NYIKO’s “Sugar” Delivers a Dangerous Rush - 19 September 2025

NYIKO releases his new single and music video “Sugar” on September 19th via Trailing Twelve.

NYIKO, the Los Angeles–based singer, songwriter, and producer known for his sophisticated blend of synth-pop, post-punk, and darkwave, releases his latest single “Sugar” on September 19th via Trailing Twelve Records. Recently named one of Galore's 2025 Artists to Watch, NYIKO continues his streak of emotionally charged, genre-blurring work. “Sugar” dives into the raw, complex terrain of impulsive lust, toxic intimacy, and transactional relationships - wrapped in pulsating synths, angular guitars, and muscular bass, with a dark emotional undercurrent. Lyrically, it cuts straight to the core of that tension: “You take the call late at night / You don’t need to ask if it’s alright.” Each line teeters between seduction and surrender, exploring the kind of connection that’s fueled by desire but hollowed by emotional detachment.

“To me, ‘Sugar’ is about temptation and control. It’s what happens when lust overrides logic - when something looks sweet on the surface but rots you from the inside,” NYIKO explains. Entirely written and produced by NYIKO, the track lives in that tension: seductive and glossy on its face, but threaded with emotional disquiet. It was mixed by Jynjo and mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sound.

The accompanying music video - shot by Peter Donaghy (aka DONSLENS), edited by Erik Saevi, and starring Valentina Vixen - visually mirrors the song’s themes. It follows two people locked in a psychological spiral of craving and rejection, orbiting each other without ever fully connecting. Hyper-stylized and seductive, the video’s imagery conceals emotional vacancy, culminating in a final shot of chewed gum and discarded wrappers - a metaphor for fleeting pleasure and emotional residue.

“I designed the custom Sugar bubble gum packs myself,” NYIKO shares. “I based the look on classic 5-stick gum packs, not realizing they’re basically out of production now. I mocked everything up in Photoshop, printed at FedEx, and ended up scouring LA until I finally found some at a specialty candy store at The Grove.”

Spanning over a decade, NYIKO’s career includes his critically praised album Honesty (2021), as well as multiple EPs and singles through his label, Trailing Twelve. His music has appeared in Hulu’s Love, Victor, Peacock’s Apples Never Fall, and the video game Saints Row. With acclaim from Galore, Under The Radar, and Atwood Magazine, NYIKO continues to carve a distinct lane for nostalgic, emotionally intelligent synth-pop rooted in mental health, identity, and modern love.

“Sugar” is out September 19th, 2025 on Digital Formats via Trailing Twelve.

SONG
Written, Produced, and Performed by NYIKO
Mixed by Jynjo
Mastered by Joe LaPorta at Sterling Sound

MUSIC VIDEO
Directed by NYIKO
Cinematography by Peter Donaghy
Edited by Erik Saevi
Starring Valentina Vixen

Press Contact: info@trailingtwelve.com

TTRS034
© & ℗ 2025 Trailing Twelve Records. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Copying, Reproduction, Hiring, Lending, Public Performance, And Broadcasting Strictly Prohibited.

Release Date: 19 September 2025
Release Title: “Sugar”
Artist: NYIKO

Socials: instagram / tiktok / youtube / facebook / twitter

BIO

NYIKO (“nee-koh”) is a Los Angeles–based singer, songwriter, producer, label owner, and visual artist whose work blends synth-pop, post-punk, and new wave with emotional depth and sophistication. Raised in a small town in New Hampshire surrounded by nature and community, his musical journey began digging through dollar-bin records in high school and took shape as a college radio DJ in Vermont.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2015, NYIKO has focused on crafting polished yet raw music that explores themes like mental health, self-love, dating, and identity. His accessible pop carries meaningful messages wrapped in nostalgic and spellbinding sounds.

With coverage from MTV News, Galore, Popdust, KCRW, Atwood, Under The Radar, and more, NYIKO’s work has earned sync placements on Hulu’s Love, Victor, Peacock’s Apples Never Fall, the video game Saints Row, and Chestnut. He’s shared stages with artists like Beach Fossils, Alvvays, Vacationer, and Pure Bathing Culture, solidifying his place in emotionally intelligent indie pop.

PRESS & FEATURES

2025 Artist To Watch via Galore and Sweety High

“NYIKO is a creative powerhouse” - Galore

“Glittering synth passages, pounding percussion, and glamorous pop hooks all mix together with NYIKO’s decadent croon, evoking the best of both ‘80s synth pop and modern indie.” - Under The Radar

"A dazzling debut… NYIKO paints the liminal space between before and after in vivid color. Love is creation, even amid isolation."
— Atwood Magazine