Niine’s debut EP Yeah Nah is darkly peaceful, but also vibrantly playful as she combines various musical styles and coalesces them into four tightly-structured songs.
The Melbourne singer-songwriter, real name Kristina Behrsin, has been making music since the end of 2016. Her sound isn’t one that can be easily put into words, but can be described along the lines of avant-garde pop with elements of old school funk and electronic, headed by a strong voice.
She may be young, but Niine’s vocals may quickly become a force to be reckoned with.
On Yeah Nah, Niine weaves funk, pop, as well as elements of progressive rock and electronic music seamlessly beneath powerful, commanding vocals.
Call Me Your Boo is a slow burner that Behrsin wrote and originally wanted Beyonce to sing, but alas, she “couldn’t find her email address”. The songwriter also says that the song is a good introduction to her self-described brand of “avant-garde avalanche pop music.”
Nasturtium Dreams is dark but peaceful, and features an unusual rhythmic interplay between the drums and bass. About 90 seconds in, we reach a point where it feels like we’re stuck in time, the bass line glitching and Niine singing “and now I know just how to treat you,” giving the song eerie, unsettling undertones and an intense chorus.
Only He Knows opens with a bright, Flaming Lips-esque synth and also sounds a little anime-inspired, which isn’t surprising considering she had finished the song “after watching the Hayao Miyazaki film Laputa.”
Behrsin further flaunts her vocals in Frick Tim, a sexy slow burner with a jazzy atmosphere heralded by a thick bassline and strong rhythmic interplay with the drums.
You can catch Niine playing her EP live at The Evelyn Hotel on Thursday October 4th. Do yourself a favour and buy a ticket here.
