A Night with N1KI

by Courtney Thompson

In late February, N1KI performed at a WUOG-hosted event called Java Jam. N1KI, whose real name is Niki Neiconi, is a third-year University of Georgia student with a knack for singing and songwriting. I decided to watch N1KI perform because her name intrigued me and free pastries and coffee were available of consumption. I had no idea what to expect when I arrived to the Tate Atrium for the free performance. I arrived just a few minutes before N1KI was slated to perform, and there was was a small crowd of about 20. I did not have strong expectations for her N1KI’s performance, but I left pleasantly surprised.

During her hour-long set, she performed a dozen songs, which included originals and covers. She also plays the guitar well. N1KI does not have a wide vocal range, so she’s not going to blow you away vocally. However, her voice has a captivating airiness that is easy to listen to.I enjoyed N1KI’s performance, but one of my biggest issues with the concert was the sound levels and quality. Since the performance took place in an indoor space that is also one of the most popular spots on campus, it was hard to hear her at times. The guitar seemed to be too loud in comparison to her voice, and the microphone’s sound was muffled most of the time. To make things worse, most of the students in the audience were having their own conversations. I had to focus very hard on her performance to make sure that I could understand what she was saying.

I was about 15 feet away from her, so I wasn’t far at all. I’m not sure if a mic check was performed prior to the performance, but the sound should have sounded a lot better than it did. Besides the sound issues and the rude audience, the performance was enjoyable. I’d label N1KI’s music as indie or as singer/songwriter. I am not a huge indie music listener, but I still enjoyed the performance. N1KI has a sweet, almost timid demeanor while performing. She also explained the meaning of her original songs or explained why the covers she performed were important to her. This was one of the most endearing parts of the performance. It allowed her likable personality to shine through, but it also helped the audience learn a little more about some of her musical influences. N1KI performed seven cover songs, all of which were songs sung by men that I had never heard before, except for one cover of “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse.

My favorite cover was “Georgia” by Vance Joy. The emotional guitar chords and the song’s lyrics immediately stuck out to me. N1KI sang,

“And I, I never understood what was at stake

I never thought your love was worth its weight

Well now you've come and gone I finally worked it out.”

N1KI did a good job at emoting in a way similar to the original, but she made it her own. At first, I was kind of surprised that she kept doing a lot of covers by male singers. However, I think there is something to be said for female performers who aren’t afraid to cover songs by male singers.

N1KI’s original pieces impressed me. I enjoyed a lot of her original songs more than her covers. My favorite original piece was “Give Me a Chance,” which is featured on her 2018 EP called “Un1.” On “Give Me a Chance,” she sings

“I tried to get you out my mind

But every time I forced it, you came back inside

Now who am I, to stop thinking about you?”

These are relatable lyrics. I can picture Taylor Swift singing a song like this, and I mean that in a flattering way. I think N1KI’s biggest strengths are her relatable lyrics and her storytelling. This is something that could help her go far.

There’s still plenty of room for improvement for N1KI. As I stated before, she has a bit of a timid demeanor which sometimes makes her come across as unsure of herself. I’m not sure how many live performances she’s done, but her stage presence could use some work. I’m a fan of artists with big presences. Not once did I get the impression that she was trying to command the room. I’m sure as N1KI continues to perform among different crowds, this is something that she’ll improve on. Even with a less domineering stage presence than the performers that I typically like to see perform, N1KI still held my attention during the show. This is largely due to her relatable lyrics. These qualities could help her craft a sizable fan base as she continues to work on her craft.