Unapologetically
Myself
By
Niques
I first featured Welsh multi-genre artist Niques, back in
April of 2024 with her single Mate (check the review for more on Niques). Now
she is back with her Debut EP Unapologetically Myself, which was originally
release back at the end of November 2025.
The EP focuses on some of the challenges that Niques has
faced in her life, which is likely to give this one a deep and personal edge.
The production comes from Lupole, Beats By The Boy, DJ Zippy and is noted as
having a more R&B vibe.
Let’s get straight into the EP which is six tracks and kicks
off with Crazy. This one is produced by Lupole and has pulsing beat with
electronic sounds and vocal samples with give this one a sound that you can’t
help but, nod your head too as you listen. There is a definite uplifting vibe
around this one, something which comes from this being an introduction, if you
like, to what Niques has had to deal with in her life. It looks at a life
dealing with CRPS (Complex regional Pain Syndrome), an illness with no cure and
originates in her having to have a club foot fully reconstructed at the age of
only six months old. What you get the feel for here is that someone who has
spent their whole life dealing with chronic pain, builds a certain strength
which comes from that. This is something that few can truly understand unless
you have lived it yourself, something that, I guess you could say is the true
definition of not judging on appearances alone, because you don’t truly know
that person’s story. There is a power in this track, in the lyrics that gives
you that understanding, to a point, if you chose to stop and really listen.
We now move on to Filtered Image, Again produced by
Lupole, this has one has a heavy sound that brings keys to the forefront that
brings a deep sound that seems to touch you deeply inside as you listen. That
deep sound is elevated by the pure emotion which comes through as you listen to
the lyrics. What is clear is that this one may mean something different to each
one of us that listen but, here Niques speaks on the struggles faced growing
up. There is much here about trust issues and presenting yourself to world with
a mask on, something that doesn’t show who you truly are, it protects you from
getting hurt or giving away too much of your true self but, that mask can
present its own challenges, both to yourself and those around you. The title
says a lot to as you consider how so many chose to present a filtered image of
themselves through social media, forgetting that their true self is their
authentic self. It might seem hard to present that to the world but, keeping
that mask on is a lot harder that simply taking it off.
Lupole produces So Wild and this time brings us a
sound that has a heavy sound but, there are a wealth of sounds over this which
bring a more upbeat sound, one that also tweaks at your nerves a little,
keeping your focus honed on what you are hearing. As you listen to this one
there seems to be a juxtaposition between the title and the sound, as the title
and sound seem at odds with each other. Getting into the lyrics is where
everything becomes clearer, there seems to be a focus on mental health here.
The person that everyone sees on the outside, is not always who that person is
on the inside, especially when you have the kept the mask on for so long, and
it begins to slip. These can be some of the darkest times in your life but,
when you finally come through it and see the light on the other side, your true
self comes out and look back on where you have been and where you are going and
new, different version of wild you can come forth and help left you up to the
place where you truly see yourself.
Baby Steps is produced by Beats By The Boy and brings
a more chilled sound, there is still a deep bass sound but, the keys and other
percussion bring this sound that seems to soften the edge and makes you open to
feel more. That emotive edge brings more impact as you listen and understand
that once you come out the other side of all the darkness and the hard times,
it takes those little steps forwards that define your recovery. The more time
you take to walk slowly forward with help you get far stronger that trying too
hard by taking leaps forward. It takes help too, something you should never be
afraid to ask for as you take those tentative steps to a new you, a more
authentic you.
Don’t Do Me Wrong is produced by DJ Zippy, with some
additional production from Lupole. This one has a more soulful edge to it with
the beat being more chilled and with synths that bring the atmospheric vibe to
the track. You get the feeling that this one is a powerful statement of the
just how complex love can be, especially when entering into a new relationship.
This is something most of us can easily relate to, in a number of ways, either
because we have experienced it ourselves or seen others, close to us, go
through similar situations. The track comes from the viewpoint of a woman
looking at a new relationship and issues of trust and, ultimately, commitment,
that come with something new. But there is also the chorus that hits a nerve as
it shows the struggle of someone struggling to be fully open and commit, due to
past hurt and broken trust. Anyone who has been in this situation, on either
side, will know the emotions that come with this and it is likely to hit you
hard if you’re not expecting it.
The EP ends with the Outerlude / Philosophy, once
more produced by Lupole, bringing us a more stripped down sound that is heavy
on synths and keys, before the beat kicks in with a little more strength. This
soulful sound, with its stripped down vibe, brings far more focus to the
vocals, while still giving you enough to move your body to. This is one of
those tracks that you can draw different things from, depending on how you feel
at the time. That philosophy of honesty is one of the things that speaks so deeply
as you listen. Honesty in any part of a relationship with anyone is something
that shows your true character. There is a depth to this track that puts you in
mind of being in a place where two people are being most intimate, perhaps just
lying together and being at one, these are the times when some of your
strongest and most heartfelt things can be said and being honest means that
never a truer words can be said.
One thing is perfectly clear here from the start of this EP,
and that is the fact that when an artist is being so open and honest in
presenting their own personal story, it opens the listener up to connecting and
feeling the emotive content by way of their own emotive feelings, through
shared lived experiences, and that is what makes this EP what it is, an open
and honest portrayal of lived experiences that allows the listener to associate
with, and feel the nature of what is being expressed through the music. Music
is capable of so much and Unapologetically Myself expresses that perfectly.
Niques shows that she has true talent that spans not just
R&B, soul or Rap, she is capable of cross genre expression that will not
keep her focused in just one arena of music. Here she uses both rap and sung
elements to fully express the true emotion of what she has experienced through
life. At times her expression has a raw depth when a specific point is needed
to be shown, while at other times her flow and vocals bring an expression of
her soul that could so easily calm the savage beast. She has such a fantastic
range that you feel there is nothing she could not excel at, should she choose
to focus her talents on that direction. She has everything that makes her excel
as an independent artist in her own right but, she also has the strength to
blow up too, should she decide to go in that direction. It is the strength
gained from a life built on pushing past hurdle after hurdle that has given her
such strength of character and expression.
Let us not forget that the production pays a huge part in
helping to deliver the emotions that are contained in any vocals, and here
Lupole, Zippy and Beats By The Boy do a standout job of bringing sounds that
carry and equal amount of the deep emotive edge, as do the vocals. They deliver
vibes and sounds that keep you moving and enjoying every beat, while bringing
you deeply touching music that you can enjoy as much as can feel.
As Niques debut EP, Unapologetically Myself is a belter that
delivers a solid performance all-round, getting you out your seat and getting
in touch with the true essence of who you are inside. This is one you can
listen to on your own but wouldn’t be out of place in a party or club setting
too.
Unapologetically Myself is out now on all streaming Platforms.
Huge thanks to Niques and the team for letting me bring this
one to you.
Be seeing you,
Steve.
LINKS
Check this link for all the Streaming links you need:
https://linktr.ee/Niques_speaks
Niques Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/niquesspeaks/
https://www.facebook.com/Niquesspeaks
https://niquesspeaks.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@niquesspeaks/featured
VIDEOS
Don't Do Me Wrong (Official Video)
