专访 NIKI | 忠于自己而创作
26-7-2
持续融合爵士、梦幻流行与灵魂质感，NIKI 在流动的旅途里捕捉细碎心绪，始终忠于自我表达，不被潮流与外界评价裹挟。此番即将再度来华开启个人巡演，她满怀期待与国内乐迷相见。UPEE 有幸邀请 NIKI 展开专访，聊聊创作本心、音乐探索、现场魅力与对中国之行的期待。
UPEE：在你的上一张专辑《Buzz》中，很多乐迷惊喜于你更加 Indie Pop 的方向转型，你的创作一直都具有一种与年轻社群紧密关联的连结感，你会如何形容自己的创作？以及，你会担心这种由受众群体或流行风潮对你的创作的描述、以及类似的将你与同时代其余音乐人的类比，会掩盖你的个人特质吗？
NIKI：创作《Buzz》时，很多旋律是自然而然地涌现，表达欲也很强烈。那段时间我行程满满，经常在演出后台、机场、酒店房间里写歌。沿途所见的生活不断给我灵感，我也想把这份流动的状态融入编曲与歌词之中。
我只为心底热爱的事物写歌，把某一段思绪、某一段时光永久留存下来。我十分珍视我的歌迷，也很感恩核心粉丝无论我做出什么样的音乐都在坚定支持。我希望大家喜欢我的作品，但归根结底，我只写是忠于自我、能让我满怀热情的内容。我不想追逐一时的潮流，而是想做出经得起时间考验、表达上先锋、完全属于我自己的音乐。
至于和我同期的音乐人，我也一直由衷欣赏、支持大家。音乐行业与生活本就足够包容，每一种声线、每一种曲风都值得被看见。我也希望所有人不必和他人比较，专注自身的成长与蜕变就好。
With Buzz, the music flowed so naturally and so urgently. I was constantly on the go during that time, and so I would be writing backstage of shows, in the airport, in my hotel room. I found myself inspired by my surroundings and a life in motion, and wanted to put that into my musical and lyrical choices.
I write music that I love and to capture a feeling or season in my life forever. I love my fans so much, and I am grateful that my biggest fans will always support whatever music I write. While I hope that fans will love the music, ultimately I write what is authentic to me and excites me. I do not want to write trendy music, but rather music that is timeless, progressive, and wholly mine.
With regards to my peers, I will always champion them and support them too! There is plenty of room for every voice and style to be celebrated in musicianship and in life. I encourage everyone to not compare themselves to others but instead focus on their self growth and development.
UPEE：从《Nicole》至《Buzz》，你的音乐展示出了非常多来自其余类型的影响，许多乐迷感受到了你音乐中所具有 Jazz Pop、Dream Pop 的底色。在此之后，你有什么更多尝试的想法，比如有什么样的声音是你还未在这两张作品中呈现，乐迷们可以在之后期待的？
NIKI：我很喜欢融合自己听过的各类音乐，再用独属于我的视角重新演绎。我一直偏爱富有灵魂质感的创作，从 Joni Mitchell、Stevie Wonder 再到 Norah Jones 都深刻影响着我。至于后续的新作，我只能说我正在筹备全新的内容，大家不妨静静等候，拭目以待！
I love blending influences from my musical library and putting it through my lens. My musical taste has always gravitated towards soulful songwriting – from Joni Mitchell to Stevie Wonder to Norah Jones and more. For what’s next – all I can say is I am building towards something new soon, and you’re just going to have to wait and see!
UPEE：《Nicole》收获了许多乐迷的喜爱，而在《Buzz》中你探索了 NIKI 更广阔的音乐版图，与此同时许多音乐人会因为作品收获的乐迷评论感到压力、从而影响创作，我们好奇这些评论会给你带来压力吗？如果有，你是如何对待它的？
NIKI：没有人能做到让所有人满意，所以至少应该要做出一份自己认可并为之骄傲的作品。音乐是治愈的，我也希望听众能和我一样，在我的歌里寻得慰藉与快乐。刻意去搜寻负面评价，就一定会看到不堪的声音；但为了自己、也为了心态，最好的方式就是持续创作，拿出最用心的作品。只要已经做到了最好，这份努力本身就值得骄傲。
It is impossible to please everyone, so at the very least you must do work that you can stand by and be proud of. Music is therapy, and my hope is that fans can find some healing or joy in my work, like I do. If you seek out negative feedback you will find it, but the best thing you can do for yourself and your mental health is to continue working hard and put out your best work. If you did your best, then that is something to be proud of in itself.
UPEE：许多乐迷都在收听《Live at the Wiltern》感叹于你对 Live 的把控，对你来说你觉得一场 NIKI Live 与全长专辑作品在能量上最大的不同是什么？
NIKI：在录音室写完旋律，再到巡演舞台亲眼呈现它，这种体验很微妙。筹备我的专场时，我总会站在歌迷的角度思考——如果我是台下的观众，我想看到什么样的舞台。音乐走进现场里会拥有全新的生命力，并且每一晚都会随着台下听众产生出不一样的变化。现场独有的来自群体的共鸣与真实的质感，是任何形式都无法替代的。每一场演出对我来说都独一无二，不同城市、不同歌迷带来的氛围各不相同，我们也会被这份热烈的情绪感染。同时我也很庆幸，巡演全程都有顶尖的乐手相伴，每一晚他们也能尽情展现自己的声音。想要沉浸地感受音乐、体验更深的共鸣，现场演出绝对是和录音专辑完全不同的绝佳途径。
Writing music in studio and then seeing it come to life on tour is incredible. When you come to a NIKI show, I am always thinking of it from the fan experience and what I would want to see if I was in the crowd. The music takes on a new life on stage, and it changes with the fans each night. Nothing will ever replace the feeling of community and the rawness of live music. Every show really is different, because every city and fandom is different and we feed off that energy. I’m also very proud to always be touring with the best musicians, and they get to showcase their talents as well each night. The live show is definitely the best way to feel the music and connect with it on a much different level than on the record.
UPEE：对于即将来到中国演出有什么期待？
NIKI：我向往来中国大陆巡演很久了。2023 年我有幸登上泡泡岛音乐节的舞台，当时台下观众热情澎湃、活力十足，那份热烈完全超出我的预期。这次全新巡演，我无比期待见到更多歌迷，去往更多陌生城市。和所有巡演行程一样，对我来说最重要的三件事就是和粉丝见面、感受各地风土，还有品尝各地特色美食。我们很快就能相见！
I have wanted to tour Mainland China for a very long time. I had the privilege of performing at Bubbling and Boiling Festival in 2023, and the crowd there was so loud and so crazy. I did not know what to expect. For this upcoming tour, I am greatly looking forward to seeing more of my fans, and going to new cities. Of course, with most tour stops, for me it is all about meeting my fans, exploring new scenes, and always eating the best food. See you all very soon!
