NIKITA BASSI – EP REVIEW


Nikita Bassi – Satin EP 
Nikita Bassi - Satin EP

Release Date: 19th September 2019

A debut EP is a big hurdle in the lifecycle of a new artist, one that shouldn’t be approached without due diligence and a hint of caution. London based artist Nikita Bassi has, thankfully, taken a huge amount of care with this release and it’s a delight to behold so let’s dive in, shall we? The ‘Satin’ EP opens with the title track and it comes replete with vinyl crackle as the gentle keys and Bassi’s absurdly beautiful vocal welcome us into her world. This is an opening track that blurs the lines between sleep and the waking world until the beat drops and the sun just pours in through the linen curtains and the steel drums make a tropical arrival on the scene.

Up next is ‘Rescue’ which has a darker tone oozing out from the organs but Bassi’s vocal brings the light as the Tabla scatter in the shadows before an expertly crafted alt-pop track emerges with an off-beat to die for. ‘Oh Lover’ is a gentle, heartbroken ballad that blends numerous styles to create the kind of unique and refreshing sound the Adele gave up searching for a long time ago. The influences of the likes of Nitin Sawhney, Lana Del Rey, Kimbra and Sia are there for all to hear but Bassi has a sound that is so beautifully her own that it is hard not to fall in love with her voice during the course of this release.

There’s a Beverly Craven vibe to the piano-lead ballad ‘New Love’ which makes you want to curl up under a soft blanket or go on autumnal walks but, as always, Bassi keeps it fresh with laid-back beat and some unusual instrumentation. The EP closes out with ‘Golden’, a track full of impish vocals and plucked strings which creates a magical world of dappled sunlight, delicate reflections and warm breezes. I say this without any hesitation, Nikita Bassi has all the ingredients to be both a commercially successful performer and a critically acclaimed artist and I’m basing that opinion wholly on this debut EP. Like I said, it’s an important hurdle.