Artist Spotlight: Nikhil Beats

Shot by @jazminleaamour

Artists like Nikhil Beats are rare. With his innate sense for music and introspection, the artist operates by his own standards. Expertly manipulating his craft; the singer-songwriter transports his listeners to curated experiences with his music, as he moves outside the barriers of genre, instead placing his trajectory on channeling emotion through his distinctly fresh sound.

A self-taught producer, the artist has already made his mark on the London music scene, classing the artist as one to watch in his ascension. Seeing collaborations with Finn Foxell, Bawo, Danny Sanchez, and KeepVibesNear to name a few, the artist maintains his prosperous momentum in anticipation of the release of his next project and first headline gig set for later this year. 

From before his standout 3000 Realms and beyond, the London-based artist in his approach is all-encompassing as we take a moment to discuss his journey. Effortlessly channeling his life into his music, we speak on purpose, reflection, and inspiration, all notions the artist grasps tightly as he manoeuvres his work. Casting aside the distractions and ignoring the fluff, the artist focuses on his core values, discussing his primary influences, allowing us a glimpse into where his seemingly endless skill to create his infectious sound originates. 

Your music is very fresh and distinct. How do you flesh out your sound?

You know it's interesting. I get that a lot. And a big part of my becoming a musician was how to be unique and do my own thing, but the reality is it’s a very philosophical answer. It’s not about the technicality of making music. I make music based on my experiences, and that’s very personal and unique to me. So no one else can ever do what I do, likewise, where I can never do what someone else does. So I think as long as I’m making good decisions in my life, I think it reflects in my work.

You can’t think about it if I'm being honest. But if I wanted to take it from a practical perspective, I split it up into 2 things - there's one aspect of mastering my tool, which might be spending hours trying to become the best producer, singer, instrumentalist, or writer; just perfecting those crafts and then for me the other side is making sure I don't have any emotional blocks. I need to be able to reflect and do my therapy, whatever that may be to allow myself to be emotionally vulnerable, so when I’m creating these two things can just really come together without me having to think. For me music is communication and if you can tap into what it is at the core of you being a human, then you can’t connect with other humans.

How do you define yourself as an artist?

If I’m being honest I don't know what that means. In some ways, there’s not really much differentiation between how I am as an artist and me as a person. For me, the way I live my life and my music go hand in hand. So as a person I’m quite self-reflective, a little philosophical, but I also like to have fun, and I think all those aspects of myself do come across in my work. You can shake your leg at my shows, but then you can maybe learn a lot about your life haha.

What do you think are some of your greatest influences when producing?

Probably conversations with people. That’s probably one of the biggest things. Honestly, it can be anything. That could be other music, even just a general ‘feeling’ in life, or any of my emotions. I’m an emotional person, and I think I'm triggered by them a lot. But it forces me to create. I think it’s just living life really. In my teenage years, I think a lot of my emotions would come out through my music. I listen back to some of the songs from when I was younger and I’m like who hurt you like that!? But now it’s very different, where I didn't communicate at all, as I’ve gotten older; there’s a sense of emotional maturity. Even in my new project, where I can still talk about the same things but from a higher understanding. 

Your recent collaboration with Meron T was infectious and almost like it was specially created. Is that intentional? Do you create a song with an artist already in mind?

I think with that track, I just loved the beat and I knew I really wanted to use it. I did have a couple of people in mind and then I think Meron just kind of popped into my environment and I dropped her a DM, and it was just really natural. I think when you try and force things you can feel when it’s not working. But if I'm honest, I don't tend to make beats outside of sessions. So I don't really make something and then think about the person. I tend to be in the room with that person to create with them for us. I’m not a beatmaker, I don’t just make a beat for anyone to jump on. I create based on the feeling and connection in the room. So because I create in sessions, the style and beat I’m making, I could never make with anyone else.

Do you have a dream collaboration? Dead or Alive?

I mean there are so many people I’d love to work with. But could you imagine what it would be like to work with Michal Jackson? Controversy to the side for a moment -  I think musically he was a genius. For a lot of his songs, he would use an 8-track recorder and basically record the whole song - come up with the baseline, the harmonies, and cords, then do his top-line melody and adlibs and just stack it all up, to where all the producers would have to do is arrange it and add instrumental. Just a profound understanding of his voice as an instrument. There are loads of incredible people, I would love to be in the studio with someone like Kendrick Lamar, but I think that's an obvious one.

Where does your drive to create come from? 

I don't know what my purpose is but I’ll work it out. And it’s not to say there is this big mission in life but for me, if your goal is to become the best or richest, that’s great but then what? As much as a part of me wants that, I know it’s not deep enough. I haven’t quite worked out what it is I want to do yet, but I feel like it’s gonna be big and I think that’s where my drive is at. I enjoy being happy and I enjoy making others happy so that’s where I am at this moment.

My family is Buddhist and I think Buddhism has a big part in shaping that in me. I love feeling good - and it’s not saying Buddhism is about feeling good all the time because suffering is just a part of life, but happiness from a Buddhist perspective is almost like an indestructible state of mind, it’s like regardless of what’s going on you'll be good. It’s also about the people around you. It's not always about you and the only way to maintain this is to be quite disciplined throughout my day. But it takes a bit of courage.

With how the music scene has exploded, there are so many artists and different sounds, what do you feel about the music space right now?

I think it’s changed massively with platforms like TikTok. For example, an artist like PinkPanthress, a few years ago would have heavily remained in the alternative-underground scene. But now, that whole aesthetic because of TikTok and that generation, it’s like that has now become the mainstream - which is nothing new, it’s happened with Hip-hop, punk, jazz, so in some ways, nothing has changed it just looks different.

Listening to your earlier work, I can totally feel the development of your sound and it really feels like you’ve hit a natural flow, where do you see yourself headed with your artistry?

I don’t think I can pinpoint it to a specific thing, but in life, I hope I continue growing and learning. I think it’s hard to remain youthful so I keep it with that. And I think what I mean when I say that is just, that spirit of still wanting to learn or never giving up, you know.

Can you tell us about any projects you’re working on?

I’ve got my next EP, it’s a sick project. I’d say its probably my best work to date, naturally or I wouldn’t be putting it out! but, I’m really proud of it and really excited to share it. Part of me is in a place where I couldn't care less if people like it, you know I like it.

What’s your go-to track at the moment? 

One song I’m really loving at the moment is Savior by Kendrick Lamar. But you know what, I know this sounds really bad but it’s a bad time, especially with the EP, because I go through phases where I don't really listen to music. I know it's weird, maybe it’s because I work with music and I’ve been so focused on my project. I love the music that I'm listening to ha! I’m always listening and making tweaks.