NYIKO’s “LA On Fire” is a call to action and allegory for fame - (9/24/21)

LA-based NYIKO teams up with U-Tern for “LA On Fire” available September 24th, 2021 on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve Records.

Los Angeles-based crooner, producer, and multi-hyphenate NYIKO teams up with electro-pop producer Vaughn Oliver aka U-Tern (Oliver, Kim Petras, Poppy, Chromeo) to release their effervescent doomsday dance-along “LA On Fire,” set for digital release on September 24th through Trailing Twelve Records. At the heels of NYIKO’s colorful 2021 full-length album Honesty, “LA On Fire '' artfully juxtaposes the metaphorical flares of opportunity with specters of environmental conflagration, a duality best experienced chasing your dreams in The City of Angels. 

NYIKO’s songwriting strikes a balance between depictions of stark narratives and underlying symbolism. Throughout their discography, real-life experiences, successes, regrets, and desires inform thoughtful calls to action all under the guise of DJ-ready glittering indie-pop productions. The genesis of “LA On Fire” is no different, finding conceptual inspiration on a late-afternoon drive down the infamous 5 freeway to U-Tern’s Burbank studio.

“I had the idea on the way over to Vaughn’s (U-Tern). I was driving on the highway and had the vision of flames overtaking the East LA hillsides.”

The thoughts of temperatures rising in LA, a city both known for its high-aspiration residents and insulation from much of California’s increasingly violent fires, inspired parallels between the intense pressures of finding professional success and overwhelming natural disaster.

“There was a solid week when the sky in LA was a surreal orange and the air quality was hazardous. In that space, we decided to explore the potential impact of a wildfire ripping through the city. It’s a terrifying thought, but like any disaster movie, it’s ripe with visuals and metaphor. In the abstract, the fire can be interpreted as the pressures of trying to “make it” - the all-too-common dream of becoming a celebrity that people have when they move to LA. A spark, or opportunity, can ignite the path for success, but on the flip-side, people can become consumed by that dream to the point where they’re creatively and professionally burnt out.”

Sonically, “LA On Fire '' sheds the weight of its lyrics through U-Tern's high-flying vibrant synth work and fluttering rhythmic arpeggiations. Thunderous snare drums, claps, and kicks are met with hues of purple melodies, all of which are beautifully interwoven with NYIKO’s Morrissey-like vocal delivery. Or, simply put by U-Tern: 

“I thought it would be cool to produce it like 'Car Crash Set'.”

Whether for deep, rhapsodic lyrical illustration or prismatic retro-tinged cosmetic instrumentation, “LA On Fire” strikes a multi-dimensional chord. In its totality, NYIKO’s latest single is a love letter to LA, an appeal to combat climate change, and a caveat of overwhelming ego:

“ The call to action is two-fold. At its face, and while the future of our environment is bleak, we ultimately still have the power to manage and reverse some of the effects of climate change. The second call to action is to shed light on America’s obsession with fame. For many folks, especially in LA, it’s become an addiction. You can go “viral” overnight and once you get a taste of that, it’s hard to stop chasing it.”

NYIKO’s new single “LA On Fire,” produced by U-Tern, will be made available on digital formats worldwide on September 24th through Trailing Twelve Records. 

Written and Produced by Vaughn Oliver (ASCAP) & NYIKO (ASCAP)
Performed by NYIKO
Mixed by Vaughn Oliver
Mastered by Steve Kitch
Artwork by Nyiko Beguin

Photos by Niles Gregory

© & ℗ 2021 Trailing Twelve Records. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Copying, Reproduction, Hiring, Lending, Public Performance, And Broadcasting Strictly Prohibited.

NYIKO - LA On Fire
TTRS-049
Releases 24 September 2021
Length: 04:13

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BIO

NYIKO
NYIKO (“nee-koh”) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, label owner, and visual artist based out of Los Angeles, California. Over the past decade, he has released synth-pop, new wave, and hip-hop projects with Disney, Sony/ATV, Heard Well, Trailing Twelve, and more. 

With coverage including MTV News, Popdust, Atwood Magazine, Grimy Goods, and AV Club, NYIKO’s music has been described as sophisticated, nostalgic, and spellbinding. Tackling themes of mental health, self-love, online dating, and gender identity, NYIKO crafts accessible pop with a meaningful message. Their music has been featured on Spotify's official playlists including Indie Shuffle, Fresh Finds: Rock, Verso Casa, and more.

NYIKO has performed alongside artists including Beach Fossils, Alvvays, Vacationer, Pure Bathing Culture, and more.

Vaughn Oliver/U-Tern
Vaughn Richard Oliver, also known as U-Tern, is an American songwriter and producer, previously half of production and DJ duo “Oliver”. Besides his work with OLIVER, he has written and produced for artists such as Yelle, Kim Petras, and Poppy.