Advertorial feature Introducing… Niki Kini
Late last year, global music platform Music Gateway launched their inaugural Breakout Artist Programme. Now - after whittling 600 applicants down to one - they’ve named its winner: get to know the effervescent Londoner who came out top now.
Being an independent artist is never exactly smooth sailing, and sometimes, a little extra support wouldn’t go amiss, which is exactly why, last year, Music Gateway - a global music industry platform built specifically to empower the independent music community - launched the very first edition of their Breakout Artist Programme. Designed to spotlight emerging acts from the UK and Ireland, the initiative offers mentoring, funding and bespoke industry opportunities to help artists reach the next stage of their career without having to compromise on their creativity.
Unsurprisingly, the inaugural edition of the Breakout Artist Programme attracted well over 600 applicants, who were whittled down to one stand-out act by an incredible panel of judges - including industry pros from Billboard UK, Amazon Music, SXSW London and beyond. The winner? 23 year old Londoner Niki Kini, whose effervescent take on pop is as addictive and witty as her social media presence. Get to know her a little better now…
Hello Niki! You’ve been making music for the better part of eight years now, but it really feels as though last year was a special time for you; how did it feel for you?
This last year has genuinely just been a dream come true and it’s moments like playing Reading & Leeds festivals and becoming Music Gateway’s Breakout Artist for 2026 that makes it feel so worthwhile. To be seen is a beautiful thing.
What exactly is it that inspires you to make music?
For me, music is the best kind of outlet I have. Most people go to therapy. Not for me; I use my producer as my therapist, and I write songs about whatever’s going on. I really enjoy that process, so writing lyrics and just getting it out is such a healing process for me. I really do write from my life experiences.
What sort of music did you find yourself listening to when you were younger? Did anyone inspire you in particular?
I grew up in a bicultural environment; both my parents immigrated from India, so they’re the first generation in the UK, so I grew up listening to a lot of traditional Indian music as well as pop radio. I was massively influenced - and still am - by P!nk; Amy Winehouse is another iconic name, and ABBA! We used to play a lot of ABBA in my household.
You’ve mentioned before that you’re very passionate about using your platform because growing up, you didn’t get to see many other Asian women on stages or in music. How important is representation to you?
I think that’s a big mission of mine - not just as an artist, but a woman of colour. I definitely didn’t grow up seeing a lot of people who look like me and to be honest, I didn’t think it was possible to get into the music industry. There’s still a long way to go, but I really like to think that we’re taking a step in the right direction just to create more opportunities and to be seen more. It’s something that I really am very passionate about and I hope it will inspire the younger generation to take the leap. You don’t know if you don’t try.
How did you find out about Music Gateway and what made you apply for their Breakout Artist Programme?
I am a firm believer that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t shoot. For Music Gateway, I actually saw a post about them advertising the Breakout Artist Programme and, while I’ve applied for a few grants over the years, this one felt really exciting. Their judging panel was very impressive, and [applying] was just something that felt very natural. [On social media] I do a lot of kind of vlog style content so that’s how I did my application video, which I think really hit home for the judges and for the Music Gateway team, which was great. From there, it felt like a massive honour to firstly be hand-picked out of over 600 artists down to 15, then obviously down to their final Breakout Artist! It was really, really amazing.
Have you already started to get a sense of how the programme will be able to help further your career?
I have a single [‘God’s Hitlist’] coming out early this month so we’re gearing up towards that, which is really exciting. To have a bit of funding behind the music is just an amazing opportunity. I think that’s somewhere where a lot of independent artists struggle; putting out music and making all the content is expensive and trying to get in front of the right people can be expensive, so to have a team supporting me and helping me open doors is really exciting.
Finally, for any artists who are tempted to apply for the Breakout Artist Programme in the future, what advice would you give them?
I think the most important thing, when you’re trying to put yourself and your artistry in front of anyone, is to let your story be heard. If you’re an artist, there’s a lot of things and obstacles in the way. It’s a lot of effort, a lot of time, a lot of energy, and not everyone is willing to put it all in, so if you are showing up every single day, then you should show that to people. I think really showing a personality and showing my story is definitely something that helped me.
For more information on Music Gateway and their Breakout Artist Programme, head to musicgateway.com/breakout-artist.
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