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.
Biography
Walters grew up in Auckland. Of Māori descent, he has whakapapa to the Northland tribes of Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa and Ngāpuhi. He learnt guitar socially from family members, never receiving formal lessons, and learnt to produce songs using a pirated copy of audio software FruityLoops. In high school, Walters took part in kapa haka and Samoan cultural groups.
He first considered pursuing music while on an OE (working holiday) in London. While there, Walters spent a week writing and recording a mixtape, which gained traction on SoundCloud. On returning to New Zealand, he signed with Universal Music New Zealand in early 2019.
Walters released his first singles, "Moving On" and "Together" in mid-2019, and toured New Zealand as an opening act for Stan Walker. In 2020, Walters was an opening act for New Zealand band Six60's performance at Western Springs Stadium, and later that year released his debut album Escape. 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. In 2021, the song was re-released as a single, in a remixed version featuring American singer Kiana Ledé. Walters opened for Six60 a second time in 2021, to their Eden Park performance in front of a crowd of 50,000 people.
In 2022, Walters released his second album White Flag Waves.
Personal life
Walters' older brother is the frontman of New Zealand band Six60, Matiu Walters.
Discography Studio albums Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications NZArtistPeak positions for Niko Walters's albums on the NZ domestic top 20 chart: For Escape: For White Flag Waves: Escape Released: 20 November 2020 Label: Universal Music New Zealand, Ricochet Records Format: LP, digital download, streaming 11 RMNZ: Platinum White Flag Waves Released: 18 March 2022 Label: Universal, Ricochet Records Format: Digital download, streaming 18
Singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album NZ NZArtistPeak positions for Niko Walters' singles on the NZ artist singles chart: For "Not My Neighbour": For "Vicious Love": "Moving On"2019 — — rowspan="4" "Together" — — "Wishing Well" — — "Closely" — — "Escape"2020 — —Escape "Not My Neighbour" 4 2 RMNZ: 2× Platinum "Close My Eyes" — — "Vicious Love"2021 — 18White Flag Waves "Soul Food" — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
Promotional singles
Title Year Peak chart positions Album NZHot NZArtistHotPeak positions for Niko Walters' songs on the NZ artist hot singles chart: For "Sinner": For "Old with Me": For "Aroha Kaitangata": For "Your Way": For "Coast Girl": For "Stay the Same": "Heroine" 2019 — — "Sinner" 2020 — 14 Escape "Old with Me" — 20 "Aroha Kaitangata" 2021 — 19 "Your Way" 2022 — 13White Flag Waves "Coast Girl" — 14 "Circus" — — "Stay the Same" 23 3 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
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