Cover Niki is based in the United States and signed with the record label 88rising (Photo: Joanna Yuen)
Niki is based in the United States and signed with the record label 88rising (Photo: Joanna Yuen)
1 / 1
Opening for Taylor Swift at the age of 15 and becoming the first Indonesian female artist to perform at Coachella in 2022, who is the Asian musician captivating audiences worldwide? Here are five things you might not know about Niki
Nicole Zefanya, better known as Niki on the global stage, is a Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter and producer known for her genre-blending music that fuses R&B, pop and folk influences.
A former YouTuber who posted covers and original songs, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 18 to study music at Lipscomb University, a Christian liberal arts college, before gaining international fame as part of 88rising, a music and media platform representing Asian talents co-founded by Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow Jaeson Ma.
Read more: 88rising co-founder Jaeson Ma on the impending dominance of Asian culture
The young musician has since established an impressive career. With hit songs like Lowkey and Oceans & Engines, she has amassed over 3 billion streams worldwide, performed sold-out shows on multiple continents and contributed four songs to a Marvel film’s soundtrack—all before turning 25 years old.
With the announcement of her Asia tour starting February 2025 in Hong Kong, with stops in Singapore, Bangkok, Taipei, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, we uncover some fun facts about the songbird.
Above Niki’s ‘Every Summertime’ was featured in Marvel Studios’ ‘Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings’ (Video: Marvel Entertainment/YouTube)
Self-taught musician
Growing up in Jakarta, Indonesia, Niki showed a keen interest in music from a young age. She started piano lessons at five and taught herself to play the guitar when she was nine. In eighth grade, she wrote her first-ever tune: “a happy-go-lucky song with Jack Johnson vibes”.
Her gospel singer mother was a huge influence on her musical journey. At one point, Niki was the front woman of her school band, which would lead weekly worships that she credits as “a great formative experience in her musical career”.
Read more: Vietnamese American rapper Spence Lee on bridging cultures through music
An unexpected first job
While Niki is now making headlines globally as a trailblazing artist with her genre-defying music, her first job was far from the limelight of her current music career: an admissions recruiter.
Turning emotions into a hit song
Above Official music video of ‘See U Never’
One of her breakout singles, See U Never, was born from an angry letter she wrote after a breakup.
In an interview with Indonesian media, she revealed that those pent-up frustrations served as the foundation for the song’s lyrics.
After writing the song and composing the music, she sent it to fellow Indonesian artist Rich Brian, who helped produce the song. He eventually passed the track to his manager at 88rising, paving the way for Niki to sign with the label.
Read more: My First: Abi Marquez’s secret ingredient to her internet success
Making her mark on the global stage
Niki made history in 2022 as the first Indonesian female artist to perform at the Coachella music festival.
Seven years before that, in 2014, she opened for Taylor Swift’s Red Tour in Jakarta at the age of 15 after winning a competition. While it was her mother who got her involved by showing her a brochure of the competition, it was Niki’s initiative to set up her YouTube channel and share her songs after the concert that helped grow her fan base.
Read more: A Swifties’ guide to business success, according to this ‘Eras’ biggest pop star
An introvert by nature
Despite her explosive energy on stage, the singer says she is an introvert—a side of her she rarely discusses in public. She admits that being in the public eye can be challenging for someone who doesn’t naturally thrive in it, but her passion for music and the ability to connect with others through her songs motivates her to keep going.
Work
Based in Singapore, Valerie Lim is the digital editor for Tatler Power and Purpose, Tatler Asia’s dynamic platform spotlighting industry leaders across the region. Valerie leads the charge in shaping the platform’s digital presence, from overseeing and producing website content to curating social media strategies.
With a finger on the pulse of the region, she keeps an eye out for news and trends in business, innovation and leadership, ensuring the brand stays ahead of the curve in delivering stories that inspire and inform its community of changemakers.
About
Prior to this role, she worked in marketing and communications. She considers herself Singaporean at heart and international by passion. You may recognise her from her 15 minutes of fame when she was crowned Miss Universe Singapore 2011. When she is not at her desk, you can find her in the gym or at a yoga studio.
Connect with her via Instagram @msvalerielim, LinkedIn or send press materials, and media invites to valerie.lim@tatlerasia.com
