MOONCHILD / NIKI / September 10, 2020
- Joshua Yoo
- Sep 22, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 28, 2020
Although the concept album has been in popular existence for a long time, it’s somewhat rare to see one executed to the level of unity and conciseness that Nicole Zefanya (NIKI) formulates on her debut album. Subverting all stylistic directions from her previous works, NIKI constructs an immersive world centered around her identity and personal experiences, crafting a diverse yet cohesive set of tracks woven together by a beautifully metaphorical story.
Although wholly fictional, the “moonchild” character derives its journey from NIKI’s own from Indonesia to the U.S., as well as her dealings with fame and the music industry. Structurally, the album is divided into three phases of the moon (crescent, half moon, and full moon), and refreshingly, each section legitimately dives deep narratively and tonally into the emotional qualities of each moon phase admirably well. Track to track, NIKI’s impressive versatility is showcased in her ability to string together a multitude of different genres into one cohesive narrative. From amazingly groovy 80s-tinged disco (“Selene”), to mesmerizing trap-infused pop with verses of rap (“Nightcrawlers”), to stunningly moving empowerment piano ballads (“Lose”), she deconstructs the traditional homogenous stylistic tone of an album in favor of, to her, a more genuine type of artistic expression.
As a result, the storyline concept of the album holds a greater sense of depth and intrigue. The ability to relate the instrumentation, lyricism, and mood of each song to its specifically constructed role in the moonchild saga is what allows listeners to become absorbed into the detailed world that NIKI creates, a testament to the shrewdness of the concept album execution, but also a testament to the quality of the songwriting to accurately portray the story in a convincing manner.
If this debut solidifies anything, it’s that NIKI’s artistry is not solidified by any particular genre, but rather is guided by her creatively unrestrained artistic motives, focusing on telling her story and experiences in a way she wants and deserves to tell it in.
Best Track(s): Switchblade, Selene, Plot Twist, Nightcrawlers, Wide Open (Foreword)
Lowlight(s): Drive On
SCORE: 7/10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQLbzyoQlUg
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