RIIKI REID Ignites A New Era With ‘DRENCH’
Source: Warner Music
With her long-awaited new EP Drench set for release this October, Aotearoa alt-pop artist RIIKI REID is stepping into what feels like her most defining era yet. After years of experimenting with different sounds, testing the waters between dance, alternative rock, and dreamy pop textures, she’s finally arrived at a body of work that she believes captures who she truly is.
“I’m excited, I’m nervous, but mostly I’m proud,” she says with a smile. “This is the largest project I’ve put out so far and it feels the most genuine and honest to who I am. I’ve always loved so many different sonic worlds, but I struggled to bring them all together. With Drench, I finally feel like I’ve cracked the code.” For her, that code sounds like the “musical love child” of The Cure, Suki Waterhouse, and Dua Lipa. Balancing nostalgia, dance-floor energy, and a glimpse of shimmering pop.
The EP began to take shape in March last year with the track What If, written during a session with Shungudzo Kuyimba and Josh Fountain. RIIKI describes the day as “creative therapy,” a breakthrough that gave her clarity about where she wanted to go musically. “It’s crazy how you can be searching for years and then suddenly, in one moment, it all makes sense. That session was the spark, and from there the whole project just rolled into place so quickly.” By October, the rest of the songs followed, each carrying a sense of joy, curiosity, and bittersweet nostalgia.
RIIKI has learned to draw inspiration directly from her life. For her, writing music has become inseparable from living fully. “I realised the best way to create authentically was just to live. To travel, to put myself in new situations, to stay curious,” she says. At a time when she felt stuck in New Zealand while many of her friends were overseas chasing opportunities, she wrote songs that captured both longing and determination. “I needed to write myself into my own situation. And then those songs inspired me to actually go and live them.” Soon after, she embarked on a month-long trip through Europe, experiences that added richness and perspective to her music.
Looking back over the past year, it’s not only the big milestones that stand out, but also the small, grounding moments. Studio sessions have become some of her most treasured memories. “I’ve finally found collaborators who feel like true friends, people I can keep creating with,” she reflects. “That’s new for me, and it’s been one of the best parts of this journey.” Alongside the music, she’s also had exciting experiences like being the face of a Maybelline campaign, further cementing her presence as an artist to watch.
As Drench prepares to make its way into the world, RIIKI is most excited to share it in a live setting. She envisions the songs soundtracking long summer nights, perhaps even performed somewhere vast and dreamlike. More than anything, though, she hopes the EP connects on a deeply human level. “At the end of the day, I just want people to feel joy. That’s the intention behind everything I’ve written. If it leaves someone feeling a little lighter, then I’ve done what I set out to do.”
You can listen to Drench on all streaming platforms here today!