Speaking with Audacy’s Bru on 97.1 Now, Rich Brian, NIKI, and Warren Hue filled us in regarding 88Rising’s purpose as musicians and spoke to us about their latest single, “California.”
NIKI tells us that 88Rising’s mission as a musical media company and label is all about bringing Asian representation to music. She says, “Essentially what we stand for is to represent Asians, to just give Asian faces, and bodies, and lives kind of like this really dimensional view because it hasn’t been that way in the past.”
The Jakarta natives released “California,” as part of the Asia Rising Together benefit concert, where funds raised from the virtual show went to the Asian Mental Health Collective.
Rich tells Bru that the group all wrote their parts individually for the new track and explains that he wrote his lyrics before hearing anyone else’s. Rich adds that he thought the song would only be for him, but once hearing NIKI and Warren’s verses he felt the song would be perfect for the three of them.
The song is all about the “ups and downs” of moving to L.A. laughs Rich. NIKI and Warren explain that the song is filled with poignant truths and “realness.”
NIKI notes, “it’s a cool juxtaposition though because it’s a really chill, major chord, beat…with the very beautiful enchanting guitar line, and then we’re just kinda like spittin’ some truth.”
Check out Rich Brian, NIKI, and Warren Hue’s full interview above.
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