Pool Of Sound - Nikki & The Waves

Nikki & The Waves are Liverpool's breezy funk pop band. With influences ranging from old funk to indie rock and bedroom pop, they're difficult to pin down but easy to listen to. By mixing brass with upbeat guitars and melancholic melodies they manage to create a modern sound that is nostalgic at the same time.
The band formed in late 2017 after front woman Nikki Drenthem Soesman, aka Nikki Milla, born and raised in Amsterdam, moved to Liverpool to study at Liverpool Hope University, where she met the other members. The original plan was to take part in the yearly talent show, but they ended up forming a band. She had met the other members, Tom Want and Jake McNeil, who shared the same passion for music. Jake from Holmes Chapel said, "Nikki scouted me. She asked Monique, our artist friend, if she knew any guitarists and she said that there was a boy in first year who is breaking the decibel levels beneath me." 

Nikki told Bido Lito, " I started playing piano at age 12 but never practised very seriously. I tried writing some songs in my room when I was a moody teenager, but the grassroots scene in Amsterdam, where I am originally from, is basically non-existent. It wasn't until I moved to Liverpool and met lots of other musicians that something clicked in my head with regards to music making." They eventually surfed into the North West indie scene in 2018, with their first self-released album 'Look How Blue The Night Looks'.

During their time playing together they have opened for the likes of 'SOAK', 'The Mysterines', 'Another Sky' and 'Big Joanie'. Their Summer 2020 single 'Shirts' took the band's sound further and helped create a glimmering fusion of pop, dance and brass. Produced by 'The Coral' maestro James Skelly at Parr Street Studios, it saw the band beginning to define their musical style whilst taking their sound to the next level with their most polished release to date. Using a 70s analogue tape machine and a variety of synths and a trombone played by Tom Spencer, added different layers to their ever evolving and maturing, yet recognisable, sound.

 

They teamed up with Liverpool-based Norwegian musician Aaron Spencer in early 2021 to bring the delightful confection that is the single 'Morning Dream'. This is exactly the melodic trance you'd like to wake up to, as a whimsical opening makes way for an upbeat clash of synthy pop beats and smooth, calming harmonies. Behind the dreamy waves, the lyrics describe exactly how it feels to be in love, but in a grounded and very real way. By no means is it your typical love song, as the song describes how we are blinded by desire, with the lyrics painting a picture in such a captivating and relatable way. Lead singer Nikki's distinct European accent in the song mixes sweetly with the new-wave influences of Northern England. The keyboard sits right at home as it should in every dream trance pop, the addition of the sax towards the end brings 'Morning Dream' to a close, as if to let us know we are wide awake again.
Getintothis, 2019 wrote, "Nikki and the Waves show that they can crank it up too, rendering a stripped back offering which is occupied on the right side of what we define as indie rock, backed by a solid rhythm section. It will be interesting to see where this band goes in the future. It’s non - intrusive pop music which warms the soul. Everyone needs a band like this in their lives.'. RGM Magazine also wrote, "Don’t you just love the use of synths, keyboards, drum machines and anything electronically processed? If you don’t, well you should. 'Anywhere' is the latest single and is a sure song to be stuck on your repeat playlist. As simplistic as it may sound the track is layered with pure electronic goodness. 'Anywhere' is a song that can literally be listened anywhere and anyway you feel. It surely will put a smile on that bleak face. So if you want to listen to something else other than the same songs you’ve been listening to on your music platform, don’t waste anymore time and check out 'Nikki and the Waves. Anywhere, any time!"

After appearing for BBC Introducing at the Cavern Club before Christmas, on the 7th of December 2021 they posted, " Such a sweet review of New Sound Generation  on our Cavern Club performance for BBC Radio Merseyside 2 weeks ago.

see also:- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2021/09/pool-of-sound-blurred-sun-band.html