ATIC Records - Niko

Biography

Niko was born in Seattle. Half Japanese, Spanish, Norwiegen, German and Philipino, her parent’s record collection was as rich as their heritage and from a very young age she became transfixed by music, spending hours at the piano every day, singing in a gospel choir and putting on stage perfomances in her backyard. By the age of 16 she was performing at prestigious Jazz festivals across America with her prize-winning High School band.

After winning a scholarship to attend the New School in NYC, she studied with Jazz legends during the day and soaked up the city at night. She took a job at Knitting Factory Records, won a place at the Thelonious Monk Institute and was regularly gigging in and around New York with her own band. 2001 saw the release of her first original songs on Francois Kerkovan’s Wave Records. 

Age 20 Niko worked as musical supervisor for a PBS film, which she wrote and recorded original music for. Songs from this project made it's way to the UK and she was soon signed to Manchester’s Grand Central Records. After appearing on albums by Mr. scruff and Only Child she released her own debut album, the critically acclaimed 'Life on Earth'.

Following an extensive US tour with Aim and Mark Rae (of Rae and Christian), Niko joined forces with Aim, fronting his live show and touring the UK and Europe with his 10 piece band, selling out venues like Shepherds Bush Empire and Manchester Academy, and smashing festivals like Glastonbury, Wireless and The Electric Picnic.

In 2005, Aim and Niko left Grand Central to form ATIC Records where they continued to work closely together, with Niko contributing vocals and keyboards to Aim’s 'Flight 602' LP.

After years of travelling and performing live, Niko is back in the studio working on her new album, which she’s writing, recording and producing with Aim at his Speed Limit Studios. She’s also been writing new music with fellow ATIC artists, recent collaborations include songs on Gripper's debut album 'A Life of Consummate Ease' and on new signing Crowhead's, 'Born With Teeth' LP.
Expect a brand new Niko album in 2010.