Niki Black – The Other Man (preview) from Niki Black on Vimeo.
One year ago, singer/songwriter, Niki Black released “Hallelujah,” a beautifully haunting song about losing faith. “Hallelujah” was Black’s follow-up to her highly acclaimed first single, “Not Coming Up.”
Now, the seductive songstress is releasing an alternate version of “Hallelujah,” featuring rising artist, NISHA.
“NISHA is one of a kind,” shares Black. “I shared ‘Hallelujah’ with her when it first came out and, to my divine surprise, she asked if she could cut a verse. There was a part awaiting her, a holy foreshadowing. We had already bonded spiritually at this point, merging our identities and thoughts into one union of understanding – rebels, brown women, souls who know borders but exist without them, intergenerational prototypes – a final connection to seal this was this verse on hallelujah, my favorite song. NISHA enriched the song in the same way she has enriched my life with her talent, artistry and knowledgeable view on reality. Her lyrics speak to the scorned nature of the rebel who also feels holy, the damned angel who thinks that you gave her your wings to fly, the saint and the sinner. She worded her verse so wonderfully and powerfully, it makes me want to take to the streets and scream it as catharsis.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Niki Black is Iranian-American, with an array of influences that represent her mixed heritage. While her father, a Chicago native, introduced her to the blues and American classics, her mother filled the house with Persian cultural influences – from the mystical writings of Rumi to the sounds of Iranian pop legend Googoosh.
Today, Black draws a great deal of inspiration from artists like Lorde, Blood Orange, Years & Years, and Sevdaliza.
“Hallelujah is an ode to giving up a relationship that was designed to keep you powerless,” shares Black. “The beginning of the song includes a soundbite from a mass I experienced in the Duomo in Florence, Italy that I snuck into and recorded on my phone.”
Both “Hallelujah” and Black’s first single, “Not Coming Up” are part of a full album called Lilith, which officially drops in spring of 2020.
“I’m looking at Lilith as a spiritual entity. After dealing with some of the more unfortunate parts of the music business – which led to a feeling of haziness – I am feeling more powerful than ever. I see a great future for the songs on Lilith – I know they will inspire and uplift.”
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