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To introduce herself to audiences in 2024, Jamaican/New York R&B artist Nikena wanted something sexy and fun, something people can dance to, vibe with. She wanted, really, a dance party wrapped in a song.

“Hold Me” is mission accomplished. The song is sultry, the video hot, and Nikena’s voice provides the fire.

“Initially, I just wanted an R&B track,” she said. “As I started writing it, I was thinking I want it to be more like meeting someone at the club, having a good time, and being that I’m from the islands, I wanted something with an island feel to it.”

Oh I really like your style
I'm loving your body language
Baby from across the room
Your energy is so magnetic

The intro is soft, dreamy and quick but not fast, building up to speed, and when the beat kicks in the song moves from beach to dancehall.

“I’m influenced by dancehall, and I wanted it to be about just like a fun time at the club, and I wanted it to have a sexy vibe.”

Her party days, her 25-year-old days, she called them, are past, but not very far past.

“I wanted that song to recreate my days of having fun, telling the story of two people checking each other out at the club and ending up having that moment together, because I remember growing up and partying and doing all that stuff.”

Hold me, hold my body, hold me
Hold me like you know me
To the rhythm of your beat

Nikena is an RN working full time in New York, but her dream has always been writing and performing her own music, inspired by R&B and pop legends like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.

In 2019, she began actively working the dream. She first released “Hold Me” late last year. This year she is promoting it, partly because she has a superb video to accompany the track and because, “It is a great song, and it sounds really good in the car.”

Pounding the steering-wheel drum good.

“I think it’s something that people can cruise to, and because it is summertime, I want to promote it and get people to hear it, add it to their playlists, play it at events and, hopefully, it will build traction.”

She wants this song and its video to draw the kind of attention that can kick off a career. She has worked her music alongside the often grueling days that come with being an RN, and she continues to write songs, make music and perform in the tri-state area around New York City.

She writes her own lyrics and creates the melodies, then goes to her producers for the beats and finishing touches. Two more songs are written and done, and more are in various stages of progress. Her goal is at least an EP, maybe an album, this year.

“My songs are coming out really good,” she said. “My goal is to get a sponsor, because I have the ideas, and I have the projects, but it is a lot to do by myself as an independent.”

Her catalogue is small but full of great music, fun lyrics and her extraordinary vocal talent.

Producing the video “took everything, having to do the whole music video and then still writing and having to do promotion and everything.”

“But I’m very proud of the end result.”

The song is sultry, and the video, starring Nikena and friends, cranks up the heat. One long section illustrates a portion of the chorus that showcases her Jamaican roots.

Boy I know you like when me twist up my spine
Oh yeah yeah
Boy I know you like when me twist up my spine
To the rhythm of your beat

She says she gets questions about the meaning of this section. The closest American interpretation is “twerking.” The video could illustrate a dictionary definition.

Connect to Nikena on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

“Hold Me,” YouTube
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