by mariah estran
Reevaluating our relationships and how we value self-love can be difficult. But the Los-Angeles-based singer-songwriter NYIKO has taken on those challenges with stride, releasing the spellbinding debut LP, Honesty.
The appropriate album title comes to life as NYIKO leaves no momentous feeling behind. His candor sores through tracks initially penned in 2014. He shares, “While the songs were written over the course of a few years, I wanted the sequence to follow the narrative of falling in love, watching it fade, and the prospect of finding new love again.”
These themes the singer presents could transcend time. While, ultimately, possessing substance for each listener. From romance to heartbreak to self-reflection, we have all been there. The eleven tracks are deep in context but presented in glistening synth-pop structures you might find familiar to The Cure or Morrissey.
For thirty-eight minutes, you’re transported to a universe rich in nostalgic tones, as if you have fallen into a heavenly 80s flick. The album opens with “Make You Feel,” a lively introduction full of bright keys and a swift drum cadence, as NYIKO shares the beauty of instant allure. Those charming sound facets carry throughout, even during heavy moments, such as “Four Years.” NYIKO explains, “'Four Years' was written in 2014 when I was still living in Vermont. It was an elegy for the traumatic end to a long-term relationship. Three years after writing it, I was going through my phone and found the original voice memo. Hearing that memo inspired me to build the production around it. Even then, I wasn’t quite sure if it was going to fit with the record.”
There is a smooth balance between notable messages and lessons learned. “Call The Boys” lays out a conversation on toxic masculinity as the post-punk production foreshadows a future capable of transformation. “Glow” shows the audience the importance of celebrating self-love and inner beauty. As the final track, “Ghost In Your Dreams,” examines the concept of memory, a mental faculty that aided the album's entirety.
Through Honesty, NYIKO reminded us of the importance of reflecting on our past. The good, the bad, and how each of these moments could contribute to our growth. But if you need help acknowledging that, turn this record on, dance, take a moment, and remember there’s still time to evolve.