Slip into a blissful R&B haze with Nikhita’s new single “Lake Karachay”

For those who find solace in the smooth, emotional beats of R&B, rising Edinburgh-based creative Nikhita might be for you. Meshing tender lyrics with silky instrumention, her music feels like a warm embrace. These consciously crafted tracks are just as surprising as they are satisfying, given she only has a few singles out thus far. But that’s about to change. Nikhita’s highly-anticipated debut EP Solace is set for release on April 4th, and the first single off the project, “Lake Karachay”, is out now; a comforting, cerebral listen that foreshadows what’s to come.

In "Lake Karachay", Nikhita’s gentle vocal line floats above a silky guitar melody, like clouds over an illustrious cityscape. She sings of heartache as bass and synth swoop in to meet her, the sound effortlessly melting together. Layered harmonies echo across the production as it sashays between moments of minimalism and intense texture. Soft, humble, and sweet, the inspiration for this track comes from an unlikely place. “It was inspired by the most toxic lake in the world,” Nikhita explains.

“The lake in Russia was used as a nuclear dumping ground in the 1950s, and later covered up with concrete to avoid further pollution. Whilst I was writing, I had surrounded myself with a lot of toxic people. Hearing the story of the lake one day, I sympathised with this body of water, feeling used, and like an emotionally polluted dumping ground.”

She continues, “I chose to make this the opening track of the EP because to me, it’s an almost comical foresight for some following songs on the project- like a ‘don’t get yourself into these situations!’ warning from an older me.”

All-in-all “Lake Karachay” is a refreshing R&B haze with experimental edges. Drifting off peacefully with the sound of a shimmering synth, Nikhita gently floats away at the end of the track, into the heavenly realm from whence she came, leaving listeners clamouring for more.