Indonesian singer-songwriter NIKI has returned to Manila to kick off her Buzz Around the World tour.
On Feb. 11, during the first of her three-night stops in the Philippines, the audience saw the 88rising artist take them on a musical journey featuring songs from her latest album and past hits, turning the arena into a space where music, love, and memories intertwine.
Born Nicole Zefanya, the “Lowkey” singer expressed her excitement about returning to the country and thanked her Filipino fans for selling out the shows.
“I’m so, so happy to be back here. Thank you, guys, so much for coming. You sold out the show like instantly. Thank you, so, so much,” she told the crowd.
The 25-year-old artist described her world tour as a musical diary chronicling her experiences across different places.
“They’re calling it ‘Buzz Around the World’ this time, well, because I wrote this album all around the world and now I get to play it all around the world. Tonight, we’re gonna be taking you all around the world with Buzz. You wanna come?” NIKI continued.
NIKI set the tone for the night with “Buzz,” the title track from her latest album, followed by “Colossal Loss” and “Keeping Tabs.” Each song captures elements of the cities she’s visited and the emotions she’s felt.
The Indonesian artist has crafted a career around deeply personal songs about love, longing, and self-exploration, which her listeners can relate to. With “Buzz,” she said she wanted to capture the whirlwind of emotions that come with constantly moving from one place to another.
“It might be a little bit of a wild ride, you know? There might be flames, storms, lightning, thunder … but you can handle it, right? We’re strong girls. We’re gonna have a fun time tonight. Can you feel it?” NIKI stated.
Fans responded with resounding cheers as she performed hits from her previous records, including “Focus,” “urs,” “Autumn,” and “lowkey.”
One of the night’s most emotional moments came during NIKI’s acoustic set, where she reflected on the universal themes of her music.
“I just wanna say that I feel so, so honored to get to do what I love and travel the world. I’ve met so many of you at this point, and I’ve heard your stories whether it’s online or in person,” she said.
During the concert, NIKI explained that songwriting is not just about her own experiences but also about the connections she has formed with fans as she travels the world.
“It has been clear to me that no matter where we are in the world, we all know about love and loss, and joy and pain. Music just makes us feel all that. I can only hope that you hear songs in my music, my lyrics, and make you feel it along too,” the singer added.
She then performed “Did You Like Her In The Morning?”, “Take Care,” and “La La Lost You,” a song she wrote during her time in the United States.
The crowd then became a sea of lights as they lit up the whole arena with flashlights during “Oceans & Engines.” Fans were also treated to an unexpected cover of “Linger” by The Cranberries, which she described as one of her favorite break-up songs.
Closing the night with “High School in Jakarta” and a mashup of “Backburner” and “Take A Chance With Me,” NIKI left Manila fans eager for more as she gears up for her final stop, happening at the Araneta Coliseum on March 1.
“If you felt lost or afraid but you still stepped out into the world and gave it your best shot, I just wanna say I see you and I’m proud of you,” she told the audience before her songs.
BUZZ Around The World Tour is presented by Live Nation Philippines.
