NIKI Delivers Buzzworthy Performance in Berkeley
Written by Mary Perez
Graphic by Rebekah Witt
The energy was electric at Berkeley’s Greek Theatre on Thursday, October 3, as fans gathered to attend the Buzz World Tour, a worldwide run to celebrate NIKI’s latest record. Born Nicole Zefanya, the songstress found success with her delicate vocals and incredibly honest lyricism, playing shows and festivals around the world, receiving placements on movie soundtracks, and gartering praise from global superstars, including Taylor Swift. Released in August, the 13-track album celebrates the 25-year-old’s journey through complicated feelings and various relationships, connected through catchy guitar-driven melodies. This is NIKI’s largest headline tour yet, making its way through 41 markets, including two shows in her hometown of Jakarta.
To start the night, Allison Ponthier kicked off the show with a powerful set. Donning a black dress and red shoes, the rising star played several songs from her discography, including a few tracks from her recent EP, Breaking the Fourth Wall. Belting her heart out, fans cheered as the Texas-born singer-songwriter showcased commanding vocals and thought-provoking lyrics, the perfect way to prepare for the rest of the show.
As the time slowly approached for NIKI’s set, fans excitedly sang along to the immaculate preshow playlist, including Chappell Roan’s hit song, “Good Luck, Babe!” and Taylor Swift’s “So High School.” It was clear that everyone was dressed their best, many choosing to follow NIKI’s “Buzz Tour Dress Code” and dress in their best “Garden Party” outfits. The stage was quickly set up, as multiple platforms provided spaces for each NIKI band member to play their respective instruments and showcase their talents.
Finally, the time came, and NIKI took to the stage. As the lights flickered, the chorus to “Buzz” echoed throughout, as silhouettes took their places on stage before the singer-songwriter herself appeared. Screams amplified, phones popped up, and everyone was transported to NIKI’s world. The irresistible bassline of “Too Much of a Good Thing” pulled everyone in, as she playfully flirted with the lyrics. “Sad girls rise,” Zefanya declared before launching into “Backburner,” as two men in my section stood up and laughed at one another’s joke. Winding her way through fan favorites, such as “Focus” and “lowkey,” she masterfully wove through tales of heartache and longing, accompanied by her stellar guitar skills.
Midway through the show, she remarked, “This is a cover of what I think is one of the greatest pop songs of all time,” before performing a rousing rendition of Katy Perry’s “The One That Got Away.” Transitioning into a few more of her more laidback tracks, she took the stage with her acoustic guitar to perform several of her more emotional songs, including “Do You Like Her in the Morning?” Everyone waved their arms in the air, shining their phone lights to the heartbreaking lyrics. Before starting “Keeping Tabs,” NIKI addressed the crowd, “Who’s an Aquarius? God damn! Who’s been involved with an Aquarius? I guess you should say me bc I’m an Aquarius.” The acoustic version of the song amplified her fans’ voices, as orange and green lights shone on the band.
Between songs, Zefanya shared some insights on her latest record and the lessons she learned along the way. “I wrote Buzz sorta about my early 20s,” she reflected. “There are no right answers, and you gotta make it up as you go. I’m mellower these days; is that a sign of progressing mental health? I’m in my healing era nowadays… That's what Buzz is all about. It's that delicate balance of duality, of energy, and anticipation, and electricity, and at the same time, you know, sadness and pain and hurting and all of that. It's always both. It's always two things at one time.” It’s true that the album showcases that duality, and her live show highlights those highs and lows, playing around with various emotions throughout transformational experiences.
The Bay Area holds a special place in her heart, as the Indonesian-born artist noted that she played her first show as NIKI at The Warfield. “I have a special surprise for you! That’s how much I love you,” she commented. “Are we still getting drunk at Rachel’s?” Fans screamed at the reference as she brought out her longtime best friend, “Rachel is my bestest friend. Not only is she about to fucking work this song right now, not only that, she also went to Berkeley. She's a Berkeley alum. I'm gonna keep flexing about her right now. She now is attending Stanford. This bitch is gonna change the world! Anyway, who better for me to ask to sing this song than her? Guys, we went to a silly little international Christian school in Jakarta, and we would lead chapel band together, like little 13, 14, 15-year-old us. And now look at you, dude. We're playing in front of 5,000 people. That's kind of crazy.” With that, the two performed a stunning duet in the live debut of “24,” a standout track about the stories Zefanya had gained ahead of her 25th birthday. Rachel provided an equally gentle touch to the song, blending her voice with NIKI well, as the duo exchanged lyrics about growing older and finding oneself.
“This next song is about good ol’ generational pain,” NIKI mused before her performance of “Heirloom Pain” and “Before.” It was then contrasted by the powerful and lively “Nothing Can,” complete with NIKI absolutely shredding on guitar. “Paths” provided a perfect ending before the encore, leaving fans with an honest profession, ‘I'm sorry we got lost/I hope our paths cross again.’
Shedding her shoes for the encore, “High School in Jakarta” kept the energy up at the end of a long set, as NIKI danced around the stage to the hit single from her 2022 record, even kicking at the peak of the chorus. Her friends and family joined her at the end of the song, singing along to her ode to life in Jakarta and dancing together. Laughing while searching for her shoes as the song ended, she noted, “Not gonna lie, this is kinda a vibe! I should start singing fucking barefoot.”
NIKI never failed to honor each member of her team throughout the show, thanking them for their help and even leading a birthday song for her bassist, Edison. As her team kept the show running smoothly, she continued to ask the crowd to cheer for them, which eventually led to chants for her guitar tech, Jerry, and her photographer, Nat, at various points of the night.
As the show neared its end, NIKI kept the crowd captivated, as aquamarine tones washed over the stage to signal the start of “Tsunami,” one of the lead singles from Buzz. Fans swayed along to the lovesick track, screaming along to the honest confession about falling in love. The lights began to flash again, and the title track of her latest album signaled the end of the show. With her electric guitar in hand, she led the crowd in singing to the transformative experience of falling in love, as her loyal fans yelled the lyrics “The first line of a fucking best seller” and “Bro, if you like her, just go and fucking tell her.” Each last note was entrancing, and the crowd roared as their team took a final bow.
Time and time again, NIKI proves herself to be a fantastic performer, and this Berkeley show was one to remember. When I first heard Buzz, I was excited to see how it translated live, and I think NIKI found the perfect balance between some of her poppier tracks and her acoustic songs. The surprises were a great way to celebrate the memories she’s had over the years, including special shoutouts to UC Berkeley and her longtime fans. If you have the chance to see her live on this tour, I would recommend it—this run will be solidified as a memorable part of her journey.
