LGBTQ news and entertainment
In this week’s podcast:
• The Equality Act is reintroduced in Congress
• Donald Trump finally fills appointments to the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
• Utah moves towards a more effective hate crimes law
• Openly gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg qualifies for the first Democratic presidential debate
• Ireland’s gay prime minister meets with uber-anti-gay Vice President Mike Pence
• Out recording artist NIKO releases his new EP
All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report
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| NIKO drops new take on the classic hit, “Light My Fire) |
Out singer/songwriter NIKO shares his latest single, an intriguing take on the iconic hit, “Light My Fire.” Originally released by The Doors in 1967, José Feliciano found his own groove with the tune in 1968. “‘Light My Fire‘ is one of my all-time favorite songs,” says NIKO about the classic song. “I wanted to reinterpret it in a modern way, but still be true to the romantic essence of the song, that talks about a deep connection between two people.” Melding a synth-pop sensibility with rich acoustic elements, NIKO brings his muscular vocal powers to bear as the track builds to climax. Billboard Pride contributor Jon ALi raves about the track comparing NIKO’s vocals (“a romantic and sensual vocal delivery”) to a young George Michael. I last featured the Milan-born artist back in October when he released “The One,” which also explored the intensity and exhilaration of sexual attraction. Fusing a European sensibility with a contemporary sound, the handsome Italian brings a sensual touch to pop music as he delves into both universal and personal themes. Based in New York City, NIKO is prepping for the release of his debut EP in 2019. Hit play below or check him out on Spotify here.
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| Milan-born artist NIKO releases his latest track “The One” |
Handsome out artist NIKO drops his latest single, a romantic mid-tempo synth-pop track titled, “The One.”
Fusing a European sensibility with a contemporary sound, NIKO brings a sensual touch to pop music as he explores both universal and personal themes, inspirations and emotions.
NIKO describes the new track as “a romantic, upbeat song inspired by the first moments with someone you’re attracted to.”
Written and recorded on a hot summer afternoon in Los Angeles, NIKO says the song touches on “the frustration of modern dating, and the exhilarating feeling of sexual attraction when meeting someone new.”
Born and raised in Milan, NIKO was naturally drawn to the city’s fashion and nightlife scene at an early age, where his earliest musical endeavors began as creative collaborations with underground DJs as a songwriter and vocalist.
During a stint in London and Manchester, he co-wrote and recorded tracks with several producers, nurtured his passion for music production, and decided to launch his career as a solo artist.
Now based in New York City, NIKO is prepping for the release of his debut EP in 2019.
I previously featured the sexy Italian on The Randy Report when he released his track “2 Hearts.”
“The One“ is currently available on Spotify here. Hit the play button below.
Out artist NIKO premiered his new single, “2 Hearts,” last night on my BlogTalkRadio show, sharing his creative process and how his international background influenced his artistic perspective.
As electronic/synth pop continues it’s rise in popularity around the world, NIKO lands in the sweet spot with “2 HEARTS.” A smooth romantic vibe coupled with a dash of Pet Shop Boys gives the track strong legs to stand on, while sexy electronic textures and a percolating beat lends an urgency to the introspective lyrics.
“We are born with two eyes, two ears, two arms / But I’m wondering why with just one heart / Although I feel the beat, I know it’s incomplete / But looking in your eyes it can synchronize.”
You can listen to NIKO’s “2 HEARTS” on Soundcloud here.
Fusing a European sensibility with an international background, NIKO is an openly gay pop artist who brings a sensual take to Synth Pop, striving for a textural experience through clarity of sound and intensity of voice. From intimacy to escapism, fame to club culture, NIKO showcases a multifaceted persona through his own writing and production as he navigates through different thematics, inspirations and emotions.
Growing up in Milan, NIKO was naturally drawn to the city’s fashion and nightlife scene, where his earliest musical endeavors began as creative collaborations with underground DJs as a songwriter and vocalist. During a stint in London and Manchester where he co-wrote and recorded tracks with Joe Cross, producer of Hurts, he nurtured his passion for music production and decided to launch his career as a solo artist. He later set his sights on New York, which he credits for broadening his cultural perspective, inspiring greater depth in music diversity and where his debut single “2 HEARTS” was recorded.
NIKO describes the new single thusly: “2 HEARTS is a reflection on the human need to connect with ‘another half’. It’s about the moment when you let go of your fears and open yourself to love, embracing your emotions and “synchronizing” to another person’s heartbeat.”
“2 HEARTS” is available on iTunes/Apple Music & Spotify
Follow NIKO on social media here:
– Twitter
– Instagram
– Facebook