“I feel like people have different ears to me now. I’m getting loads of new listeners and it feels like a different perspective. It’s enjoyable. It’s fun and reflects well…”
Get acquainted: since blasting into the pop cultural psyche in 2019 with a string of viral eye-openers such as ‘Mary Berry’ and ‘Who’s That What’s That?’, Niko B (real name Tom Austin) has unwittingly become an unofficial megaphone for Gen Z. His observations, reflections and experiences, his attitude and passion for creation and his hunger for fun casually documenting these turbulent metamodernist times have attracted a community of kindred left-of-centre witty spirits. Just as Mike Skinner did for those who came before, and Bowie did for their parents before them, Niko represents the times with acerbic social clarity and memeified surrealist quips.
“I feel like people have different ears to me now. I’m getting loads of new listeners and it feels like a different perspective. It’s enjoyable. It’s fun and reflects well…”
Get acquainted: since blasting into the pop cultural psyche in 2019 with a string of viral eye-openers such as ‘Mary Berry’ and ‘Who’s That What’s That?’, Niko B (real name Tom Austin) has unwittingly become an unofficial megaphone for Gen Z. His observations, reflections and experiences, his attitude and passion for creation and his hunger for fun casually documenting these turbulent metamodernist times have attracted a community of kindred left-of-centre witty spirits. Just as Mike Skinner did for those who came before, and Bowie did for their parents before them, Niko represents the times with acerbic social clarity and memeified surrealist quips.
“All the things I find cool or weird or observe and stick out to me. It could be so simple… Other people live through those exact things and when they hear them in a song they resonate with it.”
Milton Keynes-born, London-based, worldly-wise, a pioneer with pie and beers; Niko takes influence and inspiration from all corners and quarters. From gaming to ganja, fashion to passion, longing-out to pranging-out, there’s a familiar warmth and knowingness that resonates hard with his growing fanbase who he speaks to directly via his social media output. From skits to songs to streetwear; everything is a drop and no creative endeavour is off the table.
When I started people didn’t quite get it. Like whether I’m being serious or not. Or if they like the songs or don’t. I feel like people get me more now. I’m having a lot of fun and just trying to make good shit. I’m not fussed about making things super perfect, or trying to please people. It’s just whatever my brain wants to make I’ll give it the best I can and people can enjoy it.
It’s a sense of fun you can feel on his latest single ‘Why’s This Dealer?’ Another great story that charms and disarms with an all-knowing wink, it’s his first new song to be revealed since his aforementioned debut album. Released May 2024, ‘dog eat dog food world’ was acclaimed by the likes of DAZED, The Face and GQ, hit number two in the independent charts and galvanized his signature and style. Created with bedroom beatmakers he’d found on his own deep digging YouTube trawls and featuring key singles ‘Trespass coat’ and ‘it's not litter if you bin it’ (both of which hitting millions of streams within weeks of release) for Niko the most important part of the album was building of body of work that could be performed live.
“I didn’t perform much before because I didn’t have enough music out. I had a random bunch of singles. Now I’ve got a proper body of work hopefully the start of next year we’ll be looking at that. Maybe festivals…”
Anyone lucky enough to have a ticket for his sell-out show at Lafayette London will tell you; Niko’s live debut marked the start of a very exciting new chapter. Complete with cameos from friends Pink Pantheress and KIRBS, it was a hugely successful showcase that has since led to a number of live explorations including a series of pop-ups and a surprise appearance at Reading Festival warming up for his magician mate. Like he already told you… He’s going with the flow. But where it flows next is another question altogether.
“The album was creating this nice world and showing a bit more emotional sides and naivety. But right now, we’re back to having fun…”
Back to the spontaneity, back to creating purely for the love of creating, back to speaking to, and on behalf of, a new wave of creative collaborators who have chosen to leave their egos at the door and get stuck in out of pure love. Open minds, open hearts, open eyes. The flow is getting faster.
