Nikita, The Wicked
Experiments With Beautifying Darkness In His Newest Single "Lodestar"
By Kenneth Tse
“Lodestar” Cover Art / Click to Listen
San Francisco-based DJ/producer Nikita, the Wicked is defying the future bass and trap genres with his keen use of sampling and experimentation. The artist recently released his newest single “Lodestar”, which is the final track of a trilogy representing his interpretation of granular synthesis. The production technique, famously developed by Nikita’s biggest inspiration Flume, is executed masterfully throughout the set of songs. Granular synthesis is similar to sampling; in simple terms, the process requires taking a tiny segment of an audio sample and multiplying it anywhere from 1 to 1/100th of a millisecond, creating what’s referred to as a grain, and then manipulating it and repeating it. In “Lodestar,” you can hear Nikita’s use of granular synthesis with the vocal chop in the second drop.
“Lodestar” features an overarching dark, experimental vibe that represents his struggles in finding his unique, signature sound within the increasingly saturated music industry. The 1958 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Music to Be Murdered By sample adds to the ominous aura while also complementing the overarching roadblock theme. Nikita remains creative as ever, disclosing a short statement describing his inspiration behind each song within the trilogy’s cover artwork.
As a graduate student studying Clinical Psychology and Mental Health Counseling at Palo Alto University, Nikita’s studies have more than influenced his creative process. While some artists initially found inspiration in solitude endured over the last two years, this quest has become more challenging as a pandemic-influenced lifestyle persists into another year.
“This record is a representation of my quest towards inspiration,” he said. “For the most part, I find myself at the darkest of times while composing these ballads. But within this somber dystopia, a luminous symbol shines in the distance. Let it light up the darkness. Lodestar.”