A Chat with Nikki Ambers (22.10.25)
Nikki Ambers is a name to remember. Her latest single, ‘I Believe’, fuses the infectious energy of Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, and Zara Larsson with her own pop sensibility. A collaboration with producer Lonlioni, the track balances euphoric, radio-ready choruses with subtle R&B textures. Amber’s songwriting prowess, honed through hits with Little Mix, NCT U, and DJ Fresh, shines through in this vibrant, feel-good anthem perfect for playlists and festival stages alike. We chat with the songstress below.
OSR: What inspired you to write ‘I Believe’? And what does the song mean to you personally?
Nikki Ambers: I adore singing in my head voice and had been making a lot of strong songs, which were layered with soft vocals, but I didn’t really have a gentle and sweet song yet. So I sat down and wrote a whole song to sing as gently as I wanted. I wanted the lyrics and melody to be sweet and soft too!
OSR: How was the collaboration with producer Lonlioni, and how did you two bring this track to life?
Nikki Ambers: It’s really interesting, actually. I’ve started producing and experimenting with production in general, and so have dedicated hours to finding producers I like over the internet. I stumbled across this beat and just knew instantly it was gonna be mine. I took it apart a little and sent my creation over, and they loved it. They’ve got a lot of other tracks which are amazing, so I’ve no doubts we’ll collab again soon.
OSR: After being in the music industry since age 13, how has your approach to creating music evolved?
Nikki Ambers: That’s a good one. I think my circle was a lot bigger then, and I had a lot of outside input. Now it’s just me and my mind and my voice. I’ve gone from cowriting and vocal producers and managers and engineers to just me. Creatively, I’ve never felt more free. It’s not just the writing either. I’m doing all the recording and mixing. It’s such a blessing to bring my ideas fully to life.
OSR; Your music often blends pop and R&B. How do you decide the balance between the two in a song?
Nikki Ambers: I try not to overthink it. What comes out, comes out. I love pop. I love K-pop. I love R&B, but mostly I love laying down vocals. And sometimes I’ll be writing and the song sounds one way, but once I record it, the harmonies come in, and then the BVs and sometimes, just whether it’s sung soft or strong can really alter what direction and genre it lands in.
OSR: ‘I Believe’ is about second chances. Can you share a time in your life when this theme resonated deeply?
Nikki Ambers: The song really hits home about second chances when it comes to my health. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the beginning of the year. I was having 7-10 seizures daily since December, and was just so exhausted and spent so much time in hospital. I remember people asking if I’ll get back into music, and I was just straight up like “No, I have no desire to write songs anymore”, and I sat down with my other half and asked him, “Do you think I’d be lost if I stopped creating music?” because I didn’t miss it. And he just said, “you know, your brain is exhausted. Don’t stress about it. Rest and see what happens.” And he was so right. Once my meds kicked in and my seizures drastically decreased, my creativity came back. Probably feeling the most driven and creative I’ve ever felt. And I’m so blessed to have my diagnosis, some great doctors behind me and still be improving daily. This feels like my second chance at life and at music. My whole world came to a halt, and I’m just in absolute bliss now to be back and releasing music again.
OSR: You’ve written hits for artists like Little Mix and NCT U. How does writing for others differ from creating your own music?
Nikki Ambers: So, both of those tracks were originally written for myself but didn’t feel like a good fit. So that process wasn’t any different really. But I actually did do my first writing camp with Bucks Music recently, which was specifically for another artist and it definitely has a slightly different approach. It helped as there were other writers in the session and I felt I could enjoy the process and not worry about telling a specific story or emotion, and could go with the flow a bit more.
OSR: Touring with major artists like Justin Bieber and Rita Ora must have been incredible. What’s one memorable experience from the road?
Nikki Ambers: My No.1 most memorable experience will have to be meeting Will Smith. He watched the sound check and came onstage after and said what I great voice I had. I was just gobsmacked. He also introduced himself as if we didn’t know who he was. Willow Smith was the other support act on the Bieber tour, and Jaden also came onstage during Justin’s performance, so naturally, Will Smith was there. Just an amazing experience.
OSR: How do you approach connecting with fans, both through your music and performances?
Nikki Ambers: I try my best to make my songs as relatable as possible and keep the lyrics open to interpretation a bit. Oh, and I’m even on TikTok now. I was such an Instagram girlie, but my little sister Lariah was getting on at me about TikTok, and honestly, I love connecting with fans on there. I reply to comments and DMs on all my socials and always hang around after a show to speak to people after my performances too.
OSR: Are there any specific artists or albums that influenced the sound of ‘I Believe’?
Nikki Ambers: So so many! But to name two, I’ve been loving Twice and Sabrina Carpenter. Those layered vocals just make my ears smile.
OSR: What can fans expect from you next, any upcoming projects, tours, or collaborations?
Nikki Ambers: I have a whole collection of songs ready to release. So expect LOTS of music. I’ll also be doing a big release party and performance at the start of next year. So just keep your eyes on my socials and I’ll keep everyone updated.
Many thanks to Nikki Ambers for speaking with us. Find out more about Nikki Ambers on her Instagram, X, Spotify, and YouTube.
