With her soulful and ethereal new single, “Above Trees,” musical artist Nikki Hayes displays a newfound confidence and certainty in her artistic ambition. Showcasing her distinctive voice and depth as an artist and signaling her rise in the entertainment world, “Above Trees” is a singular listening experience that marks a brand new chapter in Nikki Hayes’ career.
Nikki Hayes’ Childhood Origins in Music
From a young age, Chicago-born Nikki Hayes has made a significant mark in the modern R&B scene. Her journey started at Studio One Dance Chicago when she was only six years old and evolved through her acceptance into the iconic Walt Whitman & the Soul Children of Chicago. Over the years, Nikki has worked with Grammy-winning artists and producers, and her covers and singles have earned critical acclaim and industry-wide recognition.
Nikki’s debut solo single, “Chance of Rain,” released in 2016, led to collaborations with prominent figures such as Vic Mensa, Malik Yusef, and Ye Ali. Her eclectic repertoire, including tracks like the award-nominated “Move,” has garnered praise from various media outlets and secured placements in popular TV shows like CW-TV’s All American and ABC-TV’s For Life.
Currently based in Arizona, Nikki continues to captivate audiences with her soulful and dynamic sound. Her latest single, “Above Trees,” is a testament to her artistic growth and unwavering commitment to authenticity.
The Release and Artisty of “Above Trees”
“Above Trees” opens with sparse, acoustic strings that bolster the listener and give the track a sense of spaced-out momentum. After a few bars, Nikki’s voice comes in, and the synchrony and musical juxtaposition of the arrangement and Nikki’s vocally rhythmic scheme create a distinct sensation of floating.
For the rest of the track, listeners find themselves distilled above the trees alongside Nikki’s soothing voice, lending a transcendent and lullaby-esque quality to the single. The song’s lyrics are rooted in Nikki’s open-hearted, earnest distillations of love and adoration.
“It’s a song where I could say everything I’ve wanted to say, and hear everything I’ve wanted to hear. When we give ourselves our love, we learn that every bit of love comes from within—whether for ourselves, another person, or anything else.” The result is a beautiful piece of songwriting that keeps things restrained and intimate and is all the better for it, with the song playing out like a deeply personal emotion bleeding straight from Nikki’s heart onto the record.
The Unabashed Authenticity of “Above Trees”
“Above Trees” is a phenomenal showcase for Nikki’s unique sound, vocal range, and emotional connection with her audience. In an industry where so many artists take advantage of the ease and accessibility with which new recording tools can craft singles that sound like they were made to be arena-filling maximalist bangers, Nikki has crafted something achingly small-scale here.
The intimate production of “Above Trees” allows Nikki’s signature blend of heartfelt lyrics and enchanting vocals to cut through the noise of the modern pop landscape. The song draws immediate comparisons to R&B greats like Beyoncé, Stevie Wonder, and Toni Braxton.
Functioning as a love song to herself, Nikki shared that “Above Trees” is “about remembering what my love feels like—from giving my love to myself to receiving it unconditionally and openly.”
“Above Trees” Is Available Now
“Above Trees” plays like a quietly revolutionary track compared to modern pop music. Nikki Hayes delves deeper into her musical influences and emotionality, encapsulating everything she loves musically and thematically in this beautiful ode to self-care.
Moving forward, “Above Trees” signals a brand-new era for Nikki, in which the accomplished musical artist cuts directly through the industry’s noise to deliver work squarely from her heart and the exact kind of music she wants to make. Listen to “Above Trees” now!
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