NIKI - Before [Video]

Photography by Gabriel Chiu

Burgeoning popstar NIKI reveals the heartache of a long-distance relationship in her new single ‘Before’. The track is the first single from the artist’s forthcoming album ‘Nicole’ via 88rising.

Hot on the heels of an exciting Coachella performance, which marks the first time ever that an Indonesian artist has performed at the festival, ‘Before’ sees the Jakarta-born, LA-based singer and producer delving into the bittersweet memory of a past romance. A taste of what she describes as her “ultimate break-up record”, ‘Before’ pairs melodic, stream of consciousness delivery with direct, emotion-baring lyrics that instantly bring to mind pop icon and fellow heartbreak veteran Taylor Swift.

In the new tune’s accompanying music video, NIKI flies long-haul across the world in an attempt to rekindle a relationship with her US college boyfriend, but it soon transpires that the distance has changed things irreversibly. The track’s music video, directed by Isaac Ravishankara, stars NIKI alongside Indonesian-American actor Peter Adrian Sudarso and sensitively shows the uneven mixture of love and uncertainty that encircles this fizzling connection.

NIKI reflects: "'Before' is the irresolute ending to my very first love story. I wrote it as a means to create the kind of closure I never had. I also feel it's ironically poetic to open this new chapter by telling you how it ends first. I'm so proud of it, and I can't think of a better song to introduce the ultimate break-up record I've always fantasised of putting out but somehow haven't...until now."

Check out the video for ‘Before’, below: