Singer-songwriter Nikitaa has unleashed their powerful new EP, Ascension, onto the airwaves. Containing a collection of 6 empowering tracks that take listeners on the artist’s journey from loneliness and loss to self-discovery and reclamation of their sexuality. A transformative tale told in less than 20 minutes, and what will potentially become a musical highlight from this summer.

So, how does Nikitaa take listeners onto their own transformative journeys through their lyrics and sounds, creating a highly relatable yet deeply personal life soundtrack? Let’s find out.

Starting things off HOT, Nikitaa brings listeners along for a mind-melter in the form of “Godless.” It is a sensationally daring opening piece that challenges the status quo, choosing to step out of the clearly marked lines to shine bright.

Nikitaa’s awe-inspiring vocal range carries the senses to new heights as listeners can expect to lose sight of reality as they’re teleported to the empowering and welcoming godless world being created in their beautiful soundscape.

It’s not always easy to create an R&B masterpiece that also showcases one’s regaining of self-worth and self-power. But, Nikitaa lays it all out and proves it’s better to claim your own love than to leave the reigns in the hands of another person or being. Now, excuse me while I sing, “If you claim to be god/I’d rather be godless,” for the rest of the month.

“Out of body looking down on us,” is the lyric most will resonate with as “Heaven” continues Ascension’s spiritual BootCamp on the senses. Nikitaa continues to paint themselves as the future of the R&B genre while throwing the genre’s traditional senses for a spin, creating a dazzling experience that’s both familiar and brand new.

I loved the writing for “Heaven,” twisting a variety of themes into an out-of-body experience that can be utilized in multiple ways, not once containing itself to the paint-by-numbers expectations of the music industry.

“Heaven” is a decently simplistic tune that has immense charm, and could easily find itself becoming a fan favorite among listeners shooting Nikitaa to the top of artists to watch.

Alongside my love for the studio version, I can only imagine a song like “Heaven” would be explosive within a live setting.

Falling even more under Nikitaa’s hypnotic spell, “Delirious Summer,” paints itself on the surface as your run-of-the-mill light-breeze summer anthem. But, under the burnt SoCal pavement is so much more. Questioning everything is the name of the game when it comes to “Delirious Summer,” as Nikitaa’s airy and low-hummed vocal melodies break the illusions we set for ourselves day in and day out.

“Delirious Summer” is a top song off of Ascension as it showcases the lengths Nikitaa can take with their songwriting, pulling from differing experiences to still create a relatable song that will leave listeners questioning what is real and what’s just that delirious summer vibe.

Paired with the track’s authentic and enticing vocal delivery is a fantastic instrumental set of magnifying beats, setting the sun ablaze as Nikitaa brings the perfect palm tree set dressing to backdrop the lounge-based atmosphere.

Want to feel like a complete badass when you walk into the room? Get “Elevator” playing into your ears ahead of time and start empowering yourself because you’re the showstopper and no one is going to shadow you. At least those were the vibes I picked up when jumping into “Elevator.” The 4th single off of Ascension.

I ultimately had a deep, personal connection with “Elevator,” as the first time I gave it a listen was during a workout and the absolute feeling of “nothing can stop me” was overpowering. Everything from Nikitaa’s fierce and leader-worthy vocals to the track’s jam-packed soundscape kept me high up in my own clouds refusing to come down.

If I’m listening to “Delirious Summer” for those sweet Southern California daydream vibes, I’m blasting “Elevator” in my car with the windows down so everyone knows I’m coming through.

The powerful undertones of “Elevator” are enticing, encouraging, and everything we need in the world right now. So yeah, to feel unstoppable, get this one onto your playlists and feel the electro-pop fuel into your veins.

Keeping up with the uptempo, high-energy antics of “Elevator,” “Throne” ignited the summer of 2023 as Nikitaa’s first taste of things to come as the sexually charged lead single took over becoming its own sex-positive experience.

I don’t know how many times I need to say it, but Nikitaa and their twist on the R&B genre set the stage for a full takeover, as catchy electro-bops like “Throne” will see an artist like Nikitaa sitting upon a whole different throne than the pleasurable one being sung about in highly earworm fashion.

I can’t even count how many times I tapped replay. But, I do know every single lyric like it was the back of my hand. “Throne” is incredibly infectious, and if you’re not keen on giving the entirety of Ascension a play-through (what’s wrong with you?) then at least give this one a listen, and trust me, you’ll be hooked and singing along before the song even comes to an end.

“High” ends things while the stakes are high and completely sticks the landing, bringing Ascension to a beautiful close as Nikitaa changes things up with a more pop-focused affair that is both sensational and tantalizing for the senses. I loved everything about “High,” from the high-energy beats to the bright and straightforward lyrics, it was all pure perfection.

Bookending at an all-time high from where we started with “Godless,” Nikitaa perfectly tells a complete story in 3-parts that will have listeners lost in thought to sporting full smiles as they sing along to Nikitaa’s dazzling high notes. If there’s one song that showcases Nikitaa’s amazing range, it’s this one, and I can’t wait to experience it live.

“High” quickly inserts itself in its own high spot on my list of favorites from Ascension, and I can already tell you that I expect this one to be on my end-of-year playlist as I don’t see myself forgetting about it any time soon.

What Nikitaa manages to accomplish with Ascension is jaw-dropping. Managing to expose oneself to the harsh realities of the past to come through the dark tunnel a stronger and more capable person and artist is inspiring. I had an amazing time with the EP’s 6 tracks and can easily only see an elevator to the stars in Nikitaa’s future as they continue to tighten their skills and continue to prove they are a force to not be toyed with.

No song on Ascension sounds like each other and is simply a display of the personable writing of Nikitaa and those around them. All truth, no filler. That is the quick way to describe this new EP, and it will have me keeping a closer eye on this R&B master in the making.