enhance the idea of an enmeshed relationship”, says Nikita, who took charge of creative direction, concept, styling and makeup as a multifaceted visionary, playing with gender stereotypes and androgyny.
Having grown up in Germany to Russian parents, Nikita moved to the UK at the tender age of 15, originally in hopes of pursuing a career in design. It was in those formative years that she fell in love with the alternative music scene in the UK but resisted the urge to get behind the mic and forged a path as a creative director.
In lockdown she finally embarked on a music journey by joining forces with producers Will Vaughan (Universal Music) and Steven Graham Ansell (Blood Red Shoes) to create a visual album that explores intense topics; such as Narcissism, Consent, Eating Disorders, Verbal Abuse, Escapism, Ephebophilia, Attachment Styles and Break Ups.
In every trying occasion in her life it was lyrics that were her refuge and safe space to process and grow. “It’s like English is my third language, but also my secret world to discuss and experience life and music away from my family.” So it comes as no surprise that the focus of her debut album was to offer others support, companionship and connection through her work.
Every song is visually expressed through a music video, each a passionate collaboration between her and fellow international talent with projects shot in Bali, Paris, London and Berlin. Her sound is very cinematically laced, like a David Lynchian fever dream, reminiscent of her influences such as Timber Timbre, The Cramps, Leonard Cohen and The Kills.
NXKXTA uses her creativity and platform to have important conversations. She is passionate in discussing LGBTQIA+ rights, trans inclusive feminism and women’s rights, mental health and addiction, experiencing a ‘culture clash’, anti-war and sexuality in fashion. Many of these topics are evident in her lyrics and music videos.
With her flair for the dramatic, we can very much expect live performances that are both captivating and seductive as she invites her audience to immerse itself into her fierce and mysterious world. Keep an eye on this One To Watch: NXKXTA.
