Niko Walters

Nikora "Niko" Walters is a New Zealand contemporary soul and R&B musician. Debuting in 2019, Walters is best known for the "Not My Neighbour" (2020), which was certified double platinum and was one of the top singles of 2021 in New Zealand. Walters released his debut album Escape in 2020, followed by White Flag Waves in 2022.

Niko Walters
Birth nameNikora Walters[1]
BornAuckland, New Zealand
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • electric guitar[4]
Years active2019–present
LabelsUniversal Music New Zealand, Ricochet Records
Websitewww.nikowalters.com

Biography

Walters grew up in Auckland.[5] Of Māori descent, he has whakapapa to the Northland tribes of Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi.[1] He learnt guitar socially from family members, never receiving formal lessons,[4] and learnt to produce songs using a pirated copy of audio software FruityLoops.[6] In high school, Walters took part in kapa haka and Samoan cultural groups.[7]

He first considered pursuing music while on an OE (working holiday) in London.[6] While there, Walters spent a week writing and recording a mixtape, which gained traction on SoundCloud.[8] On returning to New Zealand, he signed with Universal Music New Zealand in early 2019.[4]

Walters released his first singles, "Moving On" and "Together" in mid-2019,[2] and toured New Zealand as an opening act for Stan Walker.[9] In 2020, Walters was an opening act for New Zealand band Six60's performance at Western Springs Stadium,[7] and later that year released his debut album Escape.[10] A single from the album, "Not My Neighbour", was a hit in New Zealand, becoming one of the New Zealand top 50 singles of 2021.[11][7] In 2021, the song was re-released as a single, in a remixed version featuring American singer Kiana Ledé.[12] Walters opened for Six60 a second time in 2021, to their Eden Park performance in front of a crowd of 50,000 people.[13]

In 2022, Walters released his second album White Flag Waves.[14]

Personal life

Walters' older brother is the frontman of New Zealand band Six60, Matiu Walters.[4]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details Peak chart positions
NZ
Artist
[15]
Escape 11
White Flag Waves
  • Released: 18 March 2022[17][14]
  • Label: Universal, Ricochet Records
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
 18

Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
NZ
[18]		 NZ
Artist
[19]
"Moving On"[20] 2019 —[upper-alpha 1]—[upper-alpha 2] Non-album singles
"Together"[2] —[upper-alpha 3]—[upper-alpha 4]
"Wishing Well"[25] ——[upper-alpha 5]
"Closely"[9] —[upper-alpha 6]—[upper-alpha 7]
"Escape"[4] 2020 —[upper-alpha 8]—[upper-alpha 9] Escape
"Not My Neighbour"[5][12]
(solo or featuring Kiana Ledé)		 42
"Close My Eyes"[3] ——[upper-alpha 10]
"Vicious Love"[13] 2021 —[upper-alpha 11]18 White Flag Waves
"Soul Food"[34] —[upper-alpha 12]—[upper-alpha 13]
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Promotional singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
NZ
Hot
[37]		 NZ
Artist
Hot
[38]
"Heroine"[9] 2019 —— Non-album single
"Sinner" 2020 —14 Escape
"Old with Me" —20
"Aroha Kaitangata"[1] 2021 —19 Non-album single
"Your Way" 2022 —13 White Flag Waves
"Coast Girl" —14
"Circus" ——
"Stay the Same" 233
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Notes
  1. "Moving On" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 40 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[21]
  2. "Moving On" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 4 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[22]
  3. "Together" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 39 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[23]
  4. "Together" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 8 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[24]
  5. "Wishing Well" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 11 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[26]
  6. "Closely" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 29 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[27]
  7. "Closely" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 6 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[28]
  8. "Escape" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 40 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[29]
  9. "Escape" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 4 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[30]
  10. "Close My Eyes" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 12 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[32]
  11. "Vicious Love" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 5 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[33]
  12. "Soul Food" did not enter the New Zealand top 40 chart, but peaked at number 17 on the Hot 40 Singles Chart.[35]
  13. "Soul Food" did not enter the New Zealand artists' top 20 chart, but peaked at number 1 on the Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart.[36]

References
  1. Holland, Zoe (4 September 2021). "Waiata Anthems: Nikora Walters hopes to push traditional limits with his new track". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  2. "Introducing Niko Walters With His Debut Single 'Together'". New Zealand Music Commission. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  3. "Niko Walters Releases Highly Anticipated Debut Album "Escape"". New Zealand Music Commission. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  4. Thorne, Richard (2020). "Niko Walters: Escape To The Neighbours". NZ Musician. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  5. "Niko Walters dishes up a little bit of funk with his single 'Not My Neighbour'". More FM. 12 November 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  6. Sagar, Megan (2020). "Q&A With Niko Walters: New Single 'Not My Neighbour' And Some Exclusive Album News". UMusic. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  7. Tetlow, Max (8 December 2020). "For Niko Walters, the pressure doesn't change the passion". The Spinoff. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  8. Tyson, Jessica (11 December 2020). "Rising artist releases new music based on overcoming mental health challenges". Te Ao Māori News. Māori Television. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  9. "Niko Walters Releases New Singles 'Closely' and 'Heroine'". New Zealand Music Commission. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  10. McInnes, Laura (19 November 2020). "Niko Walters shares his debut album, Escape". Sniffers. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  11. "END OF YEAR CHARTS 2021". NZ Music Charts. RMNZ. Retrieved 27 January 2022.
  12. Thomson, Zangba (23 April 2021). "Niko Walters releases his "Not My Neighbour" remix single featuring Kiana Ledé". Bong Mines Entertainment. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  13. "Niko Walters - Vicious Love". Mai FM. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  14. Gillespie, Kim (1 April 2022). "10 Questions with singer Niko Walters". Rotorua Daily Post. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  15. Peak positions for Niko Walters's albums on the NZ domestic top 20 chart:
  16. "Escape". iTunes. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  17. "White Flag Waves". iTunes. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  18. "Discography Niko Walters". Recorded Music NZ. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  19. Peak positions for Niko Walters' singles on the NZ artist singles chart:
  20. "Niko Walters - Moving On". Mai FM. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  21. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  22. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  23. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 8 July 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  24. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 24 June 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  25. "Wishing Well - Single". iTunes. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  26. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  27. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 7 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  28. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  29. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  30. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  31. "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  32. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  33. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 October 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  34. Quincy (19 November 2021). "Niko Walters Brings Feel-Good Vibes To The Table In "Soul Food"". Ratings Game Music. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  35. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  36. "Hot 20 NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  37. "Hot 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
  38. Peak positions for Niko Walters' songs on the NZ artist hot singles chart:
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