SHOP
EVENTS
GALLERY
ABOUT
NIKO HALEY
November 2023
Photos by: Mya Isabel and@dietcherrylola
Interview: Shifty Gnome
Photos by: Mya Isabel and@dietcherrylola
Interview: Shifty Gnome
I am Niko Haley and I make girly alternative rock! I am based in Seattle. I’ve moved 26 different times, but Seattle is my home.
WHO ARE YOUR MUSIC INSPIRATIONS?
Courtney Love from Hole is one of my biggest inspirations. Her album “Live Through This” means everything to me. I also take inspiration from The Distillers, that dog., Liz Phair, The Breeders, Paramore, and Metric.
WHAT ARE YOUR STYLE INSPIRATIONS?
My aunt Jamey is my biggest style inspiration. She has always been on top of cool alternative fashions and I have been so lucky to have access to her closet whenever she cleans it out. I also am very drawn to the balance of feminine and punk.
WHEN DID YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED TO PERFORM? HOW DID IT COME ABOUT THAT YOU STARTED PERFORMING? WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST PERFORMANCE?
It has always been a dream of mine to be a singer. My nana’s favorite home video is one where I am about five years old watching music videos online and when she asks me what I want to be when I grow up, I reply, “a rockstar”. I’ve been shy most of my life though and always thought of it as a dream that was out of reach. That’s stupid though! The only way to achieve something is to do it. You only fail if you quit. I was in choir from preschool through senior year, so I was able to get some of my fix by performing there, but I knew I wanted to do something of my own. I surrounded myself with music friends, so it felt like a natural next step to push past my anxiety and give performing a try. My first performance was at a house show in Bellingham right before the pandemic hit. I was scared and had no idea what to say in between songs, but it was so fun I knew I was unlocking something within myself that I wanted to keep exploring.